Page 27 of In Too Deep

“C’mon, Caro.”

“She’s got this,” Coby assures me, taking my trembling hand. If I thought I was nervous for East, double that for Caro. She takes up her starting position while my insides quiver as my breath quickens.

“I hope so.”

“Take your mark.”

Caro bends down and gets ready to race. The starting signal goes off, and she catapults into the water. I jump in my seat, I’m so on edge. She moves effortlessly through the pool, bobbing up and down, bringing her arms to her breast and then out again, stroking evenly and purposefully. The top four fly out in front, including Caro, leaving the others behind. But again, there are only two positions available.

They duck, hitting the wall. Caro and Madeline are in first and second. The other two are very close behind them. I hate the edginess as they travel back for the final fifty. They’re headed back toward the wall. Another girl in front. Then it’s Caro and Madeline. It’s tight. Too tight. My body can’t handle the pressure, so I stand. My heart races a million miles a second as a bead of sweat rolls down my temple. Coby stands, wrapping his arm around me while I chew my nail.

“C’mon, Caro… lift, girl, lift,” I murmur. It’s so close between Caro and Madeline that I can barely breathe. It will all come down to the wall.

The other girl hits first. Caro and Madeline stroke in at the same time. I wince. Coby tightens his grip as I turn dramatically and stare at the scoreboard. But only the first position is displayed. The second and third aren’t coming up yet. I tap my foot impatiently on the concrete step as my heart races. The little digits tick over and then show up.

Caroline Hughes 1:06:07

Madeline Freeling 1:06:08.

I shriek as I jump on the spot.

Coby laughs as tears well in my eyes.

Caro beat her byone millisecond.

I lean into Coby and hug him so tightly he cannot breathe. He chuckles, rocking me back and forth as I cry happily into his chest.

“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!” I giggle.

“She did it, Lace. We all got through. The awesome foursome is going to the Olympics!”

I sniff, wiping my cheeks. “I can’t believe it. That was too close.”

He wipes my tears away with his thumbs. “It’s going to work out just fine,” he whispers.

“Yeah,” I whisper back, then lean forward and press my lips to his again. My insides tingle. The sparks fizzle and pop. Every inch of me fires as my tongue dances with Coby’s.

This adventure we’re about to embark on together is going to be exhilarating.

CHAPTER SEVEN

After an amazing and eventful day, we invite the guys back to the unit. We’re an unstoppable foursome. We want to hang out more, but in the comfort of a home, not in a swimming centre or café. Since none of us have to swim again, we decide to splurge and settle for beer and Chinese.

We’re all sitting out the back of the unit by the shared pool, dipping our feet at the edge. It’s nice that all of our swims are out of the way in the first few days of the meet. Now we can sit back at the centre.

“I need another beer,” East declares.

Caro rolls her eyes. “Then go get one, lazy arse,” Caro snaps.

“Why don’t you come get it with me?” He waggles his eyebrows.

She giggles and stands up quickly. East does the same, and they race off together, chuckling like idiots.

Glancing at Cody, I shake my head. “Well, that was as subtle as a hooker on Hindley Street.”

“That’s their style, though.” He chuckles.

Nodding, I wave my feet around in the cool water of the pool.

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