Page 96 of The Problem with Perfect

Well, it means more than I know how to express, even to myself.

“I love you,” I tell her, leaning down and pressing my lips to hers.

I’m still drenched in lake water, but neither of us care. Her hands come to either side of my face, and she kisses me back like it’s the only thing she ever wants to do.

“I love you, too.”

I kiss her one more time, and then I turn to my sister.

“I’ll pass on the wet hug,” she says, laughing. “But I’malsoproud of you.”

It’s the first time I’ve seen her since Jackson told me he wants to propose, and I’m not sure if it’s the emotion of knowing she’s going to be getting engaged soon or the exhaustion of the day, but I can feel myself getting choked up.

I ignore her comment and reach out, yanking her in for a hug. She shrieks, but it’s mostly laughter, and she wraps her arms around me as well.

“It was great to see you competing again,” Abby says. “You know mom and dad would be here cheering their asses off if they could.”

I nod but don’t say anything. I don’t doubt it in the slightest.

Abby, Bellamy, and I head to the swimmer station, and I grab a glass of water and a protein bar then collapse on a metal folding chair.

“Official swim times for heat one have been posted,” one of the volunteers says, and I see a few guys get up and cross over to the piece of paper taped to a standing whiteboard in the corner.

When I don’t rise to go check, Abby pokes me in the ribs. “Want me to look for you?”

I shake my head. “I actually don’t want to know.”

She rolls her eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic.”

“I’m not,” I tell her, laughing. “I just don’t need to know. My goal for today was to finish, and I did.”

Abby narrows her eyes then darts over to the board to look, her eyes flicking over the paper. “Fourth!” she shouts, her hands rising into the air. “You came in fourth, oh my god!”

I smile. “In the first heat,” I clarify. “There were two more after mine, and I’m pretty sure there will be a lot of people who beat my time.”

“I don’t even care,” Abby says, pointing at my name on the paper again. “This says fourth and that’s what I’m going to tell everyone.”

I chuckle, amused by my sister’s enthusiasm. After a few minutes, I slip into a pair of board shorts, a shirt, and a pair of tennis shoes, and we exit the swimmer tent. Abby gives me a big hug and congratulates me again on “finishing fourth” then jets off into the crowd.

As Bellamy and I walk slowly through the crowd, I get stopped a few times by various people in the community. People shake my hand and say I did a great job; a guy pats me on the back and thanks me for participating.

I spot Arthur, Gil, and Stan sitting in the stands in the seats I got for them, watching as other swimmers come across the finish, and when they see me, they all let out loud cheers and clamber out of their chairs.

“Rusty, my boy!” Art says, his arms wide as he walks my way. He’s beaming as he pulls me into a hug. “Great job.”

“You were incredible. Just incredible.”

I nod at Stan. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

“I have to say, you really were something,” Gil admits, almost reluctantly. “I’m proud of you.”

I pull Gil towards me, refusing to let this moment go by without a hug. He’s stiff at first but eventually pats me on the back. He only goes soft for a moment, ultimately pulling back and slapping me roughly on the shoulder.

“Alright, we’ll see you for bridge next week?” he says.

“Wouldn’t miss it.”

They all wave then head back to their seats, settling in to watch the remaining heats as Bellamy and I slip back into the crowd.

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