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“Not now,” Carter replies after another quick kiss. He glances at his best friend over his shoulder. “Can’t you see I’m busy? Tell me tomorrow!”

At those three words, my mind instantly goes back to a quiet morning months ago. The way his eyes had dark circles under them as he answered the video call, and the way something plummeted into the pit of my stomach at the sight, and I just knew. I knew it was never going to be Will; it was always going to be Carter Abrams. Will and everything else in my life has been a steppingstone to this moment. To becoming who I want to be and accepting the love I know I deserve.

This is my tomorrow. I want to continue going down this path, seeing what life has in store for me, because I know it’s going to be beautiful. Not perfect, because there is no such thing, but always beautiful.

I let out a squeal of laughter as Carter picks me up, spinning me around once more. Looking down at the wide, bright green eyes, something settles in me. A comfort I never thought I’d have. I look around at Bryce, who’s rolling his eyes, then to Josie and Mia, who are taking pictures, and finally to the police officer lingering with a small smile. This moment is everything, and it’s mine.

“I love you,” I whisper down at him.

His grin softens as he lowers me back to the ground. “Katrina Dalton, you don’t even know how crazy I am for you.”

But I do because I feel it, too. And I hope I never stop feeling it.

September2024

There’s music pumping through the speakers of Adair Swim Club’s outside deck. I greet people with a warm smile, offering them a cool beverage and a packet containing all the information they could need. Bryce and Carter are each somewhere, taking perspective families on tours of the facility and Mia is wandering around, camera in hand to capture every moment. The sign up-sheets for the team and the lessons are rapidly filling up. There’s so much going on, I can hardly catch my breath, but it’s the best kind of adrenaline rush. The open house is turning out better than any of us anticipated, and I couldn’t be happier for the guys.

The last few weeks have been a flurry of activity as everyone settled into the post-Olympic life that was awaiting us. Carter finished all his required media appearances before officially moving into his own condo here in Columbia. Josie and Bryce are moved into their finished home and the club is officially open. These were the moments I never really got to be part of when I was with Dalton Enterprises, watching as something I helped build came to life and fulfill its intended purpose. I’m probably a little biased, but these were two of the projects I’m most proud of and it’s only made more special when I see the smile on my boyfriend’s face.

Carter is a natural in this environment. He gets down to the height of the kids, so he can have real conversations with them about swimming and the importance of water safety. He can smile and charm his way in with the parents, easily getting them to sign their kids up for lessons or a clinic. It’s a good thing Bryce and Carter have some coaches in mind to bring in. Something tells me they’ll need them sooner rather than later.

When Carter turns toward me, I catch his eye, and his grin gets impossibly wider, his eyes alight with joy. He says something to the father he’s talking to and motions to me, which means he’s talking about all the work I put into the construction of this place or Bryce and Josie’s remodel. He’s my biggest cheerleader, just like I’m his. Something warm twists in me when the father looks my way and offers a polite smile. I smile back. Then my face flushes when Carter winks.

“Josie, Bryce, and I have a bet on you guys.”

I startle slightly as Mia appears next to me. “What kind of bet?”

“How long it’ll take the two of you to move in together.”

I fully turn to her, rolling my eyes. “Give us a second to breathe!” My tone is teasing as I hand a bottle of water to a harried-looking mother with a smile. “We both opened businesses, and he signed the lease on the condo. We haven’t been together long.”

“A condo that’s definitely big enough for two.” Josie joins in from my right. “Besides, what does the length of a relationship have to do with anything? If it’s meant to be, you just know.”

“Maybe don’t listen to the girl who moved halfway across the country with a guy she’d just gotten back together with,” Mia advises.

“Oh, shut up.” Josie swats her. “You know what I mean. Besides, we literally bought a house together. I think we’re going to be fine, just like the two of them.”

Looking around the crowded space, I know she’s right. We’ll all be fine. We have each other, and an amazing place to build up. I’ve already got projects booked months in advance for my company. Mia’s getting paid by both Adair Swim Club and Effervescent Renovations, giving her more than enough reason to stick around for the long run. The pieces have fallen together and created a beautiful picture before us.

Josie pulls a full sign-up sheet off the clipboard and adds it to a growing stack. “There’s no way they’re going to be able to handle all this.”

Mia looks over at the stack, her eyes widening. She takes them from her best friend, flipping through the pages. “No way. They’re going to have to hire someone as soon as possible.”

“I wonder who they’ll hire?” I ask.

Bryce is calling Mia over, probably wanting pictures of something. She snatches up her camera, giving us a fleeting glance. “As long as it’s not Ronan O’Brien, I’m good.”

Josie laughs as her best friend walks away, but nudges me as soon as she’s out of earshot. “If it is him, maybe we’d finally find out what happened.”

By now I’d heard the story, how they all used to be so close until a meet in 2017 when the friendship between the two of them stopped. Mia gave him the cold shoulder; he acted like he had no idea what happened. No one could get any information from them. He retired soon after.

“Do you think it could be him?”

Josie shakes her head. “No way. I don’t think he has anything to do with the sport anymore. Besides, Bryce would tell me.”

As Josie turns to focus on a new batch of people wanting to sign up, my gaze drifts back to Mia. The last person in our little group needs happiness. It doesn’t have to come in the form of love, but I wish I could see her settle into something she loves and stop looking over her shoulder like the past will come back to bite her. I’ve learned better over the last few months, though. Mia marches to her own drum and trying to get in her way will only leave you feeling foolish.

I need to let her march. My urge to fix things has to be set aside, trusting my friends will find happiness. Just like I did.

The End.