Page 10

As soon as the plane lands, I bolt, eager to slip away before Coby and East catch up. Luckily, Caro and the Hughes manage to keep pace.

Caro and I are taken to the Olympic Village while the Hughes head to their hotel. Now, we’re getting the grand tour.

The Village is a series of blocks, with two athletes assigned per unit. I can’t imagine staying here alone—I’d drive myself crazy with just my thoughts for company.

We’re guided to the swimmers’ section, divided by sport and then by gender. Relief floods me when we find out Caro and I are sharing a unit—I’m sure Tuck had a hand in arranging that.

Our unit is cozy—a small lounge, two bedrooms, and a cramped bathroom. Caro and I step inside, buzzing with excitement. It’s a scaled-down version of our place back home. I drop my luggage in my room and quickly unpack because there’s not much time before we head to the meeting in the Athletes’ Services Area.

The services area doubles as a hub where we can watch events and connect with family since they’re not allowed inside the Village itself. It’s comforting to know we’ll have a space to spend time with them amidst all the chaos.

“You ready to head down?” Caro comes rushing into the room and asks.

Chuckling, I tilt my head slightly. “Sure, let’s go.”

Turning, I grab my phone and head out with her to walk down to the services area. It’s not far, but my nerves are wreaking havoc inside me. Coby will be at this meeting, but I have to get used to him. Hell, I’ll probably be in the marshalling area with him at the pool, so I need to pick up my big girl panties and stop hoping things will get better.

We arrive at the services area lounge, and pretty much everyone from the Australian swim team is here. I catch East and Coby off in the corner and take a deep breath. Caro wraps her arm around mine, and we stand with the mass of swimmers. Then, we turn to the front, where Kyle Watley is standing, waiting to talk.

“If I can have your attention, Australian swimming team,” he begins.

The chatter dies down.

“I’d like to officially welcome the thirty-four Australian swimmers to the Melbourne Olympic Games. Remember, you’re representing your country, in your country, so keep things professional at all times. Now for the announcement of the swim team’s Head Coach. There’s been some drama around this, but we’ve gotten to the bottom of it all, and we believe we have the right man for the position. Everyone welcome your team’s Head Coach, Don Tucker.”

I gasp along with Caro as we both watch Tuck walk out in front of everyone. My heart races while a smile spreads across my face, and I glance at Caro with raised brows. She blinks twice in apparent shock.

“What the hell?” I whisper to no one in particular.

He takes up the front position and acknowledges the swimmers with a subtle gesture. Then he turns to us and winks. “It’s an honour and a privilege to be your advisor, your strength, your coach. What an amazing team of swimmers we have for Melbourne this year. I’m here for each and every one of you. My team is my family, and we must stick together. My sub-coaches are Trevor Packer, Lauren Schipper, and Skipp Malone. We will bring you to your best and help to boost the medal tally for Australia. Do your best. Each stroke your finest. Swim like you’ve never swum before. Do yourselves proud. Do Australia proud. Because they will be watching.”

Furrowing my brows, I face Caro and shake my head slightly. “Phil Mathers isn’t a sub-coach?” I whisper.

She shrugs and pouts. “Yeah, I find that weird, too.”

Kyle Watley steps back up and pats Tuck on the shoulder. “So that’s the announcement we wanted to make. Make sure if you need anything to come to either Tuck or me. We’ll help in any way we can. You’re free to check out the Village. Have fun and swim hard.”

I turn to Caro as everyone starts to disburse and grab her, pulling her with me toward Tuck. He smiles, watching us race over to him. I don’t hold back, throwing my arms around his large body. He laughs and hugs me back.

“Congratulations, Tuck! I had no idea.”

“Thanks, Lacy. It’s been a long process. Once the investigation into Katie began, Phil saw his chance to take me out of the running for Head Coach. He told the Board I fabricated the story about Katie just to get Melissa through.

“But that was never my intention. I didn’t want Katie disqualified, just reprimanded. When the video footage surfaced, showing her pushing you into the chairs in the marshalling area, it was clear evidence against her. She was brought in, and her chance to compete in Melbourne was nearly revoked.

“I made it clear I didn’t want her banned, just firmly reprimanded. My priority was to protect my girls and ensure she kept to herself during the Games. However, I did insist that if any future incidents occurred, immediate consequences would follow.”

Smiling, I hug him again. “You’re so nice, Tuck. But how come I wasn’t brought in for questioning?”

“I didn’t want that. You didn’t need to be dragged into that mess when you were concentrating on practice. The video showed it more than clearly enough, and the Board was happy for me to be your proxy.”

Sighing in relief. “I love you, Tuck.”

He smiles and pulls me to him. “Love you too, kiddo.”

“What happened to Phil Mathers?” I ask.

Tuck frowns as he lets me go. “He’s been sacked as a coach. They claim he tried to manipulate how the Board would vote on the Head Coach position, so they had to let him go.”

“So he can’t coach anymore?”

Tuck shakes his head. “No.”

My heart sinks through the floor. “Poor Coby.”

“He’s taken on an interim coach. But he’s here with no coach, no family, and no support,” Tuck tells us, and I frown.

Caro wraps her arm around my shoulders as I glance over at him. Now I can see that the happy, cheerful persona he usually gives off isn’t there. East stands with him.

“Talk to him?” Caro suggests.

“What do I say? Sorry, your dad’s a dick?”

“Lacy!”

“I’m never good at making lifting people’s spirits.”

“Just let him know that you’re there for him,” Caro suggests.

“Am I?”

“You should be. He has no one. And you’re probably the someone he needs right now.”

Huffing, I exhale, and step one foot in front of the other, heading toward him. But as I do, Katie embraces him. He hesitates but hugs her back while my chest aches.

“Right, well, he obviously doesn’t miss me too much then,” I huff.

If there’s one thing I don’t want to see, it’s Coby with Katie.

Footsteps follow me, and soon, Caro is by my side. “It’s probably just a friendship thing. News would be travelling about his dad, Lace.”

“Doesn’t matter. He can hug whoever he wants. It’s not like we were ever official or anything.”

Caro sighs and wraps her arm around me as we walk back toward our unit.

Thunderous footsteps from behind make us turn around to see East bounding toward us. He beams as he picks Caro up, spinning her around in a circle. She giggles, and I smile as he leans up and kisses her. “I missed you,” he murmurs against her lips.

She laughs. “Careful… anyone would think you care.”

He pretends to gasp. “Yeah. Nah. Just missed the sweet taste of your puss—”

She presses her lips to his, halting his words— thank God —as I shake my head and chuckle.

“Right, I’m going back to my room. See you in… well, when you come up for air.”

Caro waves at me.

All I can do is roll my eyes and start walking off toward the Village. Some of the other countries are turning up, which is cool, so we can meet our competitors before the actual events take place.

I make it back to the Village alone. The English team arrives, and I’m so excited to meet them all.

Walking in, I catch a girl bossing another around about carrying her bags into the unit. Squishing my brows, I smirk slightly at just how incredibly rude she is. Her overly posh accent gives away that she’s from wealth and isn’t afraid to show it. But I figure I should go and say hi to my neighbour anyway.

“Anna, don’t be so daft. Lift with your knees… not your back, you silly little girl,” she snaps.

Anna picks up the last of the luggage.

Shaking my head slightly, I step up behind her, her short blonde bob framing her perfectly round face beautifully. “Um… hi,” I say.

She slowly turns to face me and curls her lip, eyeing me up and down. “Oh golly, you’re a convict.”

My eyes open wide, and I huff. “Excuse me?”

“You’re Australian, yes?”

“Right?”

“Right, so you’re a convict… below standard. Please remove yourself… you’re blocking my flow of pure oxygen.”

I’ve been called many things in my time, but never a convict. Sure, the first Australians sent from Britain were convicts, but that doesn’t mean we’re all criminals and heathens now.

And I thought Katie was bad!

Turning toward my unit, her screechy voice rings out through the Village. “Anna, get me a non-fat decaf soy latte.”

Anna rushes out of their unit and scurries off.

Sighing deeply as I let myself into my unit, I walk inside and make my way to my room. Moving to my bed, I sink down onto it.

My phone beeps. I roll on my side, pulling it from my pants pocket, and bring it up to view the message. My heart races and my chest tightens at Coby’s name on my screen. I swipe the lock and take a deep breath while opening the message.

Coby: Hey Lace. We’re going to be here for a while, and I don’t want to have to avoid you. So I think we need to sort this out. Can we meet up?

My throat dries, and my stomach flutters. It’s as if crazy butterflies dance the polka down there. I have to admit, I am a bit reluctant. I’m at the Olympics, and I have to keep my mind on the prize. But he’s hurting, I’m hurting, and maybe we will focus better if we’re both on the same side.

Me: Okay. When and where?

I hit send and sit up on my bed nervously. I’m agreeing to meet with Coby, and it has me in all kinds of knots. I haven’t seen him properly for over four months, and I have no idea how to be around him.

Coby: Athletes’ lounge. Now?

Taking a deep breath, I lick my lips and reply.

Me: See you soon.

Standing, I shake my hands out like it’s giving me the courage I need. I wish Caro were here to give me a pep talk, but she isn’t, so I need to face this on my own.

I can do this.

Walking out of my unit, I head down to the services area lounge and fidget the entire way with the zip on my shirt. I’m a bubbling mess right now as I chew nervously on my bottom lip.

Stepping in, I catch him already sitting in the lounge. I take a moment to centre myself as I stare at his back. He’s still so perfect even from behind, and that doesn’t make this easier.

Shifting forward, I step around the lounge as he glances up at me and hands me a takeaway coffee cup.

“Thank you.”

Coby smiles and stares as I stand here. “You haven’t changed.”

“Can someone really change much in four months?”

“I think I have. I relied on my dad. I thought he was always right…” He gulps. “I’m an idiot, and in the process of being pigheaded…” he sighs, “… I lost you.”

Pursing my lips, I lift my shoulders. “You never technically had me.”

“But I might have. We were headed that way, I think.”

Huffing, I sit down next to him. “Coby, I’m sorry about your dad—”

“I’m sorry I didn’t trust you. But I wish you’d have told me what Katie did to you.”

With a heavy sigh, I bow my head. “I should’ve told you. But the way you defended your dad without asking what happened irked me, so all my defences came up, and I gave up on you.”

He exhales and examines his hands. “That’s on me. I’m truly sorry, and I want us to be friends again. I’ve missed seeing you.”

“I’ve missed seeing you, too...” I can’t hold back my smile. “So, friends?”

“Friends.” Coby sticks out his hand, and I push it aside, leaning forward and hugging him tightly. He hesitates for a millisecond, then wraps his arms around me.

I’m warm and safe. This is where I was meant to have been for the past four months.

But I try not to let that affect me too much.

Friends, Lacy. Friends!

“So, Eel, how’s your times been?” I ask reluctantly, pulling back from him.

“Good. Might do a record if I’m lucky.”

“Well, I’ll be cheering you on.”

He smiles, resting his hand on my knee. “Thanks, that means so much.”

“Thank you for messaging me. I’m glad this isn’t going to be weird for us both.”

“Yes, me too. I was thinking you were going to avoid me the entire time.”

Chuckling, I shrug. “I might have, but you’re just too adorable.”

“And you’re still too beautiful.” His hand comes up and gently caresses my cheek.

My heart races, and my mouth dries. We’re just friends . This kind of electrical charge is not what we want. So I slowly back away.

“Cobes,” I warn.

He breathes in quickly and nods. “Too soon? It’s okay, I get it.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t be. I fucked up. I have to earn your trust, and I’m okay with that.”

“Oh my God, are you two talking?” Caro cries.

We turn to her. East rushes toward us.

I giggle. “Yes, we’re friends again.”

“Oh, it’s about fucking time. The awesome foursome is back, baby,” East booms.

We laugh as they both sit with us, and I take in a deep breath. The awesome foursome is finally back in town. We should have never parted. I was being stubborn. The last four months were wasted energy. I have to make up for the damage I’ve done to my relationship with Coby, but by being friends first because right now I have to concentrate on the Games.

East and Caro are raving on and on, but I can’t stop staring at Coby, thinking about how much I missed him and how good it is to finally have him back in my life.

Even if it is just as a friend.