He smiled. “I’m just saying. I’m a far better teacher. What did he have you doing? Laps with the board, right?”
“So competitive.”
“That’s a yes. Bet your arms are weak as hell.” He pointed at me and I swatted his hand away.
“Shut up.” I laughed a bit because yeah, he was right. And from a little research online, I knew there had been some holes in Leo’s teaching methods. But I still learned and that’s all that mattered.
“The guy got you all weak.” Nate pinched my arm.
“Ow, watch it.” I shoved him.
He chuckled. “After this, we’ll both teach you. We’ll have you racing the greats in no time.”
I rubbed my arm, smiling at the idea because it didn’t sound half bad. And since Nate brought up spending time with both of us meant he was open to mending fences with Leo.
The announcer instructed the swimmers to get to their places.
“We got this,” Nate repeated his mantra and tugged on my swim cap.
I nodded in agreement and let out a breath. My eyes scanned the crowd in search of Leo. I saw Fran, Thane, and Claire in the bleachers. They’d made a large sign that read, Anderson’s Fan Club. Claire waved in my direction and flashed me a thumbs-up. I grinned back.
My gaze finally found Leo in the cool-down area with the other swimmers. He met my eyes almost instantly and winked. I saw his chest rise and fall, heavily - his way of telling me to breathe.
We got this,I told myself.I got this.
* * *
We didn’t have this. I, most of all, didn’t have this.
But is that really a surprise to anyone?
Dad swam the first leg. He gained us a fairly decent lead and Mom held it steady until it was my turn.
Once I dove into the water - a few seconds late, I might add, because I didn’t realize Mom had touched the pool wall - it was basically over.
My swimming wasn’t graceful. In fact, I think the form was my worst attempt yet. On the bright side, I made it to the other side of the pool and back without panicking.
Despite falling behind almost a pool’s length, I controlled my breathing as I tread through the water. With each stroke, I refused to stop.
“Well,” Mom said when I pushed myself out of the pool after Nate dived in. The other teams’ anchor swimmers were already halfway through their 100 meters.
“Was it your best?” She raised a brow, unimpressed.
I accepted a towel from Dad. He didn’t look as disappointed, probably because he’d won his own race and already had bragging rights.
“Yeah, it was.” I wiped my face. My tone was steady and, dare I say, proud. I could even feel an enormous smile on my face. Never in a million years did I think I’d be able to swim across the pool alone.
No matter what she says, what you did was incredible.
I readied myself for a subtle jab.
“Okay then.” She still looked unimpressed, but the nonchalance of her tone was progress. I’d been preparing for a lecture. Prepared to stick up for myself in the middle of the crowd. I could feel my smile grow at the realization none of that would be necessary.
Leo’s voice broke my attention away from my Mom. His arms wrapped me in a hug before I could respond. He spun me around, expressing excitement as if I won the damn thing.
“Couldn’t have done it better myself,” Leo said when he finally set me down. We were close enough to kiss but didn’t for obvious reasons. His eyes flickered to my lips. My heartbeat quickened.
“No need to lie about it.” Nate climbed out of the pool, hardly out of breath.
