“It is a problem.When you’re used to winning gold—when everyone expects it of you, when you expect it of yourself—anything less is just failure.And that kind of pressure is immense.It messes with your head knowing that when you step out on the track, everyone expects only the best.Anything less is just a disappointment.”
“Is that what went through your mind at the beginning of a race?”
“It used to.Now, it goes through my mind constantly.”
“Because of your injuries?”
“Yes.It wasn’t just a hunger for success that drove me.I loved winning.Simple as that.I loved it.And now… I feel…ruined.”
He looked at the water, the intensity of his words dissipating with each lapping wave against the harbor wall.
Libby stopped recording.“You okay?”
“Yeah,” he said on a deep inhale.“I’ll get better at this… This talking business.I need to talk about how I feel.It’s good therapy.You were right.”
“Hey, I’m always right.”
He snickered.“Ninety percent of the time.”
“I’m happy with ninety percent,” she said and put her phone back into her bag behind her.The sun beat down.Dan’s face was glistening with sweat.Hers must be too.“Do you want to hear an interesting fact about me now, Cranky?”
“Yes.Yes, I do.”
“I haven’t taken a swim by myself for well over three years.”
“Well, Libby Jones.Now’s your chance.”
Too late, Dan’s hand on her back registered, and she went flying into the water.Bubbles burst around her ears as she held her breath, and then she came bursting to the surface.“You…you!”she spluttered.By the time she wiped her eyes, Dan was already bobbing beside her, a big grin on his face.
“No time like the present, Libby.”
“Huh.Well, take this!”She jumped on his back to dunk him, but of course, he was much stronger.He flung her off like a piece of seaweed but then caught her arm and pulled her back toward him.
“I thought we both needed to cool off,” he said, releasing her.
“So did I, but I was going to lead up to it with class and sophistication.Or at the very least, take my clothes off.”
The swells had her bumping into him, their wet legs slicked against each other, and her gaze traveled to his chest.His T-shirt was shrink-wrapped around it again.Which must mean…
Her eyes shot down to her own chest.Her dress, now see-through, clung to her breasts, making the bikini top she wore underneath look like regular underwear.More intimate.Personal.
She glanced back up.And so did Dan—eventually.
Caught looking at her breasts, he cleared his throat and quickly said, “You’ll soon dry off.Come on.I’ll race you to the other side.”
“Gee, I wonder who’d win?”she drawled.“The overweight mom, or the Olympic athlete?”
“Overweight?”His head whipped around, eyebrows slammed together.“Seriously?You’ve got a great figure.”
Libby’s heart swelled like the ocean.“You think?”
“Of course.Just ask the colonel.And Hehu.”
“Right,” she drawled.“Two old men.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean—”
“It’s all right, Cranky.”She laughed at his stricken face.“I’ve taken the compliment.Thank you.”
