She doesn’t have practice today. It’s supposed to be a recovery day for her and the rest of the team after the meet, so she shouldn’t even be on campus right now.
I exhale a breath. I’m letting Holt get in my head, and I need to shake it off. That asshole doesn’t get to mess with me anymore.
“Come on,” Julio says, sensing my unease. “Let’s just get through today.”
Nodding, I concede, telling myself I’ll go to Cecilia’s place and check on her as soon as practice is over.
Coach puts us through a series of drills for the next thirty minutes that leave me dripping in sweat, but despite the physical exertion, I can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong.
Cecilia still hasn’t responded to my message despite the two additional texts I sent, and worry is gnawing at my gut.
I don’t like this.
“Something’s wrong,” I tell Julio, wiping the sweat from my forehead with the hem of my shirt.
“Obviously. Coach is pissed and taking his anger out on us.”
“Not that,” I tell him. “Cecilia isn’t responding to my messages.”
Felix jogs up beside us. “Bro, if you don’t get back on?—”
“I need to go.” There’s no reason for me to think something has happened to Cecilia, but I know it in my gut. Something is wrong. I got what I wanted. Holt’s off the team. But my girl still isn’t safe. I know how he operates. Holt always retaliates.
Fuck. This was a mistake.
“You can’t just walk out in the middle of practice,” Julio says.
“Watch me.”
“Gabe—” I wave him off, but he falls into step, jogging beside me.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“You’re not going alone,” Julio says, his voice resigned. “We’re coming with you.”
Felix nods in agreement, his expression determined. “Yeah, man, we got your back. We’ll deal with the fallout with Coach after we find your girl.”
Relief sweeps through me right as Deacon joins us, his usually calm demeanor replaced by a steely resolve. “I’m coming, too,” he says.
I open my mouth to argue. Coach is going to lose his shit if we all walk out right now, especially with a game coming up.
“We’re a team, remember?” Deacon says, cutting off my argument. “We stick together.”
I hesitate, torn between my urgency to find Cecilia and the risk of involving my teammates in what might turn out to be nothing. But their unwavering support bolsters my resolve, and I nod, gratitude swelling in my chest.
“Alright,” I tell them. “Let’s go.”
31CECILIA
Islice through the water, arms pumping as I near the wall. Flipping underwater, I kick hard, hurtling myself forward. I slap the tile, pausing to see my time on the overhead clock. A smile stretches my lips. A personal best, even exhausted.
Adriana would be proud. She was right to convince me to join the team. I love this. I love the competitive nature of the sport, even when I’m only competing with myself, and today more so than most, I need the distraction.
My head’s been a mess since we got back from Sun Valley this morning. I thought the bus ride home would give me time to think, but all it’s really done is give me more time to drum up questions I don’t have the answers to.
Things are changing with Gabriel and I. After last night, I don’t know, it’s like something has shifted, and I can’t figure out whether or not that’s a good thing. Hence, being here at the pool despite not having practice today.
I hoped the extra time to myself would help me sort through some things, but aside from pushing myself to the point of physical exhaustion, I haven't accomplished much else.
