Cecilia’s eyes jump over him, a small smile on her face before her gaze finally settles onto mine.
Her lips part, and I swear I see the tops of her cheeks turn a bright shade of pink. Licking my lips, I lift my hand in a wave.
She grins, her eyes lingering on mine for a second longer before she turns to her lane, her graceful legs stepping up onto the block.
“She looks good,” Deacon says.
My eyes narrow. “Don’t look at her.”
He rolls his eyes, and Kasey snickers beside him. “I didn’t mean it like that,” he tells me. “I just meant that she looks good, like her head is in the game. She looks ready.”
I grunt. That better be all that he meant.
The race begins, and I feel a surge of pride watching Cecilia dive into the water. She swims with confidence, her strokes smooth and powerful as her arms cut through the water.
In the 50-meter race, she takes an early lead and never looks back, finishing first with a time that leaves the competition in her wake.
The crowd erupts into cheers as Cecilia touches the wall, her smile radiant as she climbs out of the pool. I can’t help but grin as I watch her, feeling a swell of pride in my chest. She’s amazing.
A couple more races follow before Cecilia is up again.
In the 100-meter, she once again dominates, her determination shining through as she powers through the water. The crowd cheers her on, their voices blending into a chorus of support. And when she touches the wall, I know she’s done it again, taking first place with ease.
“Holy shit,” Felix mutters. “She smoked them.”
“I know.” I can’t help but grin. “Cecilia’s a beast.”
“Damn right, she is. Remind me never to challenge her to a race.”
“Noted.”
As Cecilia emerges from the water, I make my way down to the edge of the pool where other friends and family wait for their girls. My heart pounds with excitement, and when Cecilia sees me, her face splits into a shit-eating grin.
“Did you see that?”
I reach out to her, pulling her into a tight embrace, not caring that she’s soaking the entire front of my shirt.
“You were incredible,” I murmur, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I’m so fucking proud of you.”
“Hey,” she admonishes but without any real heat. “No PDA.”
I ignore the reminder, taking in her smile. The way she looks up at me, her eyes shining with a mixture of happiness and relief.
“Relax. I was being friendly.”
She rolls her eyes.
“But really,” I tell her. “You killed it.”
“Thank you,” she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. “I’m glad you were here.”
“Always,” I tell her. “No matter what. I’ll always be right here, cheering you on.”
She wraps her arms around me, squeezing tight.
“Any more races for the day?” I ask, and she pulls back to peer up at me.
“Nope, all done.”
