Chapter 17
We’re Gonna Crush Mannon
Maisie
It’s Friday morning, the day before our first meet, and Coach is working our basics hard at Dryland—what divers call a gym workout, typically involving trampolines, foam pits, harnessed diving over a mat, and usually a solid amount of conditioning.
Point your toes, you’re leaving the board too early, deeper in your pike, shoulders back.
I’m sweating bullets—not just from the hard workout, but from my nerves for tomorrow, too. I’m doing some standard pike jumps on the large trampoline when Dublin saunters over.
“Ready for tomorrow, Maisie Daisy?”
I stop jumping. Not sure when he decided to give me a silly nickname.
“Ready is a relative term,” I reply, miming a so-so motion.
A laugh bursts out of him. My brows lift. It really wasn’t that funny.
“You crack me up,” he says, wiping at the corner of his eye. When he settles, he seems to quickly scan my body. It’s so fast, I’m not sure it actually happened. “Hey, would you want to have breakfast with me after this?” His tone holds a sort of swagger that is hard to describe.
Normally, I wouldn’t think twice about having breakfast with a teammate, but he’s acting strange.
Does everyone already know Karsen and I broke up or something?
I don’t think I’m ready to be hit on. Or when I’ll be ready to date.
I don’t feel like I can trust myself after everything, let alone someone else.
I clear my throat and say, “I’m pretty tired. I was gonna head back to my dorm to nap and eat after I wake up. Maybe another time?” I don’t want to fully reject him in case I’m misreading the situation. In general, I’d love more invitations to hang out with my teammates outside of practice.
His expression falls, but he says, “Yeah, sure, some other time. Have a good nap. See you tomorrow. We’re gonna crush Mannon.” My refusal must not have squashed him too much because he lifts his fist in mock victory and winks at me before heading back to finish his pike-ups at the horizontal bar.
I finish up with a few back one and a quarters on the trampoline in preparation for my back three and a half tomorrow, then grab my water and head to the locker room.
I put in the passcode for my locker and rifle through my bag for my phone. Connor texted. Twice.
Connor: What’re you up to today Betty?
Connor: Wanna watch another movie later? I know you’re probably a little worried about tomorrow, so figured it might be a good way to relax? I’m free all day after my noon meeting with Dr. Fitz. Let me know.
Dr. Fitz is the senior athletic director, so Connor must be meeting with him to ask for a shorter suspension.
My smile kicks up with pride. I’m glad he’s doing that.
Then I remember how friendly Veronica was with him last night and my insane reaction to it.
I have no reason to be jealous. Connor and I are friends. Just friends.
A movie does sound nice, but maybe I should give it a few days before hanging out again—clear my head of these mixed-up feelings and focus on tomorrow’s meet.
I think I’m just going to chill alone tonight, get my head on straight. Let me know how the meeting with Dr. Fitz goes though please?
I don’t wait for a reply before dropping my phone back in my bag.
I take a deep breath, not sure how I’m feeling exactly—definitely not great, that’s for sure.
Connor has been there for me since day one.
I care about how he feels. Maybe he wanted the movie night because he’s sad about missing his first college meet tomorrow.
My shoulders slump in defeat, but there isn’t anything to do about it right now. I’ll wait until he texts later.
I head outside. It’s only 8 AM; Dryland is always at the ass-crack of dawn.
A yawn overtakes me. It wasn’t a lie when I told Dublin I was planning to take a nap.
I walk in the direction of my dorm and focus on taking deep breaths of the fresh air, telling myself it’s all going to be okay.
Maybe if I keep repeating it like a mantra, it’ll come true.