Chapter Thirty-Six
Thirty-Six
Cyrus
I stood next to Tegan in the spectator area, watching with bated breath as Reece hit the buoy line and swam back toward the shore. His form and his focus were spot-on today, and even as a first-time participant, he’d broken away from the group early.
“He’s doing amazing. All that training is really paying off. How’s his time, Cy?” Tegan asked, her hands white-knuckling the metal partition in front of us. The anticipation and excitement on her face was endearing, and knowing it was all for her brother made my heart swell.
I grabbed my stopwatch and checked the timer I’d started the moment the whistle blew. “He’s on pace to complete the swim in seventeen minutes. That’s one of his better times.”
My mate was doing so well.
He’d come so far over the last three months, and not just with training. His personal growth, his relationship with his sister, our relationship—it was awe-inspiring.
“Go, Reece!” Atlas howled, his deep voice bellowing across the lake.
Reece continued to push himself, swimming hard and fast back to the shore.
He bolted out of the water on shaky legs and headed straight for his bike in the transition area. I held my breath as I watched him struggle with the leash for his wet suit zipper.
I knew that the swim was the part of the race that would give him the most trouble. Even with as many timed drills as we’d completed, they were nothing compared to the adrenaline and fatigue of the actual race.
“Come on, Reece. Come on,” I mumbled under my breath and checked the stopwatch. Every second he fought with the wet suit put him further away from his ninety-minute goal. My instincts were riding me to hop over the partition and help him, but he had to do this on his own.
His fingers finally caught the leash, and I shouted out his name.
Reece stared in our direction, spotting the bright orange T-shirts, smiling wide as he put on his bike gear.
“That damn wet suit,” his mother hissed and shook her head.
“It’s all right,” I reassured her. Reece mounted his bike and pedaled off to start the 20K bike ride. “He’ll make up for it with the bike and the run. They’re his strongest events.”
“Oh, for sure. He’s got this in the bag,” Fallon chirped and ruffled his feathers. “It’ll be thirty minutes or so before they circle back around, right? I think I’m going to go grab a hot chocolate. It’s freezing.”
“I’m in,” Javier said. “I can’t handle the cold.”
“I’m good, thanks.” I was too on edge for a hot chocolate, or to do anything other than stand and wait for my mate.
“Tegan, Mom, do you want to check out the snack stand? We have some time.” Atlas looked at them expectantly.
“That sounds lovely, Atlas. I’ll treat.” Reece and Tegan’s mother patted his arm affectionately.
Gods, she was adorable. The hidden parts of Reece’s personality reminded me a lot of her.
Tegan gave me a soft smile. “I think I’ll stay here and wait with Cy if that’s okay, but you can bring me back a hot chocolate if it’s not too much trouble.”
Atlas leaned over and nuzzled his nose against her face. “You got it, baby.”
The group walked off to the concession stand, leaving Tegan and me standing alone.
We were silent, our eyes glued to the road, waiting for any signs of the competitors.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
“It was nothing, really. Your brother is an impressive athlete.”
Tegan turned to face me, her freckled cheeks and nose flushed red from the cold.
“No, not just for that. I don’t know what’s going on between the two of you, but ever since he started training with you, he’s been different.
It’s like…you’ve fixed something that was broken inside him.
This is the happiest I’ve seen him in a long time, and I think it has something to do with you.
” She threw her arms around my neck and wrapped me in a tight hug. “So, thank you.”
I stood there, stiff and in shock, before belatedly hugging her back.
Obviously, I knew that Tegan’s relationship with Reece had improved, but I never expected her to associate me with the changes she’d seen in him.
Atlas had sworn to Reece that he wouldn’t say anything, and I trusted my friend.
But maybe Reece and I were giving away more than we thought.
She pulled away and wiped the corners of her eyes. “Sorry, I just never thought I’d see this side of my brother again.”
“I’m very proud of him.”
She smiled and nodded. “Me, too.”