Chapter 21 #2
Our conversation must have caught Ridge’s attention as he came over to join us. “Try us.” He put his phone in his bag.
I let out a heavy sigh. Maybe it was time to finally tell them. “It’s … complicated.” I hesitated, still unsure about opening up. “Let’s just say I’ve been invested in a … non-swimming project lately.”
Before I could see or hear their response, I dove into the water. I swam the twenty-five yards there and back, resurfacing above the water in front of Ledger and Ridge who both still had looks of shock on their faces.
“A non-swimming project?” Ledger asked, his brows raised.
“But all you do—all you think about—is swimming,” Ridge said, as if he were still trying to process my words.
Ledger’s look turned to one of seriousness, which was unusual for him. “Okay, spill.”
I took a deep breath, letting the water lap against me. Okay, here we go. “I’ve been writing. A lot. Under a pen name. TheWriteGuy.”
Both of them blinked, surprised but curious.
“You’re … writing? Like a book?” Ridge asked, tilting his head.
“Yeah,” I admitted, voice low but steady. “Romance, actually. And fantasy. The genre is called romantasy.”
They looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language.
And before they could say anything about that truth bomb, I figured I might as well throw in the rest of it.
“And remember how I told you I was talking to someone online? Like I said, it’s complicated, because she and I … it’s been more than just messages. And, well … she’s also the woman I’ve been seeing in person.”
Ledger held up a hand to stop me. “Hold up. This is a lot of information to take in all at once.”
“Like, what in the heck, bro,” Ridge said, clearly annoyed with me. “Why haven’t you told us any of this? How long have you been writing? How long have you wanted to be a writer?” Each question came faster than the last.
“And how did you meet this woman online? And how is she the same person you’ve been seeing in person?” Ledger said, his questions coming at me as fast as Ridge’s. “I thought you’ve been spending time with Livvi.”
I nodded, rubbing the back of my neck. “Exactly.”
Ledger whistled softly. “Wait, wait. She’s the same woman? The online one and the in-person one?”
Ridge’s mouth hung open like this was all too much for him to digest.
I didn’t have much time to explain myself before Coach started yelling at us to start warming up, so I tried to answer their questions as succinctly as I could.
I cleared my throat. “I didn’t tell you guys about the writing because I wanted to see if I could actually do it first, before I told anyone about it.
And then once I started getting readers and fans, I didn’t want anything to ruin it.
I didn’t want anyone telling me it was something I couldn’t do—or shouldn’t do.
” I paused for a second and then went head-first into explaining how everything came to be with Livvi.
“Then one day a reader, ReadToLiv, messaged me about my book, and we just clicked. We started messaging every day. She’s the one I told you about a month ago.
” I hadn’t mentioned her to them since the day they’d found me stuck in my own head outside of the pool deck.
“But almost at exactly the same time, I met Livvi. And you guys know all about that. But it wasn’t until she said something almost word for word that ReadToLiv had said in a text exchange that everything started to add up. ”
“Does she know?” Ridge asked.
“I don’t think so,” I said. “I found out right before I left for Austin, and …” I rubbed the water droplets off my face.
“Livvi … she’s … amazing. But now I have this knowledge, and I don’t know how to navigate it.
I haven’t told her because I don’t know what to say. And I don’t want to mess it up.”
Ridge dropped down and sat on the edge of the pool, his legs in the water. “Talon … that’s a lot. And honestly? It sounds like you’ve been carrying it alone for too long. You don’t have to do that.”
Ledger gave me a reassuring smile. “He’s right, man. Even if it’s complicated, we’re here. We’re like the kings of figuring out complicated.”
I rolled my eyes at him, a smile tugging my lips.
Ledger joined me in the pool. “But also—writing? That’s huge. Own it, man. You’re a pro swimmer and an author. Don’t hide it. It sounds like you’ve worked hard for both.”
I let their words sink in, the familiar comfort of them grounding me. “Yeah … thanks. I think I needed to hear that.”
Ridge grinned. “Now you just need to be brave enough to show it.”
Ledger clapped me on the shoulder. “And don’t forget, Livvi’s the real deal. She’s worth being brave for.” He splashed me with water. “You’ll figure it out.”
I exhaled, falling back into a float as I let the water support me.
After countless days, it felt like the weight was lifting a little—not from the swimming, not from the upcoming Olympic Trials, not even from my dad—but from holding all this inside, alone.
I had allies. So maybe it was time to stop hiding, in more ways than one.