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He positioned hiun sounded, he propelled hi nearly half the pool with just one dive He kicked his legs like a fish until he began to surface, gliding through the clear blue, before using his arms

Muscle glistened as his long arained a small lead after the first lap His movements were smooth, effortless, his kick turns faster than any I’d ever seen, and as I watched hiood at so

He was al to competition in this event The others were far behind, and when he approached the wall again and turned with ease, kicking his feet until he surfaced, then used his arain, he increased his lead twice fold

Beside us, Mr Brooks held his phone in his hands, checking it “I think he’s going to break his record,” he murmured

My sto a silent prayer for him, while Mrs Brooks squealed and squeezed , I was onwith a few others in the crowd

His lead increased further He was a torpedo in the water, now nearly two body-lengths ahead of the other swiles up, his gaze iital clock on the wall Then he slapped a hand in the water and raised his fist in the air

“He did it!” Mrs Brooks bounced to her feet beside me “He beat his record and the Sweet Valley record for the 200-meter!”

As the other swi rinned Aroundht on his, transfixed by the rise and fall of Carson’s chest as he caught his breath, frozen by the warmth of his smile And all I could think was, I’m completely and irrevocably screwed

???

We fell over the doorstep of the Brooks’ ho the tears from my eyes “Shut up I did not!”

“You totally did When Olivia stopped by our table, you definitely gave her the evil eye But that’s okay It’s kinda hot, having you jealous”

Glaring, I placed hed, but I couldn’t really even be mad After the race, a bunch of kids froers and shakes, where Carson continued to surprise h ith his swi sure I was okay Even when Olivia showed up and stopped by our table, he continued to dote onAnd, okay, I’d adotten a little territorial But, really, did that girl ever quit?

“What’s so funny?”

I whirled around at the sound of Ethan’s voice

He stood at the botto on the knoll post, while his gaze flickered between us