Read Online Fighting to Win (The Elite Book 1) by Nicole Flockton - Free Book Online
Authors: Nicole Flockton
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found herself in the crowds watching the finals of the day’s swimming events. Only a few hours ago she had been wrapped in Mitch’s arms. A blissful moment out of time that couldn’t happen again. Too much was at stake. The 200m freestyle was one of his favorite events, more so than the 400m. Brett had the top time and the best lane for the final.
“Do you think Mitch is okay?” she asked Drake, who had commandeered the seat next to her.
“Yeah. Why? He was pretty happy when I came back to the room.”
“Was he?” Julia fought a losing battle to prevent a blush from taking over her face. The heat climbed up her neck at a steady pace.
Drake laughed. “Ahh, so that’s the reason.”
She could try to deny it, but there would be no point. “Right, so yeah, anyway, do you think maybe because”—she waved her hand around in the air.—“you know, we—”
“Danced the horizontal mambo?”
Well, as embarrassing as it was, at least Drake had the decency not to be crass about it all. “Yeah, that. Will it affect the way he swims?”
Drake shrugged his shoulders. “Dunno, maybe. Although can’t say we’ve ever discussed our pre-event rituals. Guess we’ll find out in a few minutes.”
She could’ve kicked herself. As an athlete, she knew how important it was to conserve energy before a major event. And nothing was more major than the Olympic Games. “If he loses, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
“I’m guessing he was as much a participant in the event as you were?”
“Yeah.” Didn’t make her feel any better.
“Well, he knew what he was doing. And don’t worry, he’ll be fine. He’s done too much work to get where he is to let spending some time in bed with you fuck it up. But if he loses, Anabel may not be so understanding.”
Exactly what she was worried about. She’d already had a subtle warning from Mitch’s coach. If Anabel found out exactly how she and Mitch had spent some of their time today, she was sure to get another lecture and a demand to stay away from Mitch. The last thing she wanted was to be the reason Mitch didn’t get all the medals he wanted to get. Maybe it would be better off if she walked away now. Before he saw her in the crowd. She could go back to her room, watch the races on television, and all would be well.
The announcer’s voice blared around the stadium. No chance of making a quick exit now.
“Don’t worry, Jules. He’ll be fine. And he’ll handle Anabel if there are any issues.”
Drake sounded so confident, but she couldn’t help but let that little bubble of uncertainty grow a bit bigger. It had been hard to walk away from Mitch the first time. Even though nothing had been settled between them, after what they’d shared today, she wouldn’t be able to walk away so easily this time. Just being in Mitch’s arms again, kissing him, having him possess her body told her what she’d tried so hard to deny—she still loved him. She had no idea what he felt for her. Maybe he’d needed to scratch an itch. One last time together before he walked away this time.
She sat down with a thump. Mitch being the one to walk away was something she’d never thought about or comprehended happening. The hollowness that had possessed her when she’d used the picture of her and Brett to force Mitch into believing they were over was nothing in comparison to the overwhelming emptiness coursing through her now.
She was in so much trouble.
With a concerted effort she pushed those thoughts out of her mind. No point borrowing trouble.
Mitch will win .
Any other outcome wasn’t an option. Standing back up, she cheered as loudly as those around her when his name was called.
All the competitors stepped onto the starting blocks. From where she stood, Mitch looked relaxed and in the zone. Maybe he’d been saving himself; doing what was necessary to get into the finals and holding back his best for when it counted the most.
The gun fired, and they entered the pool,
“Do you think Mitch is okay?” she asked Drake, who had commandeered the seat next to her.
“Yeah. Why? He was pretty happy when I came back to the room.”
“Was he?” Julia fought a losing battle to prevent a blush from taking over her face. The heat climbed up her neck at a steady pace.
Drake laughed. “Ahh, so that’s the reason.”
She could try to deny it, but there would be no point. “Right, so yeah, anyway, do you think maybe because”—she waved her hand around in the air.—“you know, we—”
“Danced the horizontal mambo?”
Well, as embarrassing as it was, at least Drake had the decency not to be crass about it all. “Yeah, that. Will it affect the way he swims?”
Drake shrugged his shoulders. “Dunno, maybe. Although can’t say we’ve ever discussed our pre-event rituals. Guess we’ll find out in a few minutes.”
She could’ve kicked herself. As an athlete, she knew how important it was to conserve energy before a major event. And nothing was more major than the Olympic Games. “If he loses, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
“I’m guessing he was as much a participant in the event as you were?”
“Yeah.” Didn’t make her feel any better.
“Well, he knew what he was doing. And don’t worry, he’ll be fine. He’s done too much work to get where he is to let spending some time in bed with you fuck it up. But if he loses, Anabel may not be so understanding.”
Exactly what she was worried about. She’d already had a subtle warning from Mitch’s coach. If Anabel found out exactly how she and Mitch had spent some of their time today, she was sure to get another lecture and a demand to stay away from Mitch. The last thing she wanted was to be the reason Mitch didn’t get all the medals he wanted to get. Maybe it would be better off if she walked away now. Before he saw her in the crowd. She could go back to her room, watch the races on television, and all would be well.
The announcer’s voice blared around the stadium. No chance of making a quick exit now.
“Don’t worry, Jules. He’ll be fine. And he’ll handle Anabel if there are any issues.”
Drake sounded so confident, but she couldn’t help but let that little bubble of uncertainty grow a bit bigger. It had been hard to walk away from Mitch the first time. Even though nothing had been settled between them, after what they’d shared today, she wouldn’t be able to walk away so easily this time. Just being in Mitch’s arms again, kissing him, having him possess her body told her what she’d tried so hard to deny—she still loved him. She had no idea what he felt for her. Maybe he’d needed to scratch an itch. One last time together before he walked away this time.
She sat down with a thump. Mitch being the one to walk away was something she’d never thought about or comprehended happening. The hollowness that had possessed her when she’d used the picture of her and Brett to force Mitch into believing they were over was nothing in comparison to the overwhelming emptiness coursing through her now.
She was in so much trouble.
With a concerted effort she pushed those thoughts out of her mind. No point borrowing trouble.
Mitch will win .
Any other outcome wasn’t an option. Standing back up, she cheered as loudly as those around her when his name was called.
All the competitors stepped onto the starting blocks. From where she stood, Mitch looked relaxed and in the zone. Maybe he’d been saving himself; doing what was necessary to get into the finals and holding back his best for when it counted the most.
The gun fired, and they entered the pool,
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