Read Online Fighting to Win (The Elite Book 1) by Nicole Flockton - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nicole Flockton
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relaxing and returning Julia’s hug. “Thank you. He’s achieved so much. I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
Julia loosened her arms and took a step back. “I know you probably don’t want to hear this, especially now and seeing as Mitch has more events to compete in, but I can’t walk away from him again. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I want to try again.”
“I know.” Anabel nodded. “Seeing Mitch look for you after his win was all I needed to know how important you are to him. I have to believe you didn’t bribe those judges.”
Julia’s smile fell. “I didn’t. I would never, ever do that. I worked so hard to win in Russia. I trained non-stop for weeks leading up to the competition. To have the suggestion that I hadn’t earned my win bandied around in the press almost killed me. I wanted to protect Mitch too, so I did what was necessary to make that happen.” Julia paused. The sounds of the crowd in the arena and the announcer talking over the loudspeaker failed to penetrate the cocoon surrounding her and Anabel. “I hated hurting him, but as you said, I couldn’t risk bringing him down. I couldn’t let what was happening to me tarnish him or his reputation.”
Anabel placed her hand on Julia’s arm, squeezing it gently. “I know. It was hard to see Mitch deal with your breakup. But seeing you tonight and seeing Mitch over the last couple of days, a spark has returned to his eyes. A spark that had been missing for months, and I now realized you’re responsible for that spark.”
Was she saying she wasn’t going to stand in their way if they wanted to resume their relationship?
“Thank you.” Over her shoulder she could see that, even though Mitch was still taking congratulatory slaps on the back, his gaze was fixed on her and Anabel. She returned her attention to the coach and inclined her head in Mitch’s direction. “You should go congratulate your son.”
The other woman nodded and walked away. Julia took a deep breath, and part of the stress that had consumed her over the last year released when she blew out the breath.
Now it was time to concentrate on her own event, and when it was over, explain her actions to Mitch and hope to God he understood why she’d done what she had and was willing to try again.
10
T he medal bumped against Mitch’s chest as he followed Brett, who’d won bronze, through to the press conference. He was still flying high from the victory. With at least another two events to compete in, he could end up with four golds from these Games. But he wasn’t going to get ahead of himself. He was pretty happy with the two he’d already won and the fact that he and Julia had reconnected. It felt natural to kiss her after his win. It had been worth the ribbing he’d gotten from everyone. The taste of her strawberry lip balm lingered on his lips.
“You’ve got the medals and the girl,” Brett commented as they sat down at the table in preparation to chat with the gathered journalists.
The last thing Mitch wanted to do was to get into an argument with his teammate. Not the sort of publicity USA Swimming would be happy with. Not the type of publicity he would be happy with. And with the high of winning slowly dissipating through him, he knew that before he and Julia could fully commit, they had to talk about what happened after the bribery allegations. And the man sitting next to him played a major role in their breakup.
He directed a hard look a Brett. “Now’s not the time talk about that. Let’s get through the press conference. I don’t think you want any more negative publicity.”
“Whatever.” Brett slumped in his chair.
Yah, it was a low blow. Until his picture with Julia had been plastered all over the Internet, Brett had been billed as the next greatest thing when Mitch retired from the sport. After the incident, it seemed Brett had decided that he liked the bad boy moniker and had gone out of his way to make it stick. Even
Julia loosened her arms and took a step back. “I know you probably don’t want to hear this, especially now and seeing as Mitch has more events to compete in, but I can’t walk away from him again. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I want to try again.”
“I know.” Anabel nodded. “Seeing Mitch look for you after his win was all I needed to know how important you are to him. I have to believe you didn’t bribe those judges.”
Julia’s smile fell. “I didn’t. I would never, ever do that. I worked so hard to win in Russia. I trained non-stop for weeks leading up to the competition. To have the suggestion that I hadn’t earned my win bandied around in the press almost killed me. I wanted to protect Mitch too, so I did what was necessary to make that happen.” Julia paused. The sounds of the crowd in the arena and the announcer talking over the loudspeaker failed to penetrate the cocoon surrounding her and Anabel. “I hated hurting him, but as you said, I couldn’t risk bringing him down. I couldn’t let what was happening to me tarnish him or his reputation.”
Anabel placed her hand on Julia’s arm, squeezing it gently. “I know. It was hard to see Mitch deal with your breakup. But seeing you tonight and seeing Mitch over the last couple of days, a spark has returned to his eyes. A spark that had been missing for months, and I now realized you’re responsible for that spark.”
Was she saying she wasn’t going to stand in their way if they wanted to resume their relationship?
“Thank you.” Over her shoulder she could see that, even though Mitch was still taking congratulatory slaps on the back, his gaze was fixed on her and Anabel. She returned her attention to the coach and inclined her head in Mitch’s direction. “You should go congratulate your son.”
The other woman nodded and walked away. Julia took a deep breath, and part of the stress that had consumed her over the last year released when she blew out the breath.
Now it was time to concentrate on her own event, and when it was over, explain her actions to Mitch and hope to God he understood why she’d done what she had and was willing to try again.
10
T he medal bumped against Mitch’s chest as he followed Brett, who’d won bronze, through to the press conference. He was still flying high from the victory. With at least another two events to compete in, he could end up with four golds from these Games. But he wasn’t going to get ahead of himself. He was pretty happy with the two he’d already won and the fact that he and Julia had reconnected. It felt natural to kiss her after his win. It had been worth the ribbing he’d gotten from everyone. The taste of her strawberry lip balm lingered on his lips.
“You’ve got the medals and the girl,” Brett commented as they sat down at the table in preparation to chat with the gathered journalists.
The last thing Mitch wanted to do was to get into an argument with his teammate. Not the sort of publicity USA Swimming would be happy with. Not the type of publicity he would be happy with. And with the high of winning slowly dissipating through him, he knew that before he and Julia could fully commit, they had to talk about what happened after the bribery allegations. And the man sitting next to him played a major role in their breakup.
He directed a hard look a Brett. “Now’s not the time talk about that. Let’s get through the press conference. I don’t think you want any more negative publicity.”
“Whatever.” Brett slumped in his chair.
Yah, it was a low blow. Until his picture with Julia had been plastered all over the Internet, Brett had been billed as the next greatest thing when Mitch retired from the sport. After the incident, it seemed Brett had decided that he liked the bad boy moniker and had gone out of his way to make it stick. Even
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