Read Online Mind the Gap (In Too Deep) by Casey McMillin - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Casey McMillin
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At least if she goes nuts in San Diego, it's on my parents."
"You can't be worried about that, dude . Technically she's an adult."
We were just approaching the departing flights drop off, so Collin dropped the subject of his sister and her impending meltdown. "Hey, thanks for bringing me," he said
"No problem," I said. "I'll get Rachel to you safe and sound. We'll be seeing you in a couple of days."
"Thanks man."
"Hey," I said. "You got this." Collin smiled a thankful, humble smile even though we both knew he was about to crush it in Omaha. He held out his fist for a bump before grabbing his bag from the floorboard of my truck and climbing down to the sidewalk.
****
Two days later, I was enjoying my own room at the nicest hotel in Omaha. As a part of Collin's endorsement, Joel paid for not only Collin's room, but also those of his friends and family. I heard he was planning on doing the same thing for the Olympics. Joel had more money than all of our dads and granddads combined, and he and Gretchen were both extremely generous with it.
A big group of us decided to go out to eat the night before the Trials started. Ethan and Emily offered me a ride from the hotel since they had a rental car. As far as I knew, we were just planning on meeting everyone else at the restaurant.
"How are you feeling?" I asked Ethan. I knew he was looking good, but I wanted to feel out what sort of headspace he was in. I was in the backseat so I saw Emily as she looked over at him, waiting for his response.
"I feel good. I hate to put it this way, but I think I can at least get second, which still puts me on the team."
"I know you're gonna make the team, but I think you can best Anthony."
"I'm in a good place with my game." Ethan said. "I'm feeling confident."
I watched as he smiled and reached over the console to grab Emily's hand, which made me shift in my seat and look out the window.
"Are your parents coming Emily?" I asked. Then I suddenly remembered Ethan mentioning something about Emily being estranged from her parents or something.
I felt terrible, but before I could try to take back my words, Emily said, "Actually they are, which is extremely weird for me to say since I haven’t seen them since I left home." I didn't say anything, but I wondered why they'd chance family drama at something as important as the Olympic Trials.
As if she read my mind, Emily looked back at me. "We've patched things up over the phone recently, and they're totally stoked to be here to support Ethan. They're not coming till Wednesday, anyway, since Ethan doesn't swim till Thursday morning."
"And if they act the fool," Ethan said, "I have a friend who gets in street fights all the time." He was referring to my still-thriving black eye, which was now sporting some green tones.
"You just say the word, and I'll take care of it," I said.
There was close to two dozen of us that all sat down together at an Italian restaurant. The Trials would start in the morning, and the tables were buzzing with excitement and conversation. Rachel was sitting on my left, and Ethan on my right. Collin was on the other side of Rachel, and I saw her as she looked at her phone and then held it out to let Collin see whatever was on the screen.
"That looks good," he said.
Rachel was smiling and looking around the table like she wanted to show someone else whatever was on the screen. She looked at me, obviously deciding if I was a good enough option. "It's from Brit," she said. She waited for me to not look disgusted then flashed her phone. "Isn't it cool?" she asked.
The screen was small, but I could see that it was a cartoon picture of Brit sitting on a stool with a guitar. It must have been a flyer for a show, because her name was written on it, and there were details of when and where something was going to take place. I figured it was likely a concert instead of an art show or something since she was depicted with a guitar. She shook the phone, making me lose focus.
"You can't be worried about that, dude . Technically she's an adult."
We were just approaching the departing flights drop off, so Collin dropped the subject of his sister and her impending meltdown. "Hey, thanks for bringing me," he said
"No problem," I said. "I'll get Rachel to you safe and sound. We'll be seeing you in a couple of days."
"Thanks man."
"Hey," I said. "You got this." Collin smiled a thankful, humble smile even though we both knew he was about to crush it in Omaha. He held out his fist for a bump before grabbing his bag from the floorboard of my truck and climbing down to the sidewalk.
****
Two days later, I was enjoying my own room at the nicest hotel in Omaha. As a part of Collin's endorsement, Joel paid for not only Collin's room, but also those of his friends and family. I heard he was planning on doing the same thing for the Olympics. Joel had more money than all of our dads and granddads combined, and he and Gretchen were both extremely generous with it.
A big group of us decided to go out to eat the night before the Trials started. Ethan and Emily offered me a ride from the hotel since they had a rental car. As far as I knew, we were just planning on meeting everyone else at the restaurant.
"How are you feeling?" I asked Ethan. I knew he was looking good, but I wanted to feel out what sort of headspace he was in. I was in the backseat so I saw Emily as she looked over at him, waiting for his response.
"I feel good. I hate to put it this way, but I think I can at least get second, which still puts me on the team."
"I know you're gonna make the team, but I think you can best Anthony."
"I'm in a good place with my game." Ethan said. "I'm feeling confident."
I watched as he smiled and reached over the console to grab Emily's hand, which made me shift in my seat and look out the window.
"Are your parents coming Emily?" I asked. Then I suddenly remembered Ethan mentioning something about Emily being estranged from her parents or something.
I felt terrible, but before I could try to take back my words, Emily said, "Actually they are, which is extremely weird for me to say since I haven’t seen them since I left home." I didn't say anything, but I wondered why they'd chance family drama at something as important as the Olympic Trials.
As if she read my mind, Emily looked back at me. "We've patched things up over the phone recently, and they're totally stoked to be here to support Ethan. They're not coming till Wednesday, anyway, since Ethan doesn't swim till Thursday morning."
"And if they act the fool," Ethan said, "I have a friend who gets in street fights all the time." He was referring to my still-thriving black eye, which was now sporting some green tones.
"You just say the word, and I'll take care of it," I said.
There was close to two dozen of us that all sat down together at an Italian restaurant. The Trials would start in the morning, and the tables were buzzing with excitement and conversation. Rachel was sitting on my left, and Ethan on my right. Collin was on the other side of Rachel, and I saw her as she looked at her phone and then held it out to let Collin see whatever was on the screen.
"That looks good," he said.
Rachel was smiling and looking around the table like she wanted to show someone else whatever was on the screen. She looked at me, obviously deciding if I was a good enough option. "It's from Brit," she said. She waited for me to not look disgusted then flashed her phone. "Isn't it cool?" she asked.
The screen was small, but I could see that it was a cartoon picture of Brit sitting on a stool with a guitar. It must have been a flyer for a show, because her name was written on it, and there were details of when and where something was going to take place. I figured it was likely a concert instead of an art show or something since she was depicted with a guitar. She shook the phone, making me lose focus.
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