by Sean Michael
Chapter Thirteen
He turned the music up loud, eyes on the water, the beat fast and hard. His first meet in months. Fuck. His first final. His first real swim after the Big Mess.
What if he fucked up? What if he didn't? He really wanted pizza. He was really queasy. Man, he was ready for the race to start.
Warm, solid hands landed on his shoulder, Coach's voice low and gravelly against his ear. “The wall, baby."
"Right. Yeah. I am. Sorta. The wall.” Right. Big concrete thing around the pool. Got it.
Coach's hands started massaging. “Come on, Mike. You know how to do this. Focus."
"I do.” Mike nodded, eyes closing, just nothing but Coach's touch and the music and the wall. He could almost feel the water.
"That's it, baby.” Coach's voice was almost a part of him, a part of the water. “This race is yours, so you don't even need to think about anything but the wall. Just go for the wall."
He listened to that voice, hearing it echo inside him. Yeah. Yeah, Coach. He heard.
Coach stayed right there with him, a solid, quiet presence behind him, until they called his race. “The wall, baby.” They were Coach's last words. They always were.
He handed over his CD player, his jacket. He had the fifth lane, was between two incredibly strong swimmers. Life was good. The buzzer sounded and he was off, the water pouring through him, Jessy's voice urging him to the wall.
One turn, two.
By the third turn, the other swimmers were gone. All he could hear was Jessy. “The wall, baby. The wall."
When he hit the wall and came up there was a roaring in his ears, but he did what he always did, searched out Coach's face.
Oh. Oh, Jessy was shouting, yelling or screaming, he wasn't sure and he couldn't make out the words, but Jessy was happy. Maybe even ecstatic.
He shook the water out of his eyes, blinking at the scoreboard, looking for his name.
There it was right at the top, the letters WR right next to his time.
Mike blinked.
Twice.
Then he looked over at his coach, needing to know this was real.
He got the thumbs up from Coach. Two of them. Coach looked like he was about to burst. Then, like it was in slow motion, Coach Samuels was clapping Jessy on the back, giving him a hug. He got out of the pool, the UT team swarming around him, congratulating him, slapping his back.
Wow.
Coach gave them a few moments before wading in and giving him a bear hug, lifting him off his feet. “I knew you could do it."
"We won.” He met Jessy's eyes, heart pounding furiously. “We broke the record."
"You did. I am so damned proud of you I just might bust.” He was given another bear hug, and Jessy laughed.
He nodded, the reality starting to sink in. “I. Wow, Coach. Wow."
Jessy laughed and hugged him again. “Yeah. Wow."
The other swimmers all came over to congratulate him, with Brad, the favorite of the day who'd wound up with second, giving him a hug. “That rocked, man. You were flying."
"Thanks.” He grinned, nodded. “It's cool what the right coach can do for you."
Brad nodded. “I've heard yours is a real hardass, but it sure got you results."
"He's got what I need."
"I swam a personal best today and you still blew me out of the water.” Brad was grinning, though, obviously no hard feelings toward him. “I'll see you at the medal ceremony."
"Great race, Brad,” Jessy called out as Brad turned to go.
"Thanks, Coach."
He turned to Jessy, shrugging on his jacket. “I get pizza.” It wasn't a question.
Jessy just laughed. “Hell, I'm tempted to let you have a Dr. Pepper to go along with it."
"Oh, hell, yes!” He grinned, hugged Jessy again as they headed to pick up their stuff.
"I said tempted, I didn't say I was giving in to temptation.” He was given a wink. “You want to stay for the mini ceremony or wait and pick up your medal at the closing ceremonies along with the rest of the ones you win?"
"Let's wait. I hate those things."
"Okay. You realize you don't get your pizza until after all your races, right?” Jessy gave him a grin. “You still need to focus on that wall, baby."
"Yeah, I know. I still want some food and a hot shower.” He grinned at Jessy. “And a massage?"
Coach nodded. “I think a massage can be arranged."
"Oh. Oh, cool.” He looked over, bouncing on the balls of his feet. “I broke a world record."
"Yep. And at an official OSB meet. That's going to go in the books alongside your name. The first of many."
He met Jessy's eyes, just a little wigged. “I don't believe it. I just can't."
Coach smiled gently, hand stroking his cheek and then going to squeeze his shoulder. “Mike. You don't have to believe it. All you have to do is get in the water again tomorrow and go for the wall."
"Oh. Okay. I can do that.” He grinned, nodded. “I can so do that."
Jessy's arm came around his shoulders, his coach walking in step with him. “I know you can."
They headed for the car, sort of leaning together.
Together. Yeah. Him and Jessy, his coach, his lover. His.
Now that was a personal best.
End.
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