Page 92 of Yesterday I Cared
“It’s not the somewhere, dude,” he replies. “It’s the someone.”
He means Mia. I know he does, but there’s more to it than that. It’s this group of people who somehow found one another and came together to create something wonderful. Something full of love, support, and genuine joy in being themselves. Some of our biological families are amazing, some of them suck, but what we’vefound in one another is bigger than that. We are a family that comes together when biology fails or can’t be here.
“You’re right,” I agree, “but it’s still not something I thought I’d ever find.”
“It’s always been here. Always will be.”
Not knowing what else to say, I clap him on his shoulder and let him head toward Josie. With Mia heading my way, I keep standing, waiting for her to reach me.
I will always feel some resentment over what was taken from me, but at least my friends will all get to go out on their own terms. It took me a long time to realize I spent so much time holding on after that accident because I was too afraid it’d be taken from me. I didn’t want to repeat history again; I knew where I stood in the public eye, knew where I stood in my family’s eye, and I no longer cared about living my own life.
“What are you thinking about?” A hand winds around my bicep, giving it a gentle squeeze. I look down into the eyes that make my stomach swoop, hoping this feeling never goes away. “You didn’t hear me talking to you?”
I lean down, pressing a kiss against her cheek, winding my arm around her shoulder. “Sorry about that, beautiful. I’ve been taking a minute…you know, soaking it all in, and thinking about what’s coming next.”
For a fraction of a second, her shoulders tense beneath my arm. I hate that I’m part of the reason she has this fear; a knee-jerk reaction to someone else bringing up the future and the possibility that it might not include her. I hate that someone, including me, ever put that thought in her head.
I silently vow to myself that she’ll never have to worry about something like this again. At least, not from me. My plans includesticking around until she’s so sick of me, she begs me to leave. But even then, I doubt I’d go far.
Her arms wind around my middle, resting her head against my shoulder, which gives me the perfect opportunity to press a kiss against her forehead.
“So, what does the future look like for you now, Ronan O’Brien?”
I grin at the familiar tone. It’s the same one she used in every interview she ever conducted for the blog, calm and approachable, but clearly all business. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard that tone. Part of me missed it. “Nothing too extravagant, Miss Sheridan,” I tease back. “I want to make my house into a home, take two swimmers to the Los Angeles Olympics, at least, and fall more and more in love…you know, the basics.”
Her intense gaze snaps up to mine, a frown creasing her forehead. “What do you mean, taketwoswimmers to the Olympics?”
“That’s the part you picked up on?” I ask, brow raised. “Not the falling more and more in love part?”
“Of course not,” she scoffs. “If I’m involved, there will be plenty more falling in love. I’m multi-faceted.”
My laugh echoes through the emptying pool, bouncing off the walls, and causing a couple of people to turn our way. My entire focus, though, is on Mia. The woman who has so many beautiful sides to her that I can’t wait to discover. Even her prickly sides are alluring to me (although, I think I can go a while without having them directed at me again).
“Ronan O’Brien, you better tell me what other swimmer you’re going to take to the Olympics!” She pulls away enough to glare at me.
“Well, obviously, I want all the kids on my team to at least make it to Trials. While they can’t all make the team, there are two whoI think have a good shot at making it.” Her glare darkens. “One of them is a new kid who has a lot to prove. And the other—”
I’m cut off by the sound of a shrill squeal that sends everyone’s attention swiveling to find the source. And the source of that sound is a very excited Josie Martin, who’s being spun around in Bryce’s arms. While most might wonder if a proposal has happened, that ring has been sitting on her finger for weeks now, so those closest to her know it’s something else.
“Oh, my god,” Mia breathes, turning to focus on me. Her eyes are wide, foggy with tears. “Is Bryce?”
“Yeah,” I confirm with a nod. Her hand flies up to cover her mouth, a few tears managing to escape. “He’s not done, and if I learned anything from my own experience, it’s the importance of not letting someone else take your dream away from you.”
“And he asked you to coach him?”
My grin grows. “Yeah, but we’re not calling it a comeback. For either one of us.”
With Emmie and Bryce, this would be the first time I’m officially putting my name out there as a coach. I’ve helped hundreds of kids through Operation Fly, coached them myself, but their success was always tied to the organization rather than me as an individual. Bryce’s request gives me a different opportunity in this sport. I have an opportunity to help shape champions, to take the hardest lessons I learned and use them to make athletes stronger.
Two Months Later
“Okay, but hear me out,” Carter yells over the arguing that’s happening in Ronan’s library. “What if all the great Olympic swimmers come out of retirement and try to make it to LA? It’d be pretty epic.”
“All of them?” I question with a raised brow. “Even those who are dead?”
Carter groans, glaring at me. “No! Obviously not them. I’m talking the Phelps era, maybe a bit younger.”
“I don’t think anyone can talk Jason Lezak into making a comeback, dude.” Ronan steps up behind me, pressing his hand against the small of my back. “Maybe Lezak could take his place.”
