When the whistle blew, Suzy moved. Her strokes were powerful, precise, honed from years of swimming for fun. She sliced through the water, passing one, then another, the sneers turning to gasps of disbelief as she surged ahead.
She touched the wall first, a clear, decisive victory. The crowd erupted, a mixture of stunned silence and surprised applause. She pulled herself out of the pool, water streaming off her form, revealing the sleek, toned physique beneath the clinging fabric. She looked pale, her breath coming in ragged gasps, but it wasn't just exertion. A sudden, unsettling churn in her stomach made her heart pound for an entirely different, mortifying reason.
Even as an organizer rushed over, medal in hand, Suzy was already backing away. "Later!" she gasped, shaking her head, her eyes darting frantically around. She had to leave. Now.
Gavin, watching from the stands, saw the frantic darting of her eyes, her desperate retreat. Suspicious.
