Making a Splash

Mackenzie walked into the aquatics center, wondering why she was putting herself through all of this once again. She thought after she had originally injured her shoulder that she would never step one foot near a pool again. But, when Jack had asked her to work with US Swimming to help with their new children’s program, she had agreed, and everything had changed.

After Mackenzie had reinjured her shoulder by slipping near the pool, she had once again sworn she wouldn’t go back near the pool. She thought it would be too painful to see everyone swimming, and she wouldn’t even be able to get into the pool because of the brace her shoulder was in. Skye had told her time and time again that she was more than welcome to come back, even just to watch the kids, but Mackenzie had refused.

But, when Ryan had come over to her apartment the previous night, asking her to come back just to watch the kids, she couldn’t say no. She didn’t know if she wanted to see the kids again or if she just couldn’t say no to Ryan, but here she was again, going to the pool.

She walked inside, and she could feel everyone’s eyes immediately on her. She wanted to turn around and run in the opposite direction, but she couldn’t do it. She slowly walked towards the pool, seeing all the guys and Addie swimming, and she sighed to herself, wishing it could be her swimming instead of all of them.

She continued walking and saw Skye sitting on the bleachers, talking on her phone. Skye saw her and waved her over, and Mackenzie did as requested. She sat down next to her, hearing her tell the person she was on the phone with that she would call them back later. “It’s good to see you here,” Skye told her with a smile. “I wasn’t sure you were ever going to step foot in this place again.”

“Yeah, I wasn’t sure I was going to either,” Mackenzie admitted, staring out at the pool, watching as Ryan continued working on his backstroke.

“What made you change your mind?” Skye asked, looking over at her.

“Ryan,” Mackenzie replied, and Skye looked over at her curiously, waiting on her to further explain. “He came over last night and we talked about everything that’s happened. He made me realize that even though I can’t swim right now, that I should still come in, even if it’s just for the kids.”

“Why do I feel like there’s more to this story than what you’re telling me?” Skye asked.

“There’s nothing else,” Mackenzie assured her. “Ryan’s just really good at making his point.”

“Whatever you say,” Skye smiled at her as Ryan got out of the pool, grabbing his towel from next to her, causing her to get wet from water dripping off of his body. “Thanks, Lochte, I needed another shower today,” she said sarcastically, wiping the water off of her.

“Hey, I’m glad you decided to come,” Ryan told Mackenzie, ignoring what Skye had said to him. He wrapped the towel around his torso as he sat down on the other side of Mackenzie. “How are you doing?” he asked, knowing it was going to be difficult for her to go near a pool right now since she couldn’t go in the water.

“This sucks,” she replied honestly. “I hate this.”

“I know you do,” Ryan told her. “But, we all know that the kids are going to love seeing you here.”

“That’s what you think,” Mackenzie retorted, rolling her eyes.

“Just wait and see,” Ryan assured her. “Hey,” he said suddenly, and Mackenzie turned her head to look at him. “What do you say we go out tonight?” he suggested.

Mackenzie looked at him curiously, wondering if she had heard him correctly. “You mean like a date?” she asked him.

Ryan nodded his head. “Yeah, like a date.”

“Sure,” Mackenzie said. “I’d like that,” she added with a smile, her day looking up.

***

Mackenzie sat on the bleachers as the kids started to arrive at the pool. The kids hadn’t seen her since she had left the aquatics center after falling and dislocating her shoulder, and she wasn’t sure if any of them were really going to miss her. But, she realized how wrong that thinking was when one of the little girls, Blaire, came running over to her when she saw her sitting on the bleachers. “Mack!” she exclaimed as she sprinted towards her.

“Hey, Blaire,” Mackenzie smiled at the girl, standing up as Blaire ran into her, wrapping her arms around Mackenzie’s waist. Mackenzie made sure to move her arm so that Blaire wouldn’t accidentally hit her shoulder, but she tried to hug her back as best as she could. “How are you doing?”

“I’m good,” Blaire told her, taking a step back. “I’m glad you’re here, though. I’ve missed you. Ryan kept saying that he was going to try to get you to come back in here, but he said that you were sad that you couldn’t swim anymore.”

“Yeah, he’s right,” Mackenzie sighed.

“Well, I’m glad you’re back!” Blaire exclaimed. “When I grow up, I want to be just like you!”

Mackenzie fought the urge to be sarcastic and ask Blaire if she wanted to be a washed up, injured swimmer who couldn’t even get in the pool anymore, but she decided not to do that. “Thanks,” Mackenzie smiled at her. “You better get back in the pool before they start without you,” Mackenzie told her, and Blaire nodded her head, giving Mackenzie one more smile before walking towards the pool, jumping into it.

Mackenzie could feel someone’s eyes on her, and she turned around to see Ryan staring at her. “See, they still want you here,” he said, walking towards her.

“How much did you pay her to say that stuff to me?” Mackenzie asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

“Nothing,” Ryan assured her. “She said all of that on her own. She looks up to you, Mack, whether you’re injured or not. You’re still going to be her favorite swimmer.”

“Thanks, Ryan,” Mackenzie told him. “Go get in that pool,” she smiled, pushing him towards the water. He slid on some water, falling into the pool. Mackenzie’s eyes widened when she realized what she had caused him to do, and she heard all of the kids laughing at him. When Ryan submerged, Mackenzie looked down at him. “I am so sorry,” she apologized, biting back laughter, but failing at it.

“You are such a liar,” Ryan told her. “You did that on purpose,” he accused.

“I swear, I didn’t,” Mackenzie told him, holding up her one good hand in defense.

“You are so lucky that you have an injured shoulder right now and can’t touch water. Because if you didn’t have your arm in that brace right now, I’d so be throwing you in this water right now,” he told her.

“I guess I am lucky, then, aren’t I?” she laughed, watching as Ryan shook his head and swam away from her to the kids.

For the next few hours, Mackenzie watched the kids in the pool, unable to believe how much improvement each of them showed in just a few short weeks. Before she knew it, they were all getting out of the pool, going to meet their parents who were waiting to pick them up. After the last child had left with his mother, Ryan walked over to Mackenzie. “You still up for that date tonight?” he asked her.

“The same rules apply as our first date,” Mackenzie told him, and he looked over at her curiously, not knowing what she was talking about. “No grill,” she clarified.

Ryan couldn’t help but laugh at her. “What is wrong with the grill?” he questioned.

“I hate it. And, I am not going out with you wearing it,” she told him, not budging on her position.

“Fine,” he sighed, and Mackenzie smiled at her small victory. “I’ll pick you up at seven?”

“Sounds good,” she told him as he walked towards the locker room to change and Mackenzie walked out of the aquatics center to go home and get ready for the date.

Just as the clock turned to 7:00, there was a knock on the door, and Mackenzie couldn’t help but smile, excited for her date. It had taken her nearly an hour to try to figure out what she was going to wear and then to actually put the outfit on, as it was difficult trying to get dressed with only one arm. She opened the door, and saw Ryan standing there, leaning against the doorframe. “Hey,” she smiled at him.

“You look beautiful,” he told her, leaning in and kissing her.

“Thanks,” she told him, grabbing her purse before following him outside. “So, where are you taking me? And, if you say your house again, I’m going to think you don’t want people to know we’re dating,” she added jokingly.

“What? You didn’t like our first date?” Ryan asked, feigning hurt.

“I loved our first date,” Mackenzie admitted. “But, where are we going tonight?” she asked.

“You’ll just have to wait and see,” Ryan told her as they got into his car. Mackenzie opened her mouth to protest, but Ryan cut her off. “Just wait and see,” he repeated.

“Fine,” Mackenzie sighed, leaning her head back against the headrest and looking out the window to see if she could figure out where he was taking her.

Twenty minutes later, they pulled up in front of a fancy restaurant, and Mackenzie turned to look at Ryan. “Ryan, you didn’t have to take me some place fancy,” she told him.

“I know,” Ryan nodded his head as they got out of the car and he gave the keys to the valet before putting his hand on the small of Mackenzie’s back, guiding her inside. He gave the hostess his name, and she led them back to a quiet table in the back corner.

The two of them quickly ordered their food, and started a conversation, which flowed easily from topic to topic. As their food arrived at the table, Mackenzie suddenly realized that she was going to have trouble eating. Ryan looked at her, wondering why she wasn’t eating. “What’s wrong?” he asked her, concerned.

“Ummm…” Mackenzie trailed off. “I can’t eat this,” she told him.

“Why not?” Ryan asked, looking at her steak that was sitting on her plate. “Is it not cooked correctly or something?”

“Ryan,” Mackenzie interrupted him. “I have one arm,” she reminded him, lifting her right arm up slightly. “I can’t cut it.”

“Oh,” Ryan said, suddenly understanding what she was talking about. “Here, give it to me,” he said, reaching out and grabbing her plate from her and putting it in front of him, grabbing the knife and cutting it up for her.

“Ryan!” Mackenzie exclaimed, unable to believe what he was doing. He looked up at her, wondering why she had just said his name. “You can’t do that! I’m not a five-year-old.”

“I know, but you also can’t cut this. And, I’m not going to let you sit here and continue starving, so I’m going to cut it for you.” Mackenzie covered her face, embarrassed that he was having to do so much for her. “Mack,” Ryan said, and she slowly uncovered her face. “Don’t worry about it,” he told her, quickly finishing cutting her steak and placing the dish back in front of her. “There you go,” he said, picking up his fork and digging into his food.

“God, I feel so stupid,” Mackenzie muttered under her breath.

“Mack, don’t worry about it,” he repeated. “It’s not a big deal. Now eat up. I’ve got more plans for tonight,” he smiled at her.