Page 111 of Ugly Duckling

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“Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god!” Mathilda clapped. “She’s going to do it!”

“Go, Mama!”

And as if Sutton heard her girl, she went.

And she fuckin’ did it.

“Three fifty-eight for Sutton Sway Penn!” the announcer bellowed.

I locked eyes with my girl, and we both moved at once. “Let’s go!”

We went down to the track, pushing past security and bystanders as we headed for Sutton.

She continued to lie on the ground, her arms covering her eyes, as she inhaled deeply as she tried to catch her breath.

Since no one was looking, I leaned over the security barrier and dropped Lottie to the ground. “Go get her.”

Lottie went and got her, tackling her on the ground as she excitedly screamed at Sutton.

Sutton opened her eyes, and the tears started to fall.

I didn’t hear what was said, but I didn’t need to.

The love was evident from here.

Sutton’s head turned and our eyes locked, and she cried even harder.

“That’s my girl,” I mouthed.

She pressed her hand to her heart, our silent sign that we loved the other, and I followed suit.

She blew me a kiss and I caught it in front of thousands.

Because who wouldn’t catch a kiss blown at them from Sutton Sway?

Epilogue II

There are just some sounds that people just love to hear. Shoes on gravel. The crackling of a fire. The snapping of necks of the people that think they can disrespect your babies. Laughing babies. Cats purring.

—Gunner to Sutton

SUTTON

Six months later

“Fuck,” I breathed as I stared down at the positive pregnancy test in my hands.

Shit, shit, shit.

I knew it.

Deep down in my heart, I knew that I was pregnant, but I was denying the very obvious signs.

Now I was at the damn Olympics, ready to run against the best in the world, and I was who knew how many months pregnant.

At least two months, if not more.

I’d been denying the truth for far too long.

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