Infamous Like Us (Like Us 10)

With a big inhale, Sulli looks from me to Banks. “If I think about what I want and not what scares me, I know the answer.” And she proclaims, “I want to have this baby with both of you. And I want to be proud when we do.”

We will be.

Banks and I express that sentiment, and we find ourselves hugging each other. Banks has his arms around us while somehow my arms are around them. Sulli tries to un-sandwich herself to hug us, but we’ve really melded her between our bodies.

“About the health stuff. I texted Farrow after I told Thatcher I was pregnant,” she explains in our huddle. “He’s going to take me to a women’s clinic. Since tomorrow are qualifying heats to advance to semifinals, the appointment is the next morning after. In case you both want to be there.”

“We’ll be there,” Banks says.

“On time and everything,” I assure.

Farrow knew, I suddenly realize. He knew she was pregnant sometime during the security meeting. And he didn’t let on.

How did Sulli even get the pregnancy test? Not a lot goes unnoticed between me and Banks, but that did.

Sulli tells us, “Farrow said he’d confirm the pregnancy and make sure everything is okay. It could be a false positive.”

Could be. Am I happy? Sad?

I think we’re all wading in a place of unrest. So the three of us make a pact not to get our hopes up one way or the other. The day after tomorrow, we’ll have our answer.

GBANewYork.com – July 22nd

Sullivan Meadows Advances to Six Semifinals: 200m & 400m Freestyle & Individual Medley, plus 100m Medley Relay & Mixed Relay

Sullivan Meadows displayed total dominance in the freestyle tonight. She set a new Olympic record, a record she previously set, by finishing first in qualifiers with a time of 3:38:23 for 400m freestyle. Showcasing her overall skills, she also clenched heats for individual medley and will be swimming in both 200m and 400m IM semifinals. What really stood out was Meadows’ teamwork, as she helped Team USA advance in both relays.

Tune in tomorrow night to see whether Meadows can keep her winning streak alive.

12

SULLIVAN MEADOWS

“I’m Roger Knolls, your Olympic commentator. Women’s semifinals for swimming are happening later tonight, Pacific Time here in Los Angeles.” The fifty-something well-spoken GBA (Global Broadcasting Association) anchor has salt-and-pepper hair, horned-rimmed glasses, and a handful of notes, but he’s seated on a white plush chair. Not behind a desk.

The camera pans outward to reveal a second “conversational” chair. Occupied by my childhood idol. Appearing dapper for press, a couple buttons are popped on his white button-down, and his armpiece tattoo peeks out of the rolled sleeves.

Kingly smiles at the camera. Charismatic. A fucking natural. A tiny twinge of jealousy rises. If I were that affable in front of a lens, maybe I’d agree to press segments too.

Roger continues, “Sitting down with me to take a look at the women’s prospects for Team USA is none other than Tobias Kingly.” He turns to Kingly. “Eight-time gold medalist and world record holder for the men’s 400m butterfly and freestyle, and that’s just a condensed list of your many accolades.”

He laughs a little. “It took a lot of hard work, sacrifice, training. And I’m just hoping to do my best here in L.A., Roger, and hopefully that means a few more golds.”

“We’re hoping so too.” They laugh lightly together.

“Uggh.” Akara makes a disgusted face up at the TV, mounted in the corner of the clinic’s exam room. “You can’t tell me that’s not a punchable face?” He’s asking Banks.

“I’d punch him,” Banks says like he’s stating the fucking weather.

“No one’s punching the greatest swimmer of our generation,” I retort, not for the first time either. Our debate of his “punchable face” has been ongoing for months now. I am the lone Kingly defender.

Banks nods. “You’re right, ‘cause neither one of us is punching you.”

It swells up in me for a second. He’s calling me the greatest of our generation.

Akara smiles, noticing how Banks’ compliment blows me backwards. “You’re the current GOAT, Sul.”

I shake my head. “I’m your GOAT.” The greatest of all time. “To everyone else, Kingly is the greatest.” Before Akara or Banks argues, I say, “Shhh, he’s talking again.”

They exchange a look like they’re five-seconds from teasing me. So I’m un-fucking-surprised when Banks tells Akara, “It’s a good fuckin’ thing we’re in a clinic. I think she has a disease.”

“Kingly-itis,” Akara quips. “The more she drools, the more fatal it’s going to be.”

I flip them off and then raise the volume on the remote.

They laugh, but the TV drowns the sound.

“…Frankie Hansen should easily do well in the 200m breaststroke semifinals tonight. She has an efficient technique that’ll make her the one to look out for in the finals,” Kingly explains. “And I could see her reaching first in her semifinal heats. She’s competitive in breaststroke and freestyle.”