Diving Into Love, I Go - A Tom Daley Love Story

Chapter Twenty Nine

Tom's POV

"How was your weekend?" Jack said as I walked into training. Jack and Chris were on the floor doing stretches, legs straight in front of them and touching their toes with no difficulty.

Even though Jack is from South Yorkshire and Chris being from Reading they both come to Plymouth at least once a month for a few day training camp arranged by our own coaches. Pete also tries to come but it's usually once every two months and just few days before a synchro event.

"Good morning to both of you too." I said as I put down my bag in the corner of the room and joined them on the floor for stretches.

"Details! Teeny, we need details!" Tonia laughed as she came into the training room.

"I fell into a lake and don't call me 'Teeny', Couch" I said in jest as I pushed my forehead down to touch my knee and feel the familiar burn of muscles stretching in my legs.

"That's what we've always called you Baby Daley, and you're stuck with it." she marched over and ruffled my hair.

"That was ten years ago!" I swatted her hand away playfully.

"And you were so tiny!" Tonia cooed, pulling at my cheeks. How can the press infer the slightest possibility of us two being involved with each other? She still see me as the eight years old that I was when I started to train along side her. She always remind me that I'm like a brother she never had and I'm as annoying as one too. Truth be told, growing up beside her she's more of a sister to me than anything else.

"You weird woman."

"Come on Tommykins, spill the beans!" She exclaimed, completely ignoring the fact that Andy just came in with a cup of coffee in his hands.

"I fell into a lake." I informed and they all looked at me before bursting out laughing.

"What?" I feigned my innocence, I only told them that as if it was the most interesting thing that happened.

"One word. How?" Tonia looked at me with raised eyebrows.

"I tried to board Erin's boat"

"I bet that wasn't the only thing you tried to board" Jack threw the statement in before setting all three of them cackling like a hyena. I just raised my eyebrows at them and shook my head at their immaturity.

"Very funny, guys" I couldn't help but let a smile tug at the corner of my lips

"Fun's over for now. Finish your warm ups and we'll get started with pool work. Teeny, you're going to start with the rigs." Andy nodded his head at me as he set out his instructions. Tonia just laughed that Andy called my 'Teeny' once more before skipping to the changing rooms to change to her swim suit when she finished her stretches.

***

"Alright guys, let's call it a day. Good work and I'll see you tomorrow." Andy stated as Tonia and I emerged from the water from our synchro practice. Tonia and I often work as synchro partners since Pete is not from Plymouth for him and I to have many practices together.

Chris and Jack picked themselves up from the edge of the pool where they have been dangling their feet in the water and joined Tonia and I as we make our way to the shower area.

"What is that?" Chris suddenly blurted out as he walked behind me. We all stopped momentarily and looked around for the possible thing that Chris was questioning.

"What?" I inquired

"Is that what I think it is?" Chris replied

"What the hell are you on about?" Tonia made a clicking noise with the inside of her cheeks.

"No seriously. Tom, turn around for a second" Chris started to laugh making us look at him funny before I gingerly turn around at his strange request.

"Ha! It really is!" Jack squinted at my back before laughing. Jack and Chris started to nudge it each other as I remain in my position with my back facing them but I looked at them over my shoulders.

"Feisty!" Chris cackled and Tonia just shook her head with disbelief.

"What?" I asked, totally unaware of what they are talking about.

"You have been unsuccessful boarding the boat but you definitely boarded her!" Chris smirked

"Mate, he didn't board her, he rowed his way into her love canal!" Jack nudged Chris

"What the he'll are you talking about?" I echoed once more

"You've got a scratch on your shoulder" Tonia smirked and I finally got what they were talking about

"That doesn't mean anything" I replied ac I tried to act cool and not let myself go red.

"It does when there are four of them parallel to each other going down your back. It can only mean one thing and one thing only." Tonia's smirk widen before she joined the others at laughing.

"That girl of yours is definitely feisty!" Jack wiggled his brows suggestively as a memory of Erin digging her nails into my shoulders before resting her head on my shoulders to stop her from crying out as I slowly entered her flashed in my mind. At that memory I could feel my blood rushing up to the surface and to make a quick escape I started to walk toward the shower room.

"You're never going to let him live this down, are you?" I heard Tonia ask the boys.

"Never!" they responded in unison before laughing as they approached the shower room.

They are definitely will never going to let me live this down for a very very very long time.

Oh joy.

"You meeting your fiesty girl then, lover boy?" Chris asked as the four of us stepped outside.

"Drop it guys" I drew in a long breath and let it hiss out slowly as I unlock my mini.