The Summer Games: Out of Bounds (36 page)

If I let him come back to Texas and he infiltrated my everyday life, it’d be a different story. I’d have to adapt to him being around. I’d have to get used to spending time with him and building a life with him, and if he ever left me behind, I wouldn’t survive it. I wouldn’t be able to get back on the bus and share a tiny apartment with my mom and pretend my old life was good enough anymore.

It dawned on me that the flipside to being spared the pain of losing someone I loved would also manifest itself as a defense mechanism, to keep men I might love at arm’s length. If isolationism had served me well in the past, I reasoned it would be a useful policy moving forward—and it was, that is, until Erik came crashing into my life.

“So you think I should let Erik come to Texas with me and see how it goes? Just throw myself off a cliff and pray for the best?”

Lexi reached out and thumped me on the forehead. “Yes, you idiot. That’s what love is. Now freaking call the man before you lose him for good!

Shit. Shit. Shit.

“Call him!” Rosie insisted.

“Where’s my phone!?”

I tried calling three times, pressing the phone to my ear as it continued to ring and ring with no answer. Either he didn’t have his phone near him or he was purposely ignoring my calls.

“You really screwed up this time, Watson,” Lexi said, shaking her head as I paced the living room. “And if you think about it, you were really each other’s only chance at love. You’re both so freaking stubborn and annoying, no one else on earth would touch you with a ten-foot pole.”

Rosie laughed and shook her head. “That’s not true.”

Lexi leveled her with a glare.

“Well the stubborn part was true,” Rosie conceded, trying to hide a smile.

“He’s probably already on his way to the airport,” I said, stuffing my phone back into my purse and heading for the door. “I’ll just find him there!”

“UH HELLO?! Thanks for the goodbye hug!” Lexi shouted after me.

I squeezed my eyes closed and turned around. “Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!”

“Wait!” Molly said, rushing out of her room with her suitcase. “I’ll ride with you to the airport, Brie!”

“Then I guess it’s just us you have to hug goodbye,” Rosie said, rushing forward to wrap her arms around me. I squeezed her close and pressed my face into her hair. She smelled so sweet and my heart broke at the idea of leaving her.

“You’re one of the kindest people I’ve ever met, Rosie. Don’t ever change.”

She grinned as she pulled back and Lexi took the opportunity to rush forward and collide with us. We nearly toppled to the ground with the weight of her assault.

“Rosie and I will come down to Texas soon. I like that
save a horse, ride a cowboy
mantra they’ve got going down there.”

I laughed at Lexi and hugged her back. For the next few minutes, we said our goodbyes and promised each other we’d keep in touch. There was talk of a mini-reunion and even June poked her head out of her room before I headed for the door with Molly.

“I’ll see you later, June,” I said with a soft smile.

She nodded. “Yeah, have a safe flight and…uh, sorry about being so rude those first few weeks,” she said, mostly speaking against her shoulder.

I dropped my bag and walked over to offer her a hug. God, it was awkward and short, and we both laughed as we stepped away from one another, glad it was over.

“Don’t worry about it. I wasn’t exactly the easiest person to live with either.”

“Brie, we gotta go,” Molly said, hovering near the door. “I reserved a taxi and it’s already downstairs waiting for us. I don’t want some other athlete to snatch it.”

I nodded at June and then walked back to Rosie and Lexi, demanding one final hug from each of them. It was hard to leave them behind in Rio, but I knew we’d see each other again someday.

I tried Erik a few more times on the way downstairs. I had no clue what I would say to him if he did answer—
I’m an idiot, don’t leave me?!—
but I needed him to know I wanted him to come to Texas. I wanted it more than anything. I had no clue what it would be like, where he would stay, what I would do now that I was finished training and competing, but I wanted him there with me. We’d figure it all out together.

“Still no answer?” Molly asked beside me in the back seat of the taxi.

I shook my head and stared out the window, contemplating the idea that I might have just ruined my chances with the best man I’d ever known. I knew better than anyone how much it hurt to have the rug pulled out from under you when you allowed yourself to be vulnerable like he had this morning. He had every right to ignore my calls.

Molly reached out and grabbed my hand, squeezing it in hers. “Remember the first day you arrived in Seattle? When we stood at the window in our room and I told you Erik’s one-night stand looked a lot like you?”

My stomach twisted with jealousy at the idea of Erik sleeping with another woman, but I forced myself to nod.

“I knew, even then, something was going to happen between you two.”

My brows arched as I whipped my head to face her. “Really?”

She smiled and nodded. “I worked with him at Seattle Flyers for a few years and while he was a good coach, he wasn’t particularly pleasant. I’d seen him make more than one girl cry, but when you showed up, you acted like he didn’t even phase you. You stood up to him right away, and I think that scared the shit out of him.”

Her words were pushing the dagger deeper into my heart. I glanced down to my phone clutched in my hand and tried to call him one last time before we arrived at the airport. He still didn’t answer.

“Don’t give up,” Molly said, squeezing my hand tighter.

I nodded as we pulled up to check-in. In a few moments I would leave Molly for good and though I knew we would reunite someday, it wouldn’t be the same as having her around 24/7. In the last few months she’d been my good friend, my fiercest competition, and arguably my biggest ally.

“I wouldn’t have survived any of this without you, Molly.”

She laughed and shook her head. “You were always meant to win gold. You deserved every moment up on that podium.”

I leaned over and pulled her in for a tight hug. “Will you see Duncan when you return to Seattle?”

She blushed as I pulled back. “He’s taking me on a date tonight.”

My heart exploded with happiness for her. At least one of us was ensured a happy ever after.

Chapter Forty-Three

Erik

Brie was supposed
to be happy when I said I was coming to Texas. She was supposed to jump off the bed and wrap her arms around my neck, kiss me until I guided us back to the bed, promising we had time to make love once more before
we
had to leave for the airport. I could hardly sleep the night before. I’d stayed up fantasizing about our trip together, the new form our relationship would take in Austin.

I had unfinished business to attend to once I arrived. I needed to see my mom and at some point, I would have to speak with my father. They were part of the reason why I was going home, but more importantly, I wanted to be there with Brie. I wanted her to meet my mom, to hold my hand as I spoke with my father, but I knew something was off as soon as I walked out of the bathroom.

Her face was pale and her smile was flat, nearly a frown. I’d intended on easing her into the idea of us going to Texas together, but there wasn’t any time. She’d been busy the last few days and she’d needed space to keep her head in gymnastics. Besides, I knew it was up to me to make the move. She needed to know how serious I was about us and nothing would prove it more than sticking by her side now that the competition was over.

Unfortunately, she hadn’t taken the surprise well. When she’d gathered her bags and walked out of my condo, she’d torn my heart in two. I wanted to run after her and force her to stay, to see reason, but I knew I couldn’t force things with Brie. She was always the first one to run, and I feared if I pushed her, I’d drive her away for good.

So I let her go and I rode to the airport by myself. I sat in the terminal, waiting with the other passengers with my back to the windows so if Brie showed up, I’d be the first one to see her. Still, something dark in me thought she wasn’t going to come. I folded forward and dragged my hands through my hair, trying to convince myself it wasn’t the end of the world if Brie walked away from me, from us. I was going to Texas for noble reasons. I would arrive in Austin, rent a car, and drive the short distance to my parents’ house. I would walk in and hug my mom, tell her how much I’d missed her in the last few years, and then I would turn to my father and hug him too. If my mother had been honest about how remorseful he was, the conversation wouldn’t be so hard. He’d tried to reach out multiple times. I’d even read a letter or two where he apologized for everything he’d put me through, but this time it was different. This time, I was open to hearing an apology, and I knew by the end of the day, my family and I would patch things up as best as possible.

All of that should have made me happy, but Brie was still the only thing on my mind.

“Now boarding first class passengers,” the attendant called out from behind the podium.

I stood up, slinging my backpack over my shoulder and scanning for Brie. I lingered in the back of the line, letting the other passengers rush forward. We had assigned seats; it’s not like it mattered who boarded first. I hovered until there wasn’t any more time. Brie still wasn’t there and the attendant was waving me forward, insisting I was holding up the boarding process.

I handed her my pass, walked down the long tunnel, and tried to fight the need to vomit. I’d never been lovesick over a woman before, not like this. I nearly laughed at the idea of boarding a plane for such a long flight at the exact moment my stomach’s contents wanted to revolt. What perfect timing.

“Here you are, sir,” the flight attendant said, directing me to my seat in first class with a gentle smile.

I’d upgraded Brie’s seat too. She was supposed to occupy the seat directly beside me, but it was glaringly empty and would remain that way for the next few hours, until we landed in Texas. I tossed my backpack onto her seat and sat down, rifling through the seat-back pocket in front of me for a vomit bag.
Just in case.

I listened as the other passengers boarded the plane behind me. Soon everyone would take their seats and they’d close the plane doors, locking out the possibility of Brie joining me.

“Warm towel, sir?” the flight attendant asked, already holding one out for me.

I shook my head and waved her away. She smiled and proceeded to remind me to turn off my electronics or switch them to airplane mode before making her way to the next passenger. I reached in my pocket to turn my phone off and caught sight of the calls I’d missed, ten in total, the last one only a few minutes before. Every single one of them was from Brie. I hurried to call her back, pressing the phone to my ear just as a soft voice filled the first-class cabin.

“You know, it’s kind of rude to stash your stuff on someone else’s seat.”

Warmth radiated through my body as I turned my head and saw Brie standing in the aisle. Our eyes collided, a mix of blue and brown so full of emotion, I felt dizzy. She was beautiful, standing there with messy brown hair framing her face. Her hand was pressed to her chest; she was trying to catch her breath. I assumed she’d had to run to catch the plane in time and my body flooded with relief that she hadn’t missed it.

Her eyes were wide and expressive, and though she tried to play off the moment with an easy, playful smile, I could see her nerves eating away at her. She smoothed down her shirt and fidgeted on her feet, glancing down the aisle toward the back of first class and then back to me with a question in her eyes.

I reached for my backpack so she could take a seat, and she did so with a long exhale, not looking to me right away. I wanted to speak, to do something silly like thank her for coming, but we sat in silence those first few moments as I tried to absorb the shock that she and I were finally meeting in the middle, no longer running from one another.

I knew she could feel me watching her. A soft blush crept up her neck and she bit down on her bottom lip to try to keep from smiling. She was radiant and the longer she sat there, the more I picked up on the subtle things I’d come to love in the last few weeks. The smell of her shampoo—something with coconut—had a way of hijacking my senses. The smattering of freckles that stretched across her cheeks was more prominent than ever, brought out of hiding by the Rio sun.

For several long minutes we sat in silence, each of us trying to process the step we were about to take. I was still struck silent when she finally turned to me, lips parted as if prepared to say something, but instead she shook her head and glanced away.

I leaned forward and touched her hand, encouraging her.

“This is crazy, isn’t it?” She shook her head and tried to pull her hand from mine, but I didn’t let her. “
We
are crazy,” she continued, as if trying to convince herself of something.

“No—”

I tried to cut her off, but she wouldn’t let me.

“Do you have a plan for what you’ll do once you get to Texas?”

I shook my head. “I’m kind of flying by the seat of my pants here.”

She laughed. “See! Only crazy people do that!”

I brushed my thumb across her knuckles. “Crazy would be doing the same thing I always do but expecting my life to just change on its own. This is me—
us
—doing something different.”

Her gaze glanced to me, searching for more. “So you’re sure about this?”

“Absolutely.” I didn’t even have to think it over. I’d never been more sure of anything in my life. “I want to be where you are.”

“Why?”

“Because I’ve…” I stalled, trying to decide if I wanted to say the next few words, if I could even say what she wanted. I’d never been the whirlwind romance kind of man. I’d said those three words to only two women in my life, one of whom was my mother, the other a woman I’d been dating for years before I even considered uttering them. Brie was different. Brie wasn’t a woman that would try to fit whatever ideal mold I thought I had for a partner; she was a woman that shattered the mold and made me feel the excitement of young love again—the kind of love where you never know what to expect next and you can’t wait to find out.

I knew I wanted to be with her. I couldn’t stand the idea of flying home to Seattle without her, so what did that mean?

“I’ve grown…accustomed to you.”

Jesus
.
Did those words actually just leave my mouth?

She groaned and squeezed her eyes closed. “Oh god, Erik. Did you just give me the
My Fair Lady
treatment?”

I laughed and leaned forward. She was right. If I was willingly throwing caution to the wind for her, I couldn’t hold back the truth. I wasn’t just attached; I was…

I brushed my hand along the base of her chin and held it in place so she couldn’t shy away from the next few words.

“I love you, Brie.” The words spilled from my mouth so easily it shocked me.

“I love you,” I repeated. “You have to know that.”

The sun shined through the small airplane window, illuminating her bright, glossy eyes. She reached out and pressed her palms lightly to my cheeks.

“I love you too.” She paused as if waiting for me to run at the mention of those words. When I smiled, she continued. “I really do.”

“I wasn’t sure after you rushed out earlier.”

She had to know how much that had hurt.

“No, Erik. Earlier…” She shook her head and gave herself another moment to collect her thoughts. “When I left, it was out of fear. Rosie brought up the fact that I might be sabotaging my own happiness because I’m scared of being left. And I think she’s right. Honestly, I’ve never been in a position like this and I
am
scared of what will happen to me if…
when
you move back to Seattle.” She dropped her hands and turned away, summoning more courage before turning back to me. “I’ve never loved like this before…and at times it almost feels like too much too soon.”

I shook my head, so sorry for the things life had taught her. No one should fear love. “You don’t have to be scared.”

She frowned and replied, “I know,” though she didn’t sound convinced.

I turned to face her and leaned closer, squeezing her hand in reassurance. “I don’t know what the future will hold for us, but I’m asking you to trust me, to trust that I won’t take your love lightly.”

She leaned forward and brushed a chaste kiss across my lips. “You know we’re going to fight, right? Probably all the time.”

“I look forward to it. It’s what we do.”

I spoke the words against her mouth and reached up to wrap a hand around her neck, keeping her pinned against me.

“Promise me you won’t push me away. Not this time.”

“You’re a hard man to turn down, Erik.”

I smirked. “And you’re a tough woman to convince.”

Her pulse raced against my palm as I leaned closer and brushed my lips against hers again, long enough that she relaxed into me. Her hands fisted my shirt as she pulled me closer, moaning into my mouth. She was burning me from the inside out, so sweet and seductive.

A throat cleared behind Brie.

“Warm towel, miss?”

Brie pulled away from me and laughed, pressing the back of her hand to her mouth.

“Oh umm…” Brie giggled. “Actually, do you have a bucket of ice water instead?”

I laughed, but the flight attendant didn’t understand her joke. She stood there confused until Brie waved her off with a shake of her head and a quick “no thanks”. When she was gone, I leaned close, too excited and turned on to give her space. I whispered against the shell of Brie’s ear, describing how large the bathrooms were in first class, how easy it would be to unzip her jeans and push her lace aside, how fast I could have her coming once the plane was in the air. I kept whispering dark promises in her ear until her cheeks were rosy red and her chest rose and fell with quick breaths.

“Everyone please buckle your seatbelts and ensure your seat backs and tray tables are in the upright position. Once we’re in the air, you’ll be free to move around the cabin,” the flight attendant instructed from the front of first class before continuing on with her safety demonstration.

Brie turned to me with desperation in her eyes. “How long does it usually take for planes to take off?”

“We’ve probably got another thirty minutes at least.”

She groaned. “Then you need to stop talking until then.”

“You don’t—”

She held up her hand. “Erik, so help me God, if you keep talking, I will unbuckle this seatbelt and climb onto your lap right here in front of everyone.”

I grinned, thinking over the sexy image she’s just painted for me. “I don’t think that would be so bad—”

“
Erik
.”

“You’re small, Brie. I could take you right here—just grab one of those blankets.”

She was practically squirming in her seat by then and as a flight attendant passed by our row, Brie waved her down. “Excuse me, Miss, is it too late to switch seats? My neighbor is being, er…disruptive.”

She frowned and assured Brie that every seat in first class was full.

“But please let me know if I can do anything to make your flight more comfortable. Would you like that warm towel now?”