Going for Gold (15 page)

I just stood there, frozen, thinking about how badly I wanted
to punch Gabriela in the face.

"I'm guessing not good?" she continued. "I
wouldn't really know. I'll have to take your word for it. I've never lost
something so important before." She let go of me, winked, and turned back
to her teammates.

My throat felt dry. I wanted to have some great comeback, but
I didn't have anything to say. It was worse than not good. It felt awful. It
felt like I was drowning. I needed air. I couldn't breathe. I stumbled off the
back of the platform and ran around the crowd toward the exit.

And I ran straight into Bryce.

His arms immediately wrapped around me. I pressed my face
against his chest and breathed in his familiar scent. It was better than fresh
air.

Bryce didn't say anything. There wasn't anything to say. We
both knew there was nothing that could make this better. Instead, he just held
me in his arms, his chin resting on top of my head. He held me as I sobbed ugly
tears. He held me until I had left a huge wet spot on his shirt from my tears.
He held me until I couldn't cry anymore. And then he just kept holding me as
the stadium slowly emptied out around us.

Saturday

Alina

Bryce and I had talked about what we were going to do after
the game. It was all I had been able to think about for days. But I didn't want
our first time to be like this. We were supposed to be celebrating. I didn't
want pity sex. Luckily he wasn't making any moves. He was just sitting on the
couch holding me, letting me rest my head on his shoulder. He seemed to
understand my dismal state of mind. Probably because he had been trying to
cheer me up for a few hours already.

I wanted him to know why I was so upset. I didn't want to
hold anything back from him. "It's my fault," I whispered into his
shirt. I bit my lip.

"Alina." He shifted so that he could look directly
at me. "It wasn't your fault. The refs were clearly..."

"No." I sat up. I tucked my bangs behind my ear.
"Gabriela knows how to crawl under my skin."

He stared at me for a second. "Did she do
something?"

"When I opened up my locker this morning, these pictures
fell out. Of her and Chris... having sex."
Oh God.
"From the
night he swore they only kissed. I knew he was lying. And I know that Gabriela
put those pictures in my locker to throw me off my game. I hate that she knows
how to manipulate me. She knew how much that would mess with my head."

Bryce lowered his eyebrows.

"Not because I still have feelings for Chris." I
grabbed Bryce's hand. "I don't care about that, I just..." my voice
trailed off. "She always wins. She always beats me." It felt like I
was going to start crying again, but I didn't think I had any more tears in me.
"I thought I could win this time. I thought this time would be
different."

"It was. They cheated."

I shook my head. "It doesn't matter. I still missed the
last shot."

"It kind of looked like the girl in front of you could
have easily stepped back and gotten it."

"But she didn't. And I reacted too slowly. And I missed
a serve. I played badly the whole time because Gabriela is better than
me."

"I don't think she's better than you."

I lifted the silver medal off my neck. I didn't even know why
I was still wearing the stupid thing. "This says otherwise."

"An ITA silver medal is a huge accomplishment."

"Ugh." I tossed it on the bed.

Bryce laughed.

"We were supposed to be celebrating tonight.
Not...this." I was still in my sweaty jersey. I probably smelled. But
Bryce hadn't complained at all. He was the sweetest guy I had ever met.
"You have no idea how much I was looking forward to...that. To being with
you." I felt my cheeks flushing.

He smiled and ran his thumb across my palm. "I don't
mind waiting."

"But you're flying back to Pasadena on Monday. And I'm
going to Wilmington." I wanted to freeze time. I'd live in this moment of
pain as long as it meant I'd have more time with him.

He smiled. "I wouldn't mind having a super long layover
in Philly."

"Super long?"

"Let's just say everything I'm planning on doing to you
is going to take awhile."

I gulped.

"Are you hungry?"

I searched his face. He didn't look disappointed about not
having sex. He looked a little relieved that I was finally talking. I wanted
him to come home with me. Maybe I'd kidnap him like I had thought that Uber
driver had. "I'm starving."

"How about I go get some pizza?"

"Pizza sounds perfect."

He stood up. "And I'll get some fancy new dessert to
try." He leaned down and kissed me before heading out the door.

My stomach twisted into knots.
Dessert.
I wasn't going
to be able to afford to fix up the bakery with the money from a silver medal.
I'd barely even be able to cover rent for a few months. I needed to call home.
I needed to tell them I'd get the money another way. They couldn't sell it yet.

I pulled out my phone and called my mom. After a few rings
she answered.

"Hi, sweetie." I could tell that she knew. Of
course she knew. She had been watching all of my games.

"Mom." My voice caught in my throat. I didn't think
I had it in me, but I started crying again. The realization that I wouldn't be
able to take over the bakery seemed to hit me in a rush. Gabriela had taken
everything from me.

"It's okay," my mom said in her naturally soothing
voice. "It's going to be okay, sweetie."

"No. Mom, it's not enough. Dad's going to sell it. I
need more time."

"Shhh. It's okay. I'll talk to him. He's not going to
sell it before you come home."

I put my face in my hands.

"Alina, they showed the crowd on the TV. We saw
Chris."

Oh God.

"He was wearing a Team Brazil T-shirt. Is everything
okay with..."

"We broke up. He cheated on me with Gabriela
Santos." I lifted up my head. I had talked to my mom a few times this
week, but I hadn't mentioned Chris at all. I just didn't want to think about
him.

My mom didn't say anything for a long time. "What an
asshole."

"Mom!" My mother never cursed. I had never heard
her say something like that in my life.

She laughed. "Well, that's the only way to describe
him."

I couldn't help but laugh. It sounded weird in my throat.
Like I had forgotten what feeling happy was like. I ended up coughing instead
of laughing.

The door of my room opened. I thought it would be Bryce, but
Kristen walked in. She looked a little happier. "Where's Bryce?" she
asked.

I put my hand over my phone. "He went to get
pizza."

"Is that your mom?"

I nodded.

"Tell her I say hi."

I lifted the phone back to my ear. "Kristen says
hello."

My mom was super polite. I thought she'd immediately say,
"say hello to Kristen for me." Instead, she said, "He went to
get pizza? If you're not with Chris, who is the he that Kristen if referring
to?"

The smile that came to my face didn't feel weird like my
laugh did. "His name is Bryce. He's on the track team. We've been hanging
out a lot."

"Talking about him has seemed to cheer you right
up."

I didn't say anything. She was right. Maybe tonight could
turn around. I couldn't change what had happened earlier. A silver was still
damn good. I shouldn't be moping around my last few days in Brazil. Screw Gabriela.
I just wanted to focus on Bryce.

"Isn't it a little fast though? You've only been there
for two weeks. I don't know when you broke up with Chris, but..."

"Bryce is a really good guy, Mom. It's not like it was
with Chris." I looked over at Kristen. She was staring at me, but she
quickly looked away and pretended to fold some clothes when we made eye
contact. "He actually hears me, you know? We have so much in common. He's
so easy to talk to. He's supportive and sweet and really handsome. And even
though he lives in Pasadena, his sister lives in Philly. So he'll be around a
lot."
I hope.
I pulled my knees to my chest.
Oh my God, I'm
falling in love with him.
"I really, really like him," I said
instead.

"Just be careful, sweetie. When I saw you fall to your
knees after the game, I..." her voice trailed off. "It's so hard to
see you upset. You'll understand when you're a mother. It kills me to see you
hurting."

"I know, Mom."

"But if he makes you happy, hold on to him."

The door opened again and Bryce walked in.

"He does. He actually just came back with food, so I
have to go."

"Okay. I love you so much. Enjoy your last few days
there."

"I love you too, Mom. See you soon."

Bryce smiled and walked over to me. "Hey, Kristen,"
he said. "Want some pizza?"

"Absolutely."

I couldn't take my eyes off him. I knew it was fast. But I
was falling for him. My heart actually hurt at the thought of saying goodbye on
Monday night. But if he was serious about making a stop on the east coast, then
I didn't have to worry about a goodbye yet. Eventually he'd have to go home
though. Maybe I'd go to Pasadena with him. I could save up more money and start
a new bakery. I wanted to tell him how I was feeling. I didn't want to take
things slow. For once in my life, I didn't want to play it safe.

"What?" he asked with a smile. He took a big bite
of pizza.

I'm falling in love with you.
I shook my head.
"Nothing." I grabbed a slice.

"We have to eat fast," he said.

"Why?"

"Apparently Tim booked us a spa day."

"Us? Does that mean you too?"

"Um...yeah. Tim was rather insistent about it." He
shrugged. "He said it was like massages and stuff. To make sure we're all
ready for the dance tomorrow."

"Oh, no, the dance tomorrow," I said with a mouth
full of pizza. I hadn't even been thinking about the stupid tiebreaker.

Bryce laughed. "It's our chance to beat Gabriela. Well,
Kristen's chance I guess."

"I am definitely going to win this dance off. It's time
to finally show that bitch her place." Kristen opened up the container
with a delicious looking piece of chocolate cake. "And a spa day sounds
perfect," Kristen said. "That's just what we need, right,
Alina?"

Right now all I needed was for Bryce's arms to be around me.
And for us to celebrate the way we had originally planned. I cleared my throat.
"Absolutely."

Saturday

Bryce

The spa was on the third floor of Dorm 22, which from the
outside looked suspiciously like a five star hotel. The rumor was that all of
the highest profile athletes were staying there and that after the games it
would be converted into an actual five star hotel.

I immediately felt relaxed just walking into the place. The
walls were lined with waterfalls that produced a constant, soothing background
noise that nearly put me to sleep when combined with the vanilla fragrance they
were pumping into the room.

A middle aged woman greeted us at the front desk.
"Welcome to the Athletes' Spa. Can I have your name please?" she
asked.

"Tim Newman, and this is Kristen, Alina, and
Bryce."

"Let's see..." She scanned her computer screen.
"Ah, there you are. Would you prefer a male or female massage
therapist?"

"We'll take a male," said Kristen immediately.

"We will too," agreed Tim.

"Wait, what?" I said.
Damn it. I should have
known Tim would want a man.

Alina and Kristen started laughing. It was the first time
Alina had smiled since losing her match. I didn't want that smile to go away
again, so I decided to keep the joke rolling.

"You know what?" I said. "Send us the biggest,
strongest men you've got."

Alina laughed even more.

Tim raised his hand for a high five. "My man. I
underestimated you."

"Hey, what if we want the biggest, strongest men they've
got?" said Kristen. "That doesn't seem fair."

Tim shook his head. "I'm sorry my dear, but the spa is
like a street fight. The early bird gets the hunk."

"I don't see how that phrase applies to a street
fight..." I said.

At this point, Alina was laughing hysterically. God, I loved
her laugh.

The woman at the desk looked concerned. "I should
actually point out that the spa has fairly strict rules of etiquette and is
nothing like a street fight. For example, any requests for sexual favors from
your massage therapist will lead to early termination of your massage."
She pointed at a sign behind her titled Spa Etiquette.

"Don't worry," I said. "I'll make sure he
doesn't try any funny business with the masseur."

"Good. We should be ready for you in about a half hour.
While you wait, you're welcome to relax in the sauna or hot tub. Your massage
therapists will come get you when they're ready. The men's locker room is to
your left, the women's is to your right."

"Have fun with your hunky men," said Alina.

"How could we not?" asked Tim.

I glanced back at Alina as we walked towards the locker room.
This spa would be so much better if the facilities were co-ed.

Tim and I changed into towels and then I followed him to the
sauna. The hot, humid air blasted us as soon as we opened the door. There were
a few guys sitting on the wooden benches, but there was still plenty of room
for Tim and me.

I sat back and tried to relax, but it was hard not to focus
on the tiebreaker event tomorrow. If all went according to plan, Em would be
safe, Alina would be happy to see Gabriela lose, and Isadora would take down
Rodrigo.
But if it doesn't go according to plan...
I shook the thought
from my head.

"So what do you think our odds are for tomorrow?" I
asked. "Still fifty-fifty?"

Tim shook his head. "Have faith, Bryce. I can't control
for all the variables, but I'd say we have at least a 90% chance of
winning."

"Really? You're that confident?"

"I wouldn't joke about competitive dance."

"What makes you so sure? Practice was good, but not that
good."

"I have a few cards up my sleeve," said Tim.

"Like what?"

Tim glanced around at the other guys in the sauna. "You
really want me to tell you?"

Good point. Better not to discuss it here.
"No,
I'll trust you."

"As you should. Just sit back and relax."

I leaned back against the wall and closed my eyes. I tried to
focus on my breathing instead of the tiebreaker.

It worked for about two minutes until Tim nudged me.

"Dude, did you see that?" he asked.

"What? No, I had my eyes closed."

"Follow me." He hopped up and ran out of the sauna.

Against my better judgment, I got up and ran after him. He
was standing in the middle of the hall looking both directions when I caught up
to him.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"I think I saw Python."

"What? Not this again."

"I think he was that guy sitting next to us. When he got
up to leave someone hit him with the door and his towel fell off for a second.
It was definitely him. Man, I should have known that such a majestic creature
would be found in the spa. I wonder if there's a treatment he does to make his
penis so big."

"Well, he's not here. The hallway is empty."

"He's not in the hallway, but he must be near. Let's
split up and look before the trail goes cold."

"I think that spying on spa-goers violates spa
etiquette."

"This is bigger than spa etiquette."

Was that a pun about the size of his penis?
I decided
to pretend like it didn't happen. "Well, I'm going back in the sauna. Good
luck."

"Come on, Bryce. Please help me," pleaded Tim.
"It's important."

"Mr. Newman and Mr. Walker?" said a man who had
just entered the hallway.

"That's us," said Tim.

Thank God.
They couldn't have come at a better time.

"Hi, I'm Brad, and this is Jimmy. We'll be your massage
therapists today." They stuck out their hands to shake ours.

As we shook hands with them, Tim turned to me and whispered,
"Brad has the grip of a full grown grizzly bear. We're in for a
treat."

Ew.

We followed the men down the hall to our massage room. They
waited outside while we took our towels off and lay face-down on the massage
tables.

Jimmy started massaging my back. It really did feel good,
although it took a little while for me to forget about the fact that it was a
man doing it. He started at my shoulders and worked down to my lower back, and
then he poured some sort of hot oil on me. I thought he was going to keep
massaging, but instead he just patted the area.

"Fuck!" I screamed as a sharp pain shot up my back.
"What was that?"

"First time getting waxed?" asked Jimmy.

I turned to look at Tim. "What the hell, Tim? Did you
sign us up for a wax?"

"No, just you. I always keep my body baby-smooth."

"Well what if I don't want to be baby-smooth?" I
asked as Jimmy applied another layer of wax to a different spot on my back.

"It's part of the agreement you signed when you agreed
to participate as an understudy in the dance. We can't have any stray hairs
poking through your costume. Those suits are tight and HD catches
everything."

Jimmy pulled on the wax and it felt like a layer of my skin
came with it. I gritted my teeth and tried not to scream again.

"See, it's not so bad," said Tim. "The only
bad part is when he does your package, but I'm sure Jimmy will be gentle. It's
worth it for the results though. Alina will love it."

"Nope, I'm not doing this."

"You're really not going to do this after all I've done
to help you with this tiebreaker? Not cool, Bryce. Not cool at all."

Tim was right. I had asked an awful lot from him for this
tiebreaker and he hadn't even flinched. And now he was just asking me for this
one thing. Even if it was a full body wax, I couldn't say no.

"Alright, fine," I said. "But after this we're
even."

"Deal. Gentlemen, will you please excuse me for a
minute? I need to use the restroom." Tim got up, wrapped his towel around
himself, and left the room, leaving me to endure the pain of a full body wax by
myself.