“Charlotte. Are you serious right now?”
Turning my head so I’m looking at her, I shrug. “What? You know I’m right.”
She leans in closer and whispers, “Did you or did you not tell me he told you that you had a pretty mouth that was giving him bad ideas?”
I shoot upright, my head abandoning the headrest, and glare at Liv. “Shut up! And he was just teasing me. He’s been teasing me my whole life.”
Liv shakes her head at me. “Come on,Charlie. You can’t be that oblivious.”
“What the heck are you talking about?”
Liv throws her hands up, and much louder than I’d like her to, shouts at me, “He’s into you!”
Everyone within ten feet of us looks our way and I wave them off and whisper, “ignore her” before turning back to Liv and shushing her.
Thankfully she takes it down a notch when she continues. “He was practically undressing you with his eyes when I walked up to you two after the game. I say you take advantage of the situation here and finally make your move.”
“He’s my brother’s best friend.”
“And your point? You’re both grown adults. And I don’t see Connor anywhere. Do you?”
Instead of responding, I let her words sink in. She’s got a point.
Connor couldn’t make the trip yet for some mysterious reason. He didn’t give me details, but he said there was an emergency back home. I wish he would’ve told me what it was because I’m pretty bummed that no one is here to see me play. My grandparents couldn’t make the trip because my papa just had surgery. It sucks not having anyone here. Connor alreadytexted me telling me he watched me play and complimented my goal. He said he’d be here for the elimination games if we make it, which I guess is something.
The more I think about what Liv said, the more I realize I’m a little bit okay with the fact that he’s not here yet.
Yes, he’s my brother and I’d love more than anything for him to be here to see me play at the Olympics., but we’ve had to miss each other's games our entire lives. Hazards of playing the same sport. And if he said there was an emergency, I believe him.
Maybe him showing up late to Sweden is a blessing in disguise. And maybe Liv is right.
Maybe this is the perfect opportunity to go after something I’ve wanted my entire life. And I don’t mean a gold medal.
It took us all of five minutes to pack up our things because there wasn’t even anywhere to unpack them in the first place. After throwing my toiletries back in my bag, I’m ready to rock.
The wind whips me in the face as we walk to the dining hall. The temperature must’ve dropped a good ten degrees in the last hour. My cheeks sting from the blistering cold and I’m grateful that our walk is relatively short.
As soon as we push open the doors, I’m hit with warmth. And I’m not talking about the heat in the dining hall.
Leaning against the wall with his hands in his pocket, looking absolutely delicious, is Luke. When his gaze meets mine I’m greeted with a devastating smile.
He is so handsome it hurts.
Luke pushes himself off the wall and comes to meet us just inside the doors.
“Here, let me take that for you.”
Although I am perfectly capable of carrying my ownduffle bag, I’m dumbstruck by his chivalry. Normally, I hate to let a man do anything for me, but when it’s the man of my dreams, apparently I’m more than happy to comply.
“Thanks,” I say as a shiver works its way down my spine. It could be from the cold or it could be the way his hand grazes mine as I hand him my bag. I know the answer but I’m going to pretend it’s from the frigid temperatures outside.
Luke slings my bag over his shoulder as if it weighs nothing and then turns to Liv.
“Do you need us to walk you anywhere to meet your family?”
His thoughtfulness causes me to swoon even more over him and I don’t miss the way my heart picks up speed because of it.
Liv gives him a smile before shaking her head. “No, I’m good. My family is actually over there waiting to take me to their hotel.” She points just beyond Luke to a table that’s occupied by her parents and two siblings.
