I spend the next few minutes scrolling social media on my phone, catching up with life back home in the states.
People are beginning to trickle into their seats and I don’t look up from my phone when someone takes the seat next to me.
I figure the guys showed up early to watch warm ups. I nearly drop my phone when I hear Connor’s voice.
“Not even going to say hi, dickhead?”
When I finally turn to look at him, green eyes identical to his sister’s crinkle at the edges in amusement.
“Uh, sorry. Hey, man! I didn’t think you were gonna make it in time for the game.”
We exchange a hug, holding onto each other a little tighter and longer than usual. I haven’t seen him in months. It’s been way too fucking long.
When we finally pull apart, he keeps a hand gripped on my shoulder.
“I caught an earlier flight. I wanted to surprise Char.”
I nod, not the least bit surprised he wanted to be here for his sister.
“What the hell are you doing here so early?”
He finally releases my shoulder and relaxes back into his seat. Putting my phone in my pocket, I lift my foot, resting my ankle on my knee.
“We had practice at the curling center a bit ago. Instead of heading all the way back to the hotel, I grabbed a bite to eat nearby and came straight here after.”
Connor, none the wiser, nods as if it makes total sense.
Little does he know, I don’t want to miss a second of his sister on the ice. Not even during warmups.
“Makes sense. I want to thank you for taking care of her and finding her that hotel to stay in. You’ve always supported her and it means a lot. You looking after her when I can’t.”
If only he fucking knew.
Charlie and I decided we would tell him about us, together. Our schedules are about to be crazy now that curling is about to start. And with quarterfinals for women’s hockey beginning in a few days, Charlie is going to be focusing and preparing for that.
I’m not sure when we’ll even have time to tell him, but we’re going to need to figure that out. And soon. I’m definitely not going to be the one to let him in on the little secret that I didn’t just find her a hotel room, but I’m sharing the roomandbed with her.
Hating to even lie by omission to my best friend, but wanting to respect Charlie’s wishes and tell him together, I mutter out a simple, “No problem, man.”
Team USA starts walking through the tunnel and we both turn our attention to the ice.
Charlie is always one of the last ones out of the locker room. My smile grows when I spot the number twenty-one on her shoulder. Head forward, eyes on the ice, she is locked in and ready to play.
Connor stands and cups his hands around his mouth. “Let’s fucking go, Smith!” He screams their last name, looking prouder than I’ve ever seen him.
Charlie doesn’t hear him though, the warm-up music too loud.
She skates a few laps around the ice, her strides both powerful and graceful. She glides across the ice effortlessly. It will never get old, seeing her like this—doing what she loves and excelling at it in a way most women never will.
Connor sits down next to me, shoving an elbow into my arm.
“Tell me about Sweden. Are the athletes just as horny as they were when I was at the Olympics?”
Well, fuck.
Canada’s center slams me into the boards, my helmet bouncing off the glass.
“Better luck next time, Charlotte.”
