Would I be willing to cross that line and risk the wrath of her older brother? I never thought I would risk it, but being here at the Olympics with her, I’m starting to doubt my self-control. The gold medal is mine for the taking, so why not Charlie too?
Except, no. That would absolutely be a terrible idea. I might be willing to risk the wrath of Connor, but I’d never want to do anything to jeopardize his friendship. He’s too important to me.
“We just got in a few hours ago,” Brendan answers. “Apparently our room wasn’t ready yet, but we’re on our way there now.”
My eyes haven’t moved from Charlie. Her breathing is finally less rapid, but the way she nibbles on her bottom lip lets me know she’s still thinking about what I said.
Good. I hope she thinks about it tonight when she’s in her bed, too.
Jesus fuck. I need to reel it in.
Liv laughs, but there’s no humor to it. I finally tear my eyes away from Charlie to look at Liv and she’s wearing an incredulous look.
“Good luck with that. Hopefully it’s better than where they put us.”
My gaze flits to Charlie quickly. It’s impossible not to look at her. She rocks back and forth on her heels, looking a bit uncomfortable now. Her reaction to Liv’s comment about their residence gives me pause.
“What’s wrong with where you guys are staying?”
Liv huffs. “Nothing if you don’t mind sharing a bathroom with your literal competition.”
“No fucking way,” Wyatt says, disbelief coating his every word. “Please tell me you’re not sharing living quarters with Team Canada. Actually, when I think about it, I think I’d like to be there if you are. Cat fights are hot.”
What an idiot
Charlie finally looks up, her eyes bulging. “First off, ew. And no, that would be literal torture. But we are sharing our space with Team Finland. Apparently both the heat and water are out at our original residence hall. Now we’re stuck sharing a bathroom, and walls”—she shivers at the thought—“with Finland’s women’s hockey team. You’d think they’d at least put us with a different sport, but nope.” She pops the ‘p’ at the end of the word and I can’t help but smirk.
Brendan shakes his head next to me. “That’s fucking brutal. Are the rooms at least nice?”
Both girls mimic Brendan’s reaction, shaking their heads. Charlie speaks again, and even though I know I’m not going to like what she’s about to say, I’m hanging onto her every word.
“I don’t even fit in my bed and it’s about as soft as off-brand toilet paper.”
“Ouch,” Wyatt grimaces.
Liv chimes in and by how fast she’s speaking, it’s clear these girls are pissed about where they’re staying.
“And the walls are like paper. We heard a girl on Team Finland getting it on with some dude named Sebastian last night. Listen, I’m all aboutthosetypes of pregame rituals, but hearing it is a different story.”
“I can get on board with those pregame rituals,” Wyatt mumbles quietly behind me. I shoot him a warning glare and he raises his hands, feigning innocence.
I turn back to Liv, and by the look on her face, I can tellshe heard Wyatt too. Except unlike me, she’s not pissed. No. Liv looks intrigued. She shoots Wyatt a wink and then continues her rant.
“That’s why we’re here in the Village right now. We were picking up some earplugs and looking for some gummy bears for this one.” She tilts her head toward her roommate.
I look over and Charlie shrugs her shoulders, not at all bothered by Liv calling her out. And it’s got to be the cutest damn thing I’ve ever seen.
“Still obsessed with those bears, Smith? Let me guess, you still save all the red ones for last too.”
Charlie appears shocked at first, her mouth hanging open for a split second before she quirks her eyebrow at me. “They’re good luck. It’s cute you know I like the red ones by the way.”
My teammates snicker behind me and Liv snorts. But my eyes stay firmly in place on Charlie and that smart mouth of hers.
The things I want to do to that mouth.
While I’m lost in inappropriate la-la land, Charlie calls me out again. “And don’t even try to tell me that curling players aren’t superstitious. If I recall, back in high school, you had to listen to the same songs and wear those stupid flamingo socks to every match.”
“It’s cuteyouknow about my flamingo socks.” I throw her own words back at her and for a moment, we simply stare at each other.
