“Do you do anything other than eat?”
“You should enjoy food more.” He frowns.
“I enjoy it as much as I need. But sure, we can go get food, but don’t get mad if I don’t eat anything.”
We take the bus back and head to the dining hall. It’s colder today than it has been all the other days, but we’re bundled up enough that we don’t really feel it.
Étienne gets some sort of pasta dish, and I grab a bottle of water. We find a place to sit, and he eats and chats about how exciting the game was. I nod along in agreement. It was an exciting game.
“Are you nervous about your first performance tomorrow?” he asks.
“No.”
“No?” he questions.
I hold his gaze. “No.”
“How can you not be nervous?”
“I’ve done the routine a million times.”
“Yeah, but this is for a medal.”
I shrug. “I don’t think about that. If I did, I’d probably throw up.”
He chuckles as he finishes his food. I look around the dining hall, taking in all the different colors and flags and people.
“Hi, hello,” someone says. I look up and spot a young girl with dark hair, that’s braided into two. “Can we sit here?” she asks with a thick French accent.
“Of course.” I gesture to the seats.
“Merci.”
Somehow, as I get back to looking around the room and taking in the fact that I’m at the freaking Olympics, Étienne starts a conversation with the two girls who sat down—in French. I understand most of what they’re talking about. The dialect is different, being from France while we’re from Montreal, but it’s close enough I know what they’re talking about—how exciting it is to be here.
I understand most of what’s said to me, but speaking it isn’t my strong suit. Can’t really read it either.
Étienne says something, ending with my name, so I glance that way.
The girls nod in understanding, then wave at me.
Étienne explains, “They’re on the French Women’s Hockey Team.”
“Wow, they’re doing well.”
“That’s what I told them.”
“Tell them I said good luck.”
He narrows his eyes. “You know how to say that.”
“Just do it.”
He turns back to the girls and they continue their conversation.
My eyes settle on someone across the room—a big hockey player that has been on my mind all day.
I quickly get to my feet.
