“You’re imagining things.” The denial came out a little too fast.
“Maybe.” Ethan shrugged. “But if I caught it from twenty feet away, I’d hate to see what it looked like up close.”
I studied him for a second. “You think you saw something.”
Ethan shrugged. “The guy practically stopped breathing when you talked to him.”
I barked out a laugh, mostly because the alternative was taking Ethan seriously.
“That’s ridiculous.”
Yet the image of Luka standing frozen beside the bench chose that exact moment to return.
“Okay.”
“Stop saying okay like that.” I pushed through the doors into the cold evening air.
“Sure.”
Which obviously meant absolutely not.
We walked half a block in silence before Ethan stretched both arms overhead and announced, “I’ve made a strategic decision.”
Thank God. We were apparently done talking about Luka Davorin.
“That sentence has never improved my life.”
“I’m going back to the Village and taking an irresponsible amount of condoms.”
I barked out a laugh. “Taking?”
“They’re free. At this point it’s diplomacy.” Ethan shook his head in amazement. “The Olympic Committee looked at several thousand elite athletes in peak physical condition and said, you know what this situation needs? Unlimited contraceptives.”
“That feels medically responsible, actually.”
“It feels optimistic.” He grinned. “It also reads like unlimitedaccess to bad decisions. The Games are now a globally sponsored hookup festival with occasional sports.”
I laughed again while we crossed the street. “How many have you taken already?”
“From the lobby alone? Enough to concern several governments.”
“Jesus Christ.”
“Nathan thinks they’ll run out by next week,” Ethan continued.
“And you?”
“I’m giving it until tomorrow.”
“That estimate says worrying things about you.”
“You should see the snowboarders. Absolute chaos.” Ethan fanned himself. “Also hot enough to destroy civilization.”
“Thoughts and prayers.”
“There’s one speed skater. Oh myGod, Dean—this man smiled at me and I nearly forgot my own name.”
“Devastating.”
