Page 157 of Floored By Love

“Gatorade wants me?”

“No, I’m still waiting to hear from them.”

“Nike is offering twice as much money?”

“Will you let me talk? Nicolas Holden is sick with the flu.”

“And?”

“He won’t be marching in the ceremony tonight, but Team USA voted for him to be the flag bearer. You got the second most votes, so now you’re the flag bearer.”

Luke just sat there, speechless.

“Are you serious?! That’s incredible!” I practically shrieked in his ear. He almost dropped the phone because of my excitement.

“You there, Luke?”

“I’m here.”

“Good. You should see the flags in the arena once you’re inside.”

“Wait. Do the flag bearers go together or with their teams?” I asked.

“Yeah, the flag bearers go in first, and then the athletes from every country follow in one mixed group,” Shane answered.

“So, we won’t be together,” Luke finished my thought for me.

“Once everyone has entered, the flags are moved to the dais, and the flag bearers sit with the other athletes. You’ll be together for the rest of the ceremony.”

“Okay, thanks, Shane.”

Luke hung up.

“That is some boss shit, Luke,” Orion said, holding his fist out for Luke to bump.

“So, which one of y’all slipped a li’l somethin’ into Holden’s food?”

“We did nothing of the sort, Colton, and you know that.”

“Just teasin’, cowboy. Congrats.”

The shuttle drove into the village and dropped us off in an athlete’s only area, but despite that, it was still crowded.

“Holy shit,” Alex said.

I turned to look at him. He hardly ever swore. “You okay?”

“I just forgot what it was like in the village. There’s an insane amount of people.”

“Well, as the only veteran to have done this before, just stay with the group and you’ll be fine.”

“What about Lu-?” Alex said before Orion put his hand over his mouth.

Orion’s attempt was too late. Luke had heard.

“Fuck. I still can’t believe you were just here waiting for me, and I never showed.”

I stopped walking and turned. I could hear the quiver in his voice, and I could read it in his face. He was on the verge of tears.