Page 158 of Floored By Love

“That’s in the past, Luke. I’m good. We’ve gotten through it. We-”

“I know that! But, being here, imagining you with Ty and Erika, and I never showed.”

“Shhh,” I said, pulling him into me.

“Sorry, guys. I didn’t mean to.”

“It’s okay, Alex. Sometimes it’s hard to remember the reality when we’ve made up a story for the public,” I said.

Luke’s sobs were getting softer now. His shoulders weren’t heaving any more.

I felt Colton’s hand on my shoulder, and Orion had moved behind Luke, putting a hand on his back.

“Get in here, Alex,” Colton said, pulling him into our makeshift group hug.

After another minute, Luke pulled back, wiped his nose and eyes, and composed himself. “Thanks, guys. Sorry about that.”

“No need to apologize, Luke. The Olympics bring a lot of emotions to the surface,” Colton said.

I added, “Especially when hearts are involved.”

Luke glanced at me, but we didn’t have time for a moment. Colton was pushing us with the crowd.

“Y’all don’t want Luke to be late. Let’s get goin’.”

“I really wanted to walk into that stadium holding your hand tonight.”

“Well, you’re going to be holding the American flag instead. You can hold my hand later. Your teammates are counting on you.”

“They voted for Nicolas Holden.”

“So?! You’re the alternate and you have a job to do. This is a big deal, and I’ve heard people saying the voting was close. It seems a lot of people didn’t want Nicolas to get it again.”

“Where did you hear that?”

“Nowhere,” I admitted, “but it sounded good, right?”

“It sounded like the beginning of a Scooby-Doo episode.”

“Well, let’s hope no one tries to take you out either. I like my boyfriend an awful lot, and this hand is going to be waiting for him.”

“I like you too.”

I paused. I was ready to say it.

“Well, I don’t just like you, I lo-”

“Lucas Rivera!”

We both looked over to see an exasperated woman wearing a headset and holding a clipboard.

“This is you, right?”

It was Luke’s photo on the clipboard.

“Ye-yes,” he answered.

“Well, good. Let’s go. We’re about to start. We need to get you a harness.”