Page 22 of Floored By Love

No one did.

“Well, how about we check out a gay bar or two?” Colton suggested.

“What if you’re recognized?” Alex asked.

“Well, no pressure, but if Luke and Orion go, then we’re just supporting our teammates, aren’t we?”

I forced myself not to look over at Luke. He was in the shower on Colton’s other side.

“I doubt Cassandra would let me go,” Luke said.

“I need my sleep. Maybe after the gala?” Alex said.

Orion chimed in. “I’d love to go, Colton, but I think Alex is right. After we’re done, we can definitely hit the bars. I’m legal here!”

“Maybe we stay in the village tonight? Do something there?” I offered.

“Alright, alright. I reckon I can sow my big gay oats another night.”

“Yeah. Sure.” I narrowed my eyes and gave him a look. His oats were being reserved for someone else, and he and I both knew that. He mouthed ‘What?’ at me and I shook my head and smiled.

“So, what do we want to do in the village?” Orion asked.

Alex ended up getting out his guidebook to the village for ideas. We decided on hitting up the salon for new haircuts, and Orion convinced us to get mani-pedis as well. There was a bit of a wait, so we put our names on the list and killed some time in the video arcade next door. All the games were free. They had basically converted the warehouse we were in into a mini mall. The Olympic village was like its own city. It even had a dentist.

None of us had anything drastic done. Orion had his edge-up sharpened. He had a Michael B. Jordan vibe happening with his buzz cut, though no facial hair. Luke was the only one on the team that had any scruff, and he was also the only one to skip the haircut, keeping his longer curls. It surprised me Cassandra let him come, but it seemed like if the whole team went somewhere, then he could go. I opted to refresh my undercut. I kept the top longer, but buzzed the sides. Alex and Colton both just got trims. Alex kept his mess, a spiky crew cut, and Colton’s was like mine but longer and faded on both sides.

After each haircut, they moved us to one of the fancy massage chairs to start our feet soaking. I’d never had a pedicure before, so it pleasantly surprised me when the technician started massaging my feet and calves. Colton hadn’t had one either, and apparently, his feet were more ticklish than mine.

“Do not kick the woman, Colton,” Orion warned. “Control those tree trunks of yours.”

“I can’t help it,” he said, giggling. “I have very ticklish feet.”

The woman had dealt with the likes of Colton before because she started handling his feet with more tenacity and he calmed down. As much as I thought it would be fun to try some color, I did not get any nail polish. None of us did. I was pretty sure a male gymnast had never worn any at the Olympics, and I knew the women were supposed to use natural or neutral tones, if any at all. I knew Erika didn’t wear any during competitions. It was fun to think about, though.

Half an hour later or so and we were done.

“Boy, I feel very pampered,” Alex said, as we walked out of the salon. “Though it’s not quite the same as having a coach help you with stretching.”

“First time?” Orion asked.

Alex nodded, and Colton and I also agreed.

“Luke and I would go at least once a month back in New York.”

“Well, I guess Cam and I are just not as sophisticated as y’all!”

“What’s that mean?” Luke asked, approaching Colton.

I intervened. “Ignore him. He’s just annoyed we all know how ticklish his feet are now.”

I realized my hand was pressed against Luke’s chest. Colton’s comment had amped him up a bit, and my dick seemed to like whatever it was. Protectiveness? Jealousy? It certainly liked the chest I was still touching. Shit. I pulled my hand away, but not before Luke glanced at my crotch. I ignored the heat concentrating on my cheeks.

I couldn’t sleep and just stared at the ceiling. I kept thinking about tomorrow and the film crew showing up at our door. A part of me was curious if they noticed Luke and I were different from how we were in Brisbane and if they would ask why. It was weird to me that no one had bothered to ask in the last four years. The flimsy excuse I heard the Riveras use for pulling him from Florida University was that they wanted Luke closer to home, but anyone that knew his family would know that was a lie.

A light came on. Colton must still be awake, too. I was usually a heavy sleeper, and he knew lights didn’t bother me. I threw back the covers and pulled on my pajama shorts to go see what he was still doing up and maybe talk about my feelings or whatever.

I heard low voices as I crossed the living area between our beds. I guess he’s watching a movie.