Page 67 of Floored By Love

Coach said, “I don’t think a hospital is the best place to rest. You boys need to be heading back to...well, I’m guessing at least Colton will need somewhere to stay. Are the dorms cleared yet?”

Ford, one of the assistant coaches, spoke up. “They’re still doing a security sweep of the buildings.”

“Security sweep?” I asked.

“They’re making sure the fire was an accident,” Noah said, standing up, “and not a terrorist event. I’m sure you noticed the security at the elevator. They have guards at the stairwells, too. Only a few athletes were affected, but they’re all in this wing. Luckily, they seem to be doing well.”

I nodded, turning to Colton. “And you’re clear to leave?”

“I’m fixin’ to. I wasn’t exposed for long, but they want me to sleep with oxygen for a few days, anyway.”

Coach cuffed him on the head. “I guess you, Orion and Alex are with us at the hotel where I can keep an eye on you. We’ll make room tonight and see what we can do tomorrow. We should go, gentlemen. It’s already almost three.” He turned to discuss something with Noah.

O came at me with his arms open, whispering in my ear, “Good luck, Luke. Whatever your plan is,” squeezing me a little harder before letting go.

I leaned in and said, “I’m making this up as I go.”

Alex yawned and came in for a hug as well. Colton stood up despite my protests and ambled over, caught up in his oxygen tubes. I met him halfway, so he didn’t have to drag the wheelchair any farther. He pulled me into his chest, my nose practically crushed against his throat in his grasp. He pulled back so he could look me in the eye. “You can’t break his heart again.”

I swallowed and nodded. He gave me a pat on the back and turned to walk back to his wheelchair. His ass was exposed, the back of his johnny wide open.

“Dude, where’s your underwear?” Alex took the words out of my mouth.

He sat back down in his wheelchair, a goofy grin plastered back on. “Some cute nurse made me take it all off.” He winked. “It was wet anyway.”

“Why was it wet?” I asked.

“The sprinklers,” he answered.

“I’m confused. Cam slept through sprinklers?”

“Uh...the sprinklers on the seventh floor didn’t go off. The alarms did, but he must’ve slept through those. I got wet in the stairwell. The smoke was bad on our floor, so I crawled to our room and then, well…you know the rest.”

“How was the smoke so bad in Cam’s room if the door was closed? Aren’t the rooms separated from each other?”

Colton shrugged, but Alex spoke up. “Coach says we should know more tomorrow or the day after. They’re still investigating. He thinks that some rooms may have had connected ventilation systems because they’ll be converted into three-bedroom apartments after the games. But, that’s just a theory.”

“Ugh.” I ran my fingers through my hair.

“Don’t worry, Luke,” O came back over to me. “Cam’s going to be okay, and we’ll know more when we know.”

I nodded. I just hoped he’d be okay enough to compete. Coach had finished talking to Noah because he walked up to see if they were ready to go. “See you tomorrow, Luke, and good luck.” He hugged me, and I waved goodbye to the guys, and turned to see Noah and Shane staring at me.

This wasn’t going to be easy.

I sat down next to them. “Do you guys need anything? Coffee? Water?”

“We’re fine,” Noah said. He was as upset as me. I was hoping, selfishly, it was because of Cam and not because of my presence.

“Thank you, Luke,” Shane said, clearing his throat. “Congrats on your gold medal. How have you been otherwise?”

Gracias mi amigo. “It was incredible to win yesterday, but right now, I’m not so great. And other things have been...okay.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Oh, forget it! “Well, that was a lie! To be honest, I’m miserable. I’m happy to have made it to the Olympics again and won some medals, but seeing Cam this many days in a row, and to be back at the games where we...you know...but not have him by my side, it’s complete and utter agony. I made the wrong choice.” I took a breath and exhaled. “I was a coward. I was a horrible, scared, little coward.”

I finally turned to look at them. They were both looking at me. Noah looked less pissed, and Shane was smiling. “And I’m so sorry to you, Shane. I still can’t believe my father did that to you. And I know-”