Page 138 of The Forever Vault

“Oh Jesus!”

Even two rows behind Erika, I could hear her. The arena was loud enough with American supporters that it didn’t carry far, but the commotion in the suite after every outburst made it hard to concentrate on the event.

“I really think you should go to the hospital,” Erika’s mom said.

“I’m fine. It’s probably Braxton Hicks. I know it’s Braxton Hicks.”

“What’s Braxton Hicks?” Austin asked.

The crowd cheered and I glanced up. One of the younger members of the US women’s team - I think her name was Kaylee Rose - was on the balance beam and had landed a series of backflips. By the time I could hear the conversation again, I missed what Braxton Hicks was, so I pulled out my phone to google it.

An impending sign of birth. Doesn’t occur until the second or third trimester. False labor. Contractions of the uterus to help prepare the body for labor.

Well, I wasn’t about to go down and drag her to the hospital. She had her husband, parents, brother and security detail to advise her. And I sure as shit wasn’t about to text Cam or O. They had already won gold and bronze on the floor exercise, but they still had one more event.

“Three gold so far,” Shane said, seated next to me. “I didn’t think he had it in him.”

“Shane!” Luckily, no one was near us. Heather and Cecilia had taken the front row.

“I’m just being honest with you, Luke. He didn’t seem to have the spark the last few meets.”

“Do you think he stopped trying as hard? Is that what you’re saying?”

Did he throw it so I would make the team?

“No, that’s not what I’m saying. I don’t think he did it on purpose. I think…it just happened. The Cam out there today and earlier this week just isn’t the Cam I saw a month ago.” Shane put his hand on my knee. “I didn’t mean to upset you, Luke. I was just thinking out loud.”

I turned to look him in the eye. “Well, whatever he was doing months ago, I’m guessing he’s pouring everything into now because it’s his last chance.”

“Possibly, but I think he’s doing it for you. He’s going to refer to them as your medals, collectively. They’ll become like the coin you guys share.”

The thought of Cam saying that made my stomach flutter a bit, and I had to remind myself it was only Shane’s opinion. But damned if it didn’t sound completely selfless and romantic.

It was something Cam would do.

Watching Austin react to O’s routine on the horse was entertaining to say the least, but it was probably what I looked like watching Cam, especially in Brisbane. Despite being together a few years, this was Austin’s first Olympics as an actual Olympian, and their first games as a couple. Even with the drama of Dennis Jenkins having almost ruined everything, they persevered and kept going.

When O’s score was posted, I was right there jumping and screaming with Austin. It had launched him into first place. The other routines so far had been underwhelming, filled with errors or a lower degree of difficulty, or both. There were only two gymnasts left to go: Cam and Rasmus Ivanov.

The arena was eerily quiet watching Rasmus. He was a pommel specialist, and you could tell from the smooth body lines and seamless transitions. Unless he fucked up, it was going to be close no matter what. A polite applause occurred after he landed a near-perfect dismount, and I could hear the celebrations of the Estonian’s coach over the crowd. Rasmus remained stoic until he reached his coach and leapt off the podium into his arms.

I could see Cam and Woodward flanking O down below for comfort. A quick score meant little deductions, so the longer the judges took, the better.

As soon as I heard the announcer, my eyes shot to the jumbotron in the center of the arena. Orion’s name was still at the top, Rasmus was 0.183 points behind him. I saw O celebrate down below, but after a few seconds, my eyes made their way to Rasmus, nervously waiting to see if his coach would protest for some reason. It didn’t seem like they were scrambling to fill out paperwork, so I let myself breathe a sigh of relief, then sent Cam a good luck text.

Cam: Thanks, babe. Blowjob if I win?

Luke: Blowjob either way.

Cam: I knew I loved you for a reason.

I loved the man, but there was a reason he hadn’t originally qualified for the pommel horse. I clenched when he started his first pass along the length of the horse, alternating hands between the neck, the pommel, the saddle, the other pommel, the croup, and back. I let out a whoop when he completed the pass, even if he wasn’t as smooth as Rasmus. The energy in the arena picked up as he got closer to the dismount.

I’m not sure if Preston would’ve done better because Cam was so solid under pressure. Despite a tiny mistake lining up the dismount, his experience enabled him to correct it and he finished with a solid landing. Most spectators probably didn’t notice it, but I’m sure the judges did. It was probably enough to keep him from changing the standings drastically.

Austin jumped up. “What was that?”

“Shit,” I heard Erika say. “He’s here.”