“You could never be that.” I kissed him, slow and sweet. “So let’s meet here tonight, after my skate.”
He nodded. “You will be wonderful. I know it.” Then his facetightened. “You understand how things must be when we are outside this room?”
I sighed. “Yeah, I understand.” I stroked his hair. “That doesn’t mean I like it.”
There was an elephant in the room, and we both knew what it was.
What happens after the Games?
I shoved the thought aside. I couldn’t afford to think like that, not today.
Luka clambered off the bed and reached for his clothes. “I will see you tonight. And there will be a gold medal hanging around your neck.”
I grabbed his hand and tugged him back to me. “Did you mean what you said last night? About choosing me?”
Luka smiled. “With all my heart.” He stood between my legs, his hands on my face. “Ty si môj domar.”
“What does that mean?”
He kissed my forehead. “I will tell you tonight.”
My heart felt so full.
“Probably something like ‘break a leg’ which you wouldn’t say out loud in English, because if I did—God forbid—you’d blame yourself forever for putting the idea into my subconscious.”
He laughed. “That is not what I said, I can promise you. Now let me get dressed. You have somewhere you need to be.”
I knew where I wanted to be—and who I wanted at my side.
The trouble was, thousands of miles were about to separate us.
As I enteredthe hotel lobby, my phone buzzed again.
Another message from Mom.
Now I know your father’s okay. He’s trying to flirt with theconcierge, except she doesn’t speak English, and the only Italian he knows are the lyrics to Volare - and he gets those wrong too.
I laughed as I crossed the lobby toward the elevators.
Mom: where are you?
I shook my head, my thumbs sliding over the screen.When you hear the elevator ping, that will be me.
When I reached their room, the door opened, and Mom pulled me inside.
“I expected you an hour ago.”
I laughed. “Hi to you too.”
She pulled back enough to cup my face in both hands as if I was still twelve years old instead of an Olympic medal contender. “You look tired.”
“Hey, two for two. What’s next, telling me I’ve put on weight? That I’m not eating right?”
She grinned.
Then Dad appeared behind her, and in the space of a heartbeat, I took a really good look at him. He seemed a little paler than usual, and maybe a bit thinner.
But he was upright, steady, and beaming at me.
