“He says most people spend their lives waiting to feel ready, and by the time they realize they never will, half their opportunities have already passed them by.”
Luka shook his head. “I hate it when your family makes so much sense.”
“You and me both.”
That earned me another laugh.
After that neither of us felt any great need to keep talking, especially when I tugged him toward the bed and undressed him.
“This could be our last night together for a while,” he murmured as I kissed his neck.
“Then let’s make the night last as long as possible.” I couldn’t resist. “Dad says sleep is for the weak anyway.”
He rolled his eyes. “Of course he does.”
Tomorrow would arrive soon enough.
Tonight, there was only me and Luka.
Chapter Forty-Seven
February 23
Dean
The lobby wasan exercise in organized chaos.
Teams were leaving at different times. Some athletes sat on suitcases waiting for transport. Others wandered in and out carrying coffee and comparing flight schedules. Every few minutes somebody spotted a friend across the room and abandoned whatever they were supposed to be doing in favor of one last conversation.
Luka walked beside me as we made our way through the crowd, on our way to meet Mila.
“I need coffee,” he muttered.
I knew the feeling. Putting off sleep had seemed like a good idea at the time, but the stark morning light did nothing to hide our tiredness.
“I promise, we’ll go find some once we’ve said goodbye.” The US team wasn’t due to ship out until the following morning, so I knew they’d be around somewhere.
Mila spotted us first. She was sitting with Donna near one of the windows, their heads together. Both looked up as we approached.
“Morning,” I said in a cheerful tone.
Mila narrowed her gaze. “That is debatable.”
Donna laughed into her coffee.
Mila shook her head. “Do all Americans insist on having emotional conversations at ridiculous hours of the night?”
Luka chuckled. “Ah, you too?”
I put my arm around him. “That’s because we care.”
He snorted. “That’s because you don’t sleep.”
“Also true.”
Noah arrived a few minutes later carrying two coffees and looking as though he’d already been awake for hours. Behind him came Ethan, carrying a pastry roughly the size of a steering wheel.
I stared at it. “Where did you even get that?”
