Page 19 of Floored By Love

I shrugged. I didn’t know what to say.

“Well, I guess you have to ask yourself what’s changed since last time, Luke. And if the answer is not much, then are you willing to do whatever it takes to make the change?”

Jesus. Orion wasn’t just cute. He was going to either break a lot of hearts in his life or take one very lucky guy by storm. I knew he didn’t see that in himself, but I hoped he would one day.

“Those would be the questions. The more time I spend around him, the more I regret not choosing him.”

“Well then, there’s your answer.”

But the cliche rang true. It was easier said than done.

* * *

Cassandra was extra hovery today. I couldn’t find a minute with Cam alone all morning. And right now, he was working on the rings and I was on the floor. I was competing in all six events this year. Cam, Alex and I all were. The twins had made it to the all-around finals last time, and Coach was hoping two of us would make it again. I was doing my best to guarantee I was one of those two.

“That was better, Lucas, but you need to hold the plank a little more.”

Of course I do. One of the hardest skills in the entire routine.

My strength had increased in the last few years, so Cassandra piled on the difficulty with that portion. Not only was the plan to do two sets of leg flares with a handstand in between, but a series of moves before my last two passes that involved positioning my body at inhuman angles and making my arms metaphorically explode from the discomfort of holding those positions. I went along with it only because it made my routine fairly difficult and even if not done perfectly, it would increase the likelihood of qualifying for the all-around finals.

“Run it again. Once more,” Cassandra commanded.

I held the plank a little more this time, and she actually smiled when I finished. I felt slightly guilty knowing I was planning on talking to Cam to work things out between us. If that happened, I was sure that Cassandra would be gone. After all, my parents were the ones paying her. It was weird. I had spent the last few years hating how she helped them control me, but without her, I might not be at the Olympics. She had also shown herself to be a little more understanding lately.

Focus, Luke. Forget her. Remember Cam.

He looked good. Not just his body. I mean, the bigger muscles were great. The longer hair was cuter. He still had no hair on his chest. I may have taken notice in the showers. But watching him in the gym, he had stronger control and a bigger presence. I could tell he was prepared, focused. A part of me was afraid of ruining that for him by throwing an emotional wrench into his life. And then another part of me thought about yesterday when he pitched a tent in the gym and I just wanted to get my hands back on that dick. And his hands on mine.

It’s not like I didn’t have any guys interested in me over the last four years. I could’ve hooked up. I just didn’t want to. My hands, my Fleshjack, and porn had been enough to hold me over, and while a real person might’ve felt better than that, I had been waiting for Cam without really admitting that’s what I was doing. Until now.

I chuckled, thinking about the bench press again. How Cam’s face went from relieved that someone had grabbed the bar to flooded with lust when he looked up my shorts.

“What’s so funny?” Ty asked, pulling me out of my daydream. “Let me guess. Thinking about Cam?”

Where’d Cassandra go? “Am I that obvious?”

“Well, no, but based on our last conversation, and that I haven’t seen you two ride off into the sunset together, I’m assuming you haven’t talked to him, which means you’re still thinking about it.”

“Jeez, has boinking Declan made you smarter?”

“Who said I was the one doing the boinking?”

My eyes widened. I didn’t need to know, but I was always curious about other gay couples and their roles. “What are you saying?”

Ty waggled his eyebrows. “Wouldn’t you like to know!”

“Actually, yeah, I would. Call me curious.”

“More like nosy.”

“More like horny and I have no one to live vicariously through, Ty. It’s been four years. Pleeeeeeese.”

“Oh alright! What do you want to know?”

“Yay!” I mock-shouted. “Who boinks who?”

“Who boinks whom? And can we stop saying ‘boinks’? I’ve...uh...done both.”