by Ivy Smoak
I glanced up at the clock. Come on. This is going to make me miss Bryce's race!
"Brazil has chosen for the event to be a strip dance, which I guess in South America is considered a form of ballroom dance rather than something you'd see in a strip club. So I have to ask: are any of you interested in volunteering to perform for the USA?"
My teammates all laughed.
"Good, that's the reaction I was expecting. I'd hate for one of you girls to do it and lose focus on volleyball. Speaking of which, maybe this whole tiebreaker business does have a silver lining. Brazil's performer will be Gabriela Santos. And after the way she tore us apart in the group stage, her losing focus on volleyball isn't the worst thing to ever happen."
Of course Gabriela would want to do a strip dance. She probably works at a strip club as her side job anyway.
"Any questions?" asked Coach. She looked around the room, but no one had anything to say. "Okay then, I'll see you all tomorrow for the semi final against Italy. And don't let me hear any stories about any of you partying tonight."
The minute we were dismissed Kristen and I sprinted to the locker room, grabbed our stuff, and then rushed to the train station. We made it on the train thirty seconds before the conductor closed the doors.
After we caught our breath, Kristen turned to me. "I can't believe you didn't volunteer to go against Gabriela. This could be your chance to pay her back for all the shit she did to you."
"How would embarrassing myself by stripping in front of the whole world and losing to Gabriela be getting her back? That seems like just the kind of thing she would have tried to trick me into doing back in college. And how is the ITA even allowing a strip dance to be an event? They won't be able to show that on TV."
"Have you ever heard of that show Bailando por un Sueño?"
"No."
"It's the Argentinean version of Dancing with the Stars. They've had strip dances on there for a while and it was a big deal when one of the contestants actually stripped. Most of them just dance around in lingerie and occasionally take their bra off at the end while they're facing away from the audience. They never actually show anything. For the most part it's no more revealing than the outfits they wear on Dancing with the Stars."
"In that case, I'll totally do it."
"Really?!" Kristen's face lit up. I almost felt bad that I was joking.
"No way."
"Damn it, Alina. You could probably even get Bryce to do it with you. Imagine being up on the stage half naked with Bryce..."
"Tempting, but I'd much rather be fully naked with Bryce and have it be in private rather than on stage."
"At least watch a video of it before you decide."
I was going to tell Kristen that watching girls strip wasn't really my thing, but she somehow managed to bring up a video of it on YouTube before I could get a word out. I watched the video. It wasn't quite as tame as Kristen had made it sound, but it also wasn't just a naked girl pole dancing like I had imagined. Instead, the girl and guy started out fully clothed and danced provocatively, slowly stripping their clothes off until they were both in sparkly underwear.
"See, that's not so bad," said Kristen.
"Yeah, but it would still be embarrassing to do it, especially when I lose to Gabriela."
"Well if you aren't going to do it, then I'll do it for you."
"Are you sure?" I asked. "You'd really do that for me?"
"After what she did to you? Hell yes."
"Wow, you're the best."
Kristen shrugged. "I try. I'll email Coach now. Hopefully she won't be too pissed." She pulled out her phone and started typing. "Before I hit send, I do have one condition."
"Oh yeah?"
"You have to agree to be my understudy in case I get injured and can't perform."
"But..."
"Oh, come on. In all the years we've known each other, how many times have I been injured badly enough to not be able to play?"
I thought about it for a second. "None?"
"Exactly. And what are the odds that the medal counts are actually tied at the end of the games?"
"One percent? Less?"
"Basically zero. The event is never going to happen, but by signing up we send a message to Gabriela that we aren't afraid of her. And we get to hang out and probably learn a dance from a world class choreographer. It'll be fun."
"I don't know..."
"You really want to pass up the opportunity to watch me crush that stupid bitch in a dance-off? Come on, you know I've got the moves to beat her. Who else is going to do it? One of those twelve year olds on the gymnastics team? Or maybe a nice broad-shouldered swimmer? I don't think so."
Kristen was right. She was an incredible dancer. And watching her beat Gabriela would be amazing.
"Okay, I'll be your understudy," I said. I can always back out if she actually does get injured.
"Great!"
Oh God, what did I just agree to? Kristen had taken advantage of my hatred for Gabriela and somehow made me forget all about the fact that I was agreeing to be the understudy to her for a strip dance. A strip dance! "Actually, I think..."
"Nope, too late to change your mind. I already hit send."
"What? How did you even have time to add that to the email? I literally agreed to it 2 seconds ago."
"I'm just that good. Now...do you think we can get the guys to agree to be backup dancers for it? Or at least, get Tim to agree and have Bryce be his understudy?"
"Is that even a question? I'm pretty sure ballroom dancing is one of Tim's favorite hobbies."
"Really? I've never heard him mention it."
"Neither have I. But I'd be shocked if he didn't love it."
"Well, I hope you're right. We can talk to them about it after Bryce's race."
Chapter 23
Wednesday
Bryce
Alex lifted up one of the earphones of my noise canceling headphones. "Your woman is here," he said and let the headphone slap back against my head.
I left DMX blasting in my ears as I scanned the crowd. His music took me right back to growing up, reminding me of why I ran in the first place. It was always about survival. Today is no different.
My eyes fell on a sign in the crowd. "If You Race Against Bryce, Be Prepared to Pay the Price...Of Losing."
I laughed. Alina had tied in the fact that I was all about the money. Well, the sign was accurate. There was only going to be one winner, and it was definitely going to be me.
Tim pulled off my headphones. "You're up, sweet cakes."
I shook my head. Why did he always call me that?
"Bring home our gold," Alex said and slapped my back. He had won a bronze earlier today and Tim had won a silver. All together we'd have a sweep. Not that I needed any more motivation.
"Done." I walked onto the track.
This was the most important race of my life. It was a race for my life. But I had always run for my life. Despite what I told myself, this race was different. Because it wasn't just about me, it was about Em too. Losing wasn't an option. I jumped up and down before leaning down and putting my feet in the starting blocks. I was on the inside track. Ervan Cook was directly to my right. Eat my dust, Cook.
"Runners on your marks!" The announcer said.
I looked down the track. I had no backup plan. All I was relying on was my own speed. I had briefly thought of tackling Cook at the last second if I needed to. But that would just result in me getting disqualified. Rodrigo said I had to win. Winning was the only option. I took a deep breath and pressed my fingertips into the track. I could almost hear my blood bumping.
The horn sounded, signaling the start of the race. My feet flew off the starting blocks. That's how I always liked to think. I wasn't running. I was fucking flying. And never in my life had I flown this fast.
I didn't look toward my right. I focused on the finish line and the cheers in the crowd. Cheers for me. The hot Brazilian breeze rushed past me, somehow heightening the roar from
the stands, somehow making me feel even more alive.
I could see Cook in my peripheral vision. Only Cook. I knew why he was favored to win. He was damn fast. I had studied his tapes. And I knew exactly how to beat him. He was used to winning. He was used to always being ahead. He didn't know how to come from behind, because he never had to. And there was no way in hell I was letting him pass me.
It felt like my feet were barely touching the ground as I ran through the finish. I didn't bother reducing my speed slowly. I skidded to a stop and turned back to the stands. Alina was screaming, jumping up and down, waving the sign in the air. The next moment, Alex, Tim, and a bunch of my teammates were lifting me in the air, carrying me toward the podium where they were going to hand out the medals.
I did it. I fucking did it. This was everything I had ever worked toward. And more. This medal meant so much more. I wasn't ashamed of the tears that ran down my cheeks. I beat Ervan Cook, the fastest sprinter in the world. Which meant I was the fastest sprinter in the world. At least the fastest at the 100 meter dash.
The next few minutes were a blur. I stood on the top tier of the podium and bent my head as the gold medal was placed around my neck. I put my hand on my chest as they played the national anthem. My eyes teared up again. I was safe. Em was safe. I knew that I still had more to do in order to get us out of this mess. But I wasn't going to think about that right now. Right now, I had just won gold and that was all that fucking mattered.
"You're fast as lightening, man," Cook said in a very Jamaican accent. He was sporting the silver medal. He had already won several golds in other events. I shook hands with Cook and the guy who won bronze.
All the while, my eyes scanned the crowd. There was only one thing I wanted. And then I saw her, running toward the crowd that had formed in front of the podium.
Chapter 24
Wednesday
Alina
He won! I was running down the stands and toward the medalist podium before I even realized my feet were moving.
"Alina, wait up!" Kristen yelled from somewhere behind me.
I didn't know why I was running. I didn't know what I was going to do once I reached him. I just wanted him to know how amazing he was. And sweet, and funny, and sexy, and perfect. He was so perfect. I needed to tell him.
His eyes locked with mine as he hopped off the podium. He pushed his way through the crowd easily.
As soon as I reached him I jumped into his arms. Or maybe I tackled him. But he gracefully caught me as I wrapped my legs around his waist and clasped my hands behind his neck. "Bryce, I..."
He silenced me with a kiss. But not just any kiss. A kiss that seemed to reverberate in every nerve in my body. The kind of kiss you read about in stories. The kind that stops time. Where nothing else in the world matters but this moment. I ran my fingers through his hair as his tongue explored mine. I loved the taste of him. I loved how his strong shoulders felt under my hands. I was in so deep that it felt like my head was spinning.
His hands slid to my ass and I moaned into his mouth, tangling my fingers in his hair. My whole body felt alive. I wanted him. All of him.
When he pulled back, his chest was rising and falling fast. And I knew I was panting so loudly that he could probably hear me.
"That kiss was better than gold." His voice sounded husky with desire.
"I doubt that, but I love that you said it." Love. There I go again. "I mean..."
He kissed me again. Softer. Slower. More passionate. Even more mind blowing. I grabbed the back of his neck, deepening the kiss.
I was very aware that his hands were sill on my ass. He seemed to pull me even closer to him, holding me firmly against him. Oh God. I moaned again.
He pulled back again. His smile made my skin tingle. The way he was staring into my eyes made me blush.
"You were amazing, Bryce. You're so amazing."
His hands slid up my back as he set me back down on my feet. Luckily he was still holding onto me, because my knees felt weak.
"I wasn't lying," he said. "So much better than gold."
I wanted to stay in this moment forever. This was what every athlete dreamed of. Gold. And he had ran to me. He wanted to share this moment with me. His moment. His victory. I pressed the side of my face against his chest and listened to his steady heartbeat. It suddenly felt like I already had what I wanted. Bryce's arms around me. I hadn't felt this happy in such a long time. Maybe he was right about the kiss being better than gold. His arms around me surely had to feel better than a medal around my neck.
"I got a bronze," Alex said from behind me. "Where's my kiss?"
Bryce's kept his hand firmly planted on my back. "Don't look at me," he said to Alex.
Alex laughed. "I was talking to Alina."
"You should ask Tim for one instead."
"Ew," Tim said. "But surely a silver deserves a kiss, m'lady?"
I turned around to see Kristen peck him on the cheek.
Tim fanned himself. I feel like he didn't mean for it to be funny. He just liked acting like every woman from every black and white movie ever.
"Okay, let me get another picture of the two of you together," Kristen said.
"Another?" Had Kristen seriously taken a picture of us making out?
"You think I didn't capture you tackling him earlier? You don't know me very well. Pics or it didn't happen, remember? That's what you said."
"I thought you were very graceful," Bryce whispered in my ear as he smiled for the camera. His hand was still wrapped around my waist. I hoped he'd never let go.
"It's time to celebrate!" Alex said. "Who's ready to not remember the rest of the night?"
Bryce laughed. "You can count me out of that. What do you want to do tonight, Alina?"
"Oh, no. You should go out with your friends to celebrate."
"I'd rather hang out with you."
That's what Chris should have said. But Bryce wasn't Chris. He was so much better. "Okay, how about we all go out for a little bit and get dinner? And then maybe catch a movie or something?"
"That sounds perfect."
"I'm in for dinner. But I'm skipping the movie. Tonight I'm finding myself a prostitute," Alex said.
Kristen laughed. "You're going to get so many diseases."
"Maybe I should just sleep with you instead then."
Tim slapped him across the face.
"Dude, what the hell? You know that I hate when you slap me!"
"Don't disrespect this beautiful specimen."
Kristen linked her arm in Tim's. "You're such a gentleman," she said and kissed his cheek again. This time he didn't fan himself. He kind of had a smug look on his face. For a second I thought that maybe he wasn't gay at all. Maybe he was just the best player I had ever seen. Because Kristen was definitely crushing on him. I quickly dismissed the thought. No way.
***
"There are officially no strippers in Brazil. All the literature was wrong." Alex took another shot and slammed the glass on the table.
Tim laughed. "You probably just have to leave the athletes' village to find them."
"Right. Like I'm going to leave the athletes' village when people are being murdered on the other side of the gates? I don't think so."
Bryce's arm seemed to tense around me.
I put my hand on his thigh and looked up at him.
He immediately grabbed my hand, removing it from his thigh. But he kept his fingers interlaced with mine.
Maybe sex wasn't on his mind. I knew it shouldn't be on mine either, but I couldn't help it. I felt like all I had been doing since we met was resisting him. I didn't want to resist him anymore. Indulging on every inch of him was probably the most accurate description of what I wanted to be doing right now.
"Maybe you have a super slutty volleyball friend for me?" Alex asked.
Kristen laughed. "Even if we did, we're on a sex ban. One of our teammates broke it and got benched for the first four games here. No one else is going to risk missing out o
n playing for gold."
"Well, maybe after you guys win. Who's up for that movie?"
"I thought you didn't want to watch a movie?" Bryce said. He was rubbing his thumb against my palm like he had on the train.
Was he actually trying to get me alone? My heart raced at the thought.
"What the heck else am I going to do? Our room is probably a little bigger since it's for three instead of two. How about we all go back to our place and rent something?"
"I hope I folded my laundry this morning after ironing. That would be embarrassing," Tim said and laughed. He looked truly concerned.
What had he been ironing? Jock straps?
"I'm going to go close the tab," Alex said.
Bryce only had one beer. Instead of celebrating hard like everyone else seemed to be doing here, he was snuggled up next to me in our booth. I rested my head on his shoulder. I had never felt this comfortable around anyone before.
"Are you sure you don't want to dance before we go?" Tim asked. "I'd love to show you my moves."
Kristen laughed. "Not tonight. But speaking of dancing, Alina and I volunteered to be dancers in the tiebreaker. Not that it's ever going to come to that."
"Oh my God. That's fabulous," Tim said.
"And we need backup dancers..."
"Say no more," Tim said. "I can take over from here. I'll be your choreographer. We can have auditions for proper backup dancers tomorrow after your game. I'll be a dancer too, obviously. But Bryce and Alex will have to be understudies. They don't have the proper balance and grace required for this type of dance. Which one of you is the leading lady?"
"Kristen," I said. "I'm just the understudy." I looked up at Bryce. "It would be awesome if you'd be my fellow understudy."
"If it means hanging out with you, then absolutely. But like Tim said, I don't have the proper balance and grace required for that type of dance. So hopefully it doesn't come to that." He winked at me.
