Chapter 22
Adonis
Milano was beautiful, Italy incredible. Adonis enjoyed it as much as he could, touring the city with his new Olympian friends, but it was often hard for him to enjoy it. He missed Bash and worried about him.
The last time they had spoken, right after the opening ceremony, Bash had to leave the call in a rush because of his sister.
Adonis had had a sour pit in his stomach after that, a feeling that something was wrong.
This was confirmed an hour later by a text from Bash, telling him in a few words that Bash’s father had had a heart attack, a nearly fatal one, and Bash was flying back to Amsterdam on the next flight he could get.
It sounded like his father wasn’t going to make it.
Adonis had sent him a few texts over the last couple of days, checking in and offering what comfort he could, but Bash hadn’t responded.
It hurt a bit, Adonis had to admit, but he didn’t want to blame Bash or be mad at him. He had to assume Bash was hurting. Assume the best, he always told himself. Assuming someone’s intent when you didn’t know for sure was rarely a recipe for good communication.
Bash aside, the energy and adrenaline were high in Milano.
Adonis participated in four events. The Team Events Men’s Singles Short Program and Free Skate, and the regular Men’s Singles Short Program and Free Skate.
He would perform the same routines for each.
The Team Events determined Team USA’s overall medal placement, while the Men’s Singles was just for individual medalists.
Team USA had done very well in the team event. Japan took home gold, the USA silver, and Russia bronze. Team USA was determined to win more gold medals in the individual events.
Adonis’s temporary Olympic best friend was Drew Stockley, a nineteen-year-old openly gay skier from Telluride. Beyond being a talented skier, he had made waves for being outspoken about his sexuality on social media and criticizing the Mormon Church’s approach to homosexuality.
The morning of the Men’s Singles Short Program, a Tuesday, Drew met Adonis in his little room in the Olympic Village and handed him a cappuccino. He joined Adonis, sitting on his bed.
“How do you feel?”
“I’m nervous,” Adonis admitted.
“I’ve seen videos of your short program. You’re great.”
“Thank you.”
“Is that why you’re nervous?”
“I’m nervous I’ll do well in this and then fail in the Free Skate.”
Drew frowned. “You’re nervous you’ll do well.”
“I guess so.”
Drew laughed. “Dude, I’m nervous I’ll fuck up. I wish I were nervous about doing well. So, you’re not nervous about your short program specifically?”
“Yeah, not that,” Adonis agreed. “It’s the free skate.”
“What’s the difference, again?”
“Basically, the short program is more about technique and control, while the free skate is more about artistry. It’s also a little bit longer. I’ve always done well in the short program. I’m a very technical skater, but I’ve always struggled with the free skate.”
“Why’s that?”
“I think…I think it’s hard for me to work with the song my mother picked for the free program,” Adonis admitted.
This wasn’t something he usually talked about—in fact, he’d only ever confessed it to Clarisse.
Anamária had picked a classical piece for his free skate, though skaters were allowed to pick more contemporary pieces, including pieces with lyrics.
When Adonis skated for fun, he preferred to skate to contemporary music—hyper-pop, hip hop, or even rap music—but the one time he’d shown something he’d choreographed himself to pop music, Anamária had been scandalized.
“Well, use a different song,” Drew said.
It was Adonis’s turn to laugh. “I can’t switch my song at the Olympics.”
“Why not?” Drew crossed his arms.
Adonis floundered for a moment. “There has to be a rule against that, isn’t there?”
“Show me the rule.”
“I…huh.” Adonis’s instincts told him that it would be impossible to switch his song. Not to mention incredibly stupid. He’d spent months, years, perfecting the free skate that Anamária had chosen and choreographed for him. Damien had given him feedback. They’d gone over hours of footage.
But it didn’t feel like him.
“Think about it,” Drew said, finishing his cappuccino. “I hope your short program goes well!”
——
The short program, technically, went well. Adonis finished with the bronze medal. He was sweating and out of breath, still on the podium, and he couldn’t help but smile as the medal was placed around his neck. It was a pleasant, cold weight.
Anamária was pleased with bronze, though Adonis could tell she had hoped for silver or gold.
Later, Adonis was back in his room in the Olympic Village, collapsed on his bed, and was busy trying to take a nap, or rest his eyes, or do anything to recharge before the practice he’d have later that day.
There was a knock on his door. Expecting Drew, he said, “Come in!” without opening his eyes.
The door opened.
“Sleepy?”
Adonis sat upright in a jolt. It wasn’t Drew, but Damien. Zelinski entered the room and shut the door behind him. Adonis’s heartbeat stuttered like a tired engine and then shot up a few BPM.
“Hi,” Adonis said. Damien hadn’t been to his room in the Village before. Adonis didn’t like that he was here now. “Am I late for practice?”
“No,” Damien said. “I just wanted to congratulate you on the bronze. That’s very impressive.”
“Thank you,” Adonis said warily.
“We can take that energy, and I think we can get you bronze or silver in the free skate,” Damien continued. “You were more fluid and artistically free in the short program than I’ve seen you in a long time. Keep that up, and you’ll do very well in the free skate.”
Without an invitation, he came over to the bed and sat beside Adonis.
“Oh,” Adonis said.
“How are you feeling about the free skate?”
Adonis thought about his conversation with Drew, how Drew had recommended changing his song without approval from Damien or Anamária.
“I’m feeling fine,” Adonis said.
“I’m very proud of the work you’ve put in so far,” Damien continued. “You’re almost there. You’ll do great in the free skate.”
Adonis’s skin turned to ice when Damien’s hand touched his thigh.
“Don’t be anxious,” Damien said.
“I’m not,” Adonis said. “You can move your hand.”
“Are you sure you’re not anxious?” Damien didn’t remove his hand. He started rubbing Adonis’s thigh.
“I’m sure,” Adonis said. He stood abruptly. “I think you should leave.”
Damien stood. He was far too close to Adonis. “I’m here to help you if you are anxious,” Damien said. “If you need help loosening up.”
Adonis’s jaw clenched. “Look, Damien. This? Touching me? Entirely inappropriate.” He took a step closer to Damien.
Damien wanted to invade his space? Fine.
Adonis would invade his. He was shorter than Damien, but he drew himself to his full height and imagined that he loomed over Damien.
Damien shrank back. “I know that I haven’t given you any reason to think that I’m interested in you, in any capacity.
I don’t even want you as my coach. You crossed a line before, and I tried to respect your dignity by not making a big deal of it.
But now you have crossed a line again, even though I told you not to.
Leave now. I will be telling my mother about this. ”
Damien sneered. “Your mother? Do you think she’ll care?
She knows you needed me to get to the Olympics.
” His sneer deepened, ugly. “Even she didn’t trust your ability to get into the Olympics on your own.
You know she tried to blackmail HPD into getting you a spot on the team?
How do you think you, an amateur, managed to get here? ”
Adonis’s gut twisted. “Get. Out.”
The ugly sneer turned to an uglier smile. “Good luck in your free skate, kid. Don’t expect my help.”
He stormed out of the room, leaving Adonis trembling in anger, alone.
After several seconds, during which he breathed deeply through his nose, trying to calm his heartbeat, Adonis made a decision.
He went back to his bed, picked up his phone, and pressed “stop” on the video he’d been taking.
It had been a last-minute decision to record the interaction with Damien.
It was a lucky moment that he’d had his camera open.
The video hadn’t captured any visuals of what had happened, but it had captured the full dialogue.
Fuck you, Damien, Adonis thought. He saved the video. He wasn’t sure what he’d do with it yet, but it would come in handy. That he knew.
He pocketed his phone, went to his gym bag, grabbed his skates, and hurriedly left his room.