31. Zeke
DAY FIVE OF THE 2024 OLYMPICS
Zeke’s phone had been burning a hole in his pocket ever since he’d given Olivia his number. He’d been agonizing over what to text her and trying to come up with something cool and witty to make her laugh. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that he didn’t want to text Olivia, he wanted to see her. Face-to-face. So, he found an excuse to go to the Hub.
“I already know what you’re going to say,” Zeke said, throwing his hands up in defense.
“It’s giving stalker,” Olivia said as she tilted her head. Zeke tried to ignore the effect that her head-tilt had on him. It was the same way she’d tilted her head right before she’d kissed him. All he wanted to do was walk over to the other side of the desk, lift her up onto the counter, and kiss her again. Feel her soft, perfect lips against his and wrap his arms around her. But despite everything last night, and the fact that he knew without a doubt that he liked her, he didn’t want to scare her off by coming on too strong.
“You work at the Athletes’ Hub, and I am an athlete, it’s inevitable that we’re going to keep crossing paths,” he said.
“This isn’t the only Athletes’ Hub in the Village, though, is it?”
“It’s the closest one to my apartment,” he said.
“I think you were just looking for an opportunity to see me,” she said, her gaze unwavering.
“You’re right,” he said, “I wasn’t satisfied with yesterday.” Olivia’s eyes widened for a moment. He knew she thought he was talking about the kiss. And if he was honest, he kind of was. He’d spent the whole night wondering what would have happened if her phone hadn’t rung. If they’d gone straight from the lift to his apartment and let the night take the lead.
It had felt like a game of sorts, the two of them going back and forth. Taking and exchanging power. Kissing like it was both a duel and a dance. But, this time, they were on the same team.
“What… what weren’t you satisfied with?” Olivia said, looking vulnerable for the first time since Zeke had met her. She ran her fingers through her hair. Zeke looked at her in pleasant surprise; he hadn’t realized he was capable of making her nervous.
“The song game we played in the lift where we had to guess the song? I wasn’t satisfied with how it ended,” said Zeke. “It ended in a draw, and I’m an athlete. A draw is the same as losing.” He watched in amusement as relief flooded her face.
“Zeke, I’ve got to deliver five thousand biodegradable paper planes to the production team in ten minutes. So do you actually need help with something or are you just here to flirt?” Olivia asked, her head to one side. They both knew the real answer to that question. Which made his next question tilt the room off- balance for a moment.
“So, one of my friends is competing in the gymnastics competition tonight.”
“And is that friend Valentina Ross-Rodriguez?” Olivia asked. Zeke noticed the emphasis she put on the word “friend” but also the fact that the expression on her face didn’t waver. He wondered if she’d read all the headlines about his and Valentina’s breakup and all the subsequent times the press had incorrectly reported that they were back together.
“Yeah, it’s my friend Valentina’s competition,” he said, putting an extra emphasis on the word “friend” as well to make it clear that was all they were. He noticed a small flicker of what looked like relief on her face.
“I wanted to support her, as a friend,” he said. He knew saying “friend” again was probably a little bit of overkill, but he didn’t want Olivia to worry. Because he was telling the truth. He and Valentina were just friends now; it was completely platonic.
“But I forgot to request tickets,” he said. “So, I was wondering if you’d be able to check if there are any spare athlete VIP envelopes?”
“Oh, that is a big favor. A lot of people want tickets for tonight,” she said, turning her back and looking through the filing cabinet. “It’s not looking good, Moyo,” she said, shaking her head and whistling. She sifted through every single folder of the cabinet… despite the fact that they could both see the drawer beside her that was clearly marked ATHLETE TICKETS in bright-red Sharpie.
Zeke watched her in amusement. “You love this, don’t you?”
“Love what?” she said, still pretending to look through the folders.
“Having the power to dictate how the rest of my night goes.”
“I just love power generally,” she said nonchalantly. There was that unflinching confidence that made her so attractive. “It doesn’t have to be over anyone in particular. It’s just the feeling of having it.”
“I like that about you,” he said.
“That I’m power-hungry?”
“Yes. And that you’re not afraid to admit it,” he said. It was the thing he kept coming back to, the way she seemed to be completely certain of herself. It pulled him in.
“Why lie?” She shrugged.
“A lot of people hide their ambition and act like the good things in their life happened by chance,” he said, leaning against the desk, his voice getting lower. “But the reality is, people like us plot it all out and work really hard for what we want.”
“People act like ‘strategic’ is a dirty word, like calling someone ‘calculated’ is an insult, but I like being in control,” she said honestly.
His mind flashed back to last night. To the way she’d held onto his shoulders, the way she’d bitten his lip, the way she’d wordlessly asked for what she wanted, and how each kiss sunk him deeper and deeper into what he already knew he was falling into.
“If you know what you want, you make it happen… right?” he said. Everything he was thinking lingered in that pause. The intensity of feeling was so persistent that it made him feel light-headed.
“So, do you know what you want, Zeke?” she asked, pinning him with a gaze he couldn’t turn away from. The way she was looking at him made him want to take a long cold shower.
“I think I do.” His mouth was dry.
“And what’s that?” she asked, challenging him.
They locked eyes, and for a moment it felt like time stood still. Like once again they were the only two people in the room, the Village, the city. Zeke knew that he was late for Valentina’s competition, but the only person on his mind was Olivia. He could feel himself becoming infatuated with her quick wit, sharp sense of humor, and wicked smile. Starting to fall for the light in her eyes and the soft curve of her lips. As Zeke looked at her, he forgot about the questions nagging away at him; about the fact that he’d fallen in the middle of a race, and that now he was through to the semifinals, the pressure to win and take home a gold medal was stronger than ever. His worries melted away, because in that moment all that mattered was Olivia. It was intoxicating and it was terrifying. They were only a few inches away from each other. It wouldn’t take much to close the distance.
“You should probably leave,” she said, pulling him out of the gaze he’d been so intently locked into.
“Why?” he asked. He wanted to lean forward and kiss her, but Olivia’s expression had changed, the moment had passed.
“Your friend’s competition?” she said, handing him an envelope with two tickets to Valentina’s final. Olivia’s expression faltered for a moment before she plastered on a smile. It didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Bye, Zeke,” she said, before turning around and going back to her paper planes. He wanted to stay, but she was right. If he didn’t leave now he would be late, and the stadium ushers wouldn’t let him in once the competition had begun. So he nodded, and reluctantly opened the door of the Hub to leave.
“Hey, did you get the tickets?” asked Haruki, who’d been standing just outside. Zeke nodded and held the envelope up in victory.
“We’re about to have the best night,” said Haruki as the two of them walked back out into the Village.
Zeke knew that they probably would have a good time. But he couldn’t help but wonder how the night would have turned out if he’d given Olivia the answer to her question by putting her on the desk and kissing her the way he’d wanted to.
“Wait, was that…” said Haruki, turning around.
“We’re gonna be late,” called Zeke as his best friend walked back to the Hub, glanced inside, and then ran back toward him.
“Zeke! It’s her!” Haruki said with a grin.
“Who?” asked Zeke, coming out of the haze his moment with Olivia had swept him up into.
“The girl!” said Haruki, as if he was talking about something completely obvious.
“What girl?” said Zeke in confusion.
“The future love of my life! The one I bumped into outside the Village, the one I’m going to the outdoor cinema with. Her!” said Haruki, smiling from ear to ear.
“Where is she?” asked Zeke in amusement.
“In the Hub! Should I say something? Ask her if she’s still on for Sunday? I should definitely say something,” said Haruki, seeming uncharacteristically flustered. But Zeke was lost; there wasn’t anybody else in the Hub. He was sure this time. The only person in the room, when he’d walked in to get tickets, was…
“Olivia?” asked Zeke in confusion.
“Olivia… yes, of course, that’s her name!” Haruki said, as if he’d just found the missing piece to a puzzle. But then he looked over at Zeke, perplexed. “Wait, how do you know her name? I never told you her name.”
Zeke closed his eyes for a moment, then looked at his best friend. His hopeful, lovestruck best friend. Luckily, Haruki didn’t seem to think there was anything suspicious about the fact that Zeke knew her name, so he said nothing.
“Okay, I’m going to go back to the Hub and talk to her tomorrow, but we’re going to be late, Zeke, let’s go,” said Haruki, walking cheerfully off.
Zeke felt his heart sink.
The girl Haruki had been talking about had been Olivia all along. Zeke was completely and thoroughly screwed.