38. Olivia
EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING, DAY SIX OF THE 2024 OLYMPICS
The five of them were sitting in a circle on the floor around the living room coffee table. Olivia was between Haruki and Aditi, Zeke was opposite her, and Valentina was seated between Aditi and Zeke. The table was covered with gyros, dolmadakia, souvlaki, and mezze plates. Olivia was fascinated by the dynamics unfolding before her. She’d interacted with everyone in the room except for Valentina, but seeing them together showed all four of them in a different light. As they ate, she realized that if they’d met in more normal circumstances, they could have easily become a group of friends. Valentina and Aditi matched each other’s playful and slightly chaotic energy. And Zeke and Haruki bickered like siblings, with Haruki throwing small barbs at his friend and Zeke either playing along or shrugging it off.
Despite the low but constant worry about her being Zeke’s ex, Olivia really liked Valentina, and the two of them kept finding themselves in on the same joke. Aditi was playfully but precisely grilling Zeke for Olivia’s sake, and she and Haruki had a sparky energy between them that everyone in the room seemed to notice except for them. There were only five of them, but the room had the buzz of a really good party.
“Okay, Valentina—truth or dare?” said Haruki.
“Umm, let’s start off tame. Truth,” she said, taking a bite of her souvlaki.
“All right, what’s the wildest rumor you’ve heard about yourself that was actually true?” Haruki asked.
Valentina answered without hesitation. “That I broke up with someone in a two-line text,” she said with a grimace.
Zeke almost spat the water he was drinking out of his mouth. Looking at Valentina, and then at Olivia, and then at Valentina again. “Val? Is nothing sacred?” he asked, clearly more embarrassed by the public revelation than he was upset about the memory. Selfishly, Olivia was glad.
“Sorry, I wanted to give you a minute to take it in by yourself before I came to your apartment for the talk,” she said with a laugh.
“Okay, Zeke, truth or dare,” said Aditi.
Olivia knew her best friend well, but she could never predict what was going to come out of her mouth.
Zeke was still on a strict precompetition diet and couldn’t indulge in foods beige and beautiful, unlike the rest of them. So, he took a bite of a carrot stick and answered, “Truth.”
“Boring, but all right,” Aditi said playfully. “Zeke, who is the last person you hooked up with?” She gave him a mischievous smile.
“Aditi!” said Olivia as they exchanged looks. Olivia was shocked, while Aditi was in her element.
“Well, it wasn’t me,” said Haruki, making the others laugh.
“Or me,” said Valentina, “unless… It’s been a year, Zeke? I can introduce you to someone if you need me to. Who’s going to be a better wingwoman than your ex-girlfriend?” Valentina glanced over at Olivia. Was that a nod of approval? The clarification definitely felt like it was more for her benefit than everything else. So, Olivia took it.
Zeke was squirming opposite her. It was kind of fun to watch him this way. And Olivia was so curious to hear his answer. She wanted to know about Zeke’s romantic life so she could gauge whether she was just another number in the Village before she got in over her head.
“Um, the last person I hooked up with was a model I met at London Fashion Week,” Zeke said with an air of finality.
“A model? That’s kind of basic,” said Valentina.
“I’m a model, I’m not basic,” said Haruki with mock offense.
“You could never be basic,” said Zeke, reassuring him.
“And when was the last time you texted this model? Do you stay in touch?” asked Aditi casually.
Olivia’s eyes widened. “Okay, that’s enough now,” she said, nudging Aditi to stop.
Zeke smiled, clearly respecting Aditi’s commitment to vetting him.
“Aditi, since you’re so enthusiastic, truth or dare?” Olivia said, taking a gulp of her drink.
“It’s always dare,” said Aditi confidently.
“Okay, I dare you to… kiss the most attractive person in the room,” Olivia said.
Aditi looked around. She paused for a moment as if pondering her options. Then she put her hand up, pressed it to her lips, and made out with herself.
“Boo!” shouted Valentina.
“If I had tomatoes, I’d be throwing them at you right now,” shouted Olivia.
“Wait, so you want me to be dishonest?” said Aditi, taking her hand away from her face as the rest of them laughed.
“All right, kiss the most attractive person in the room… who isn’t you,” said Olivia.
So, Aditi got up, made a show of walking around the circle twice, and then went over to Haruki.
“Hi,” she said, her voice thick with charisma.
“Hey,” he smiled.
“I’m Aditi,” she said as she smoothly put her hand out to shake his, “nice to meet you, again.” There was nothing she loved more than flirting with new people.
“Haruki. The pleasure is all mine,” he said, leaning toward her, all charm. It was a fascinating scene; the energy between them was palpable.
“Okay, I see you improv class meet cute!” laughed Valentina.
“What can I say, I’m a romantic,” said Aditi with a grin.
“Get to the point, Aditi!” Olivia laughed.
“Um, I need consent, Olivia,” she teased. “Yes, Haruki is a very hot athlete and gorgeous high-fashion model, but that doesn’t mean I can just walk over and kiss him.”
“You can kiss me,” Haruki said gamely.
Aditi smiled, leaned over, and then the two of them kissed. For much longer than they needed to for a simple dare.
“Wow,” said Olivia as they parted lips.
Aditi came back to her seat next to Olivia and cast her a “we have to debrief” look.
“Whose turn is it?” said Valentia, looking around the circle until her eyes landed. “Olivia, truth or dare?”
“Truth,” Olivia said, after weighing her options.
“Where is the weirdest place you’ve ever hooked up, or almost hooked up?” Valentina asked.
Olivia surprised herself by responding immediately. “Almost, an elevator,” she said with a shrug to a raucous round of cheers from Aditi and Valentina, who were having entirely too much fun. As Olivia held back a smile and picked her glass up to take a sip, she locked eyes with Zeke.