12. Lucas #2
“Goes with the territory.” I shrugged. “Though he may have inspired me to want to start boxing lessons.”
Joking aside, I worried about Cam. And I think Ty could tell.
“Hey boys, can you hang back for a sec?” Ty asked the twins. “You and Cam go on ahead, we’ll catch up.”
“Oh, okay.” I played along.
Cam raised his eyebrows at me. I grabbed his hand and jogged down the hall a bit. I pushed open the door to one of the cleaning closets, flipped on the light and pulled him inside with me.
He looked at me, confused. “Going back in the closet?” he asked tentatively.
I had to smirk at that. “Are you okay?”
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” he said.
“Fair. But, I’m fine. You’re not mad that I almost outed you?”
“That’s what you think? No, of course I’m not mad, Luke. Why would you think that you outed me?”
“Because of what I said.”
“That it’s possible there are other gay gymnasts? I never heard you say Camden Kane is a muscular, sexy queer like me,” he said. “Or did you?”
“I did not say those words. Though I think them all the time.” I smiled, relieved. “You think I’m sexy?”
“Yeah, hello,” he said, pointing down.
“Jesus, that thing never quits, does it?”
“You’re one to talk,” he said, grabbing my dick through my sweats.
“Touché.”
“And I don’t think of it as a problem.” He leaned in and nipped my lower lip.
I practically growled with lust. Lust which was quickly dissipated by Ty loudly shouting “Hey dudes, where’d you go?!”
“Shit.”
“Just open the door, say we got lost?” Cam suggested.
I didn’t know what else to do, so Cam and I stepped into the hall. Everyone was right there.
I smiled, sheepishly. “Got lost.”
“Trying to hide in the closet, Luke?” Shane asked. Shit, he was suspicious.
Ty giggled. Cam shushed him and punched his shoulder. Noah looked like he was biting his tongue, hard.
Coach broke the awkward silence. “Sorry about the reporter, Luke. We’ll instruct the US Gymnastics media liaison to keep the questions less personal from here on out.”
“Thanks,” I said, grateful that we were moving on, conversationally and physically, heading out of the building.
“You guys know where we’re staying, the Hilton, Suite 932. Right outside of the village. See you later.”
The usual elevator routine played out. The twins left first, then it was our turn. I said Ty and I would be up as soon as we changed clothes. He gave me a quick kiss before the doors closed.
“You guys getting married?” Ty asked.
I shoved him against the wall. “I told you we’re keeping it casual.”
“Luke, bro. I have eyes. I’ve seen you together. You are both clearly smitten. With a capital ‘S’.”
I looked away from him. I didn’t know what to say. It was true. I was falling in love with Cam. And I really didn’t want my heart to break if he didn’t feel the same way.
“You should tell him how you feel."
“It’s not that easy, Ty. We agreed to keep it casual and end it after the Olympics. This was just…” Just what? Stress relief?
“The most serious relationship you’ve ever had?” he suggested, as we got to our door.
Uh...that.
“Yes, Ty. And it’s with a teammate. A guy I care a lot about. That I’ve had a crush on for a year.” I typed in the code for our room. “This isn’t easy. I don’t want to lose what we have now.”
“Well, I understand. But you won’t know if you don’t try,” he said.
“I know that.”
We tossed our bags onto the beds and I flopped down next to mine. Ty went to the bathroom, but he kept the door open. It used to shock me because my family was so private. Ty wasn’t, and I had gotten used to it.
Over the sound of him peeing, he continued, “How long do you think you guys can make goo-goo eyes at each other in front of the whole world with no one else knowing?”
That was something I had been thinking about...a lot.
“Are we really that bad?”
“I mean...yes and no? I’m close with both of you, so it was easier for me to pick up. I think the coaches and the twins are going to figure it out soon and I’m shocked Shane hasn’t.”
He flushed, washed his hands, and wiped them on his pants as he came back out to the bedroom.
“Well, Noah knows. He walked in on us kissing.”
“Well, that must have been a surprise for him,” he said. “Look, if you don’t want to out Cam, you guys should be more careful.”
“I know, I know. Cam was okay with Noah. Seems okay with it, I should say. I’m not pushing him to come out or anything.”
“I didn’t say you were. I just said to be more careful. Maybe you should talk about it with Cam?”
I sat there, silent.
“Or does that fall under the ‘too serious to talk about with the guy I’m having sexy time with’?”
“Something like that, Ty. We are still very much in the flirty stage of our relationship.”
“So it is a relationship?!” Ty’s voice gained an octave.
“Of course it is. I just don’t know how serious it is for him.”
“Well, maybe you should find out?”
My phone buzzed.
Cam: You coming up?
Luke: 5 mins
Cam: Ugh. Too long.
Luke: ;-)
“Hurry up, Ty. Loverboy’s impatient.” I stood up, tearing my clothes off and changing into jeans, a tank, and flip-flops. Wearing any official US Olympic gear out in public was a surefire way to get attention. While someone could easily recognize us in our regular clothes, it was less likely.
In under four minutes, we were at Cam’s door. I knocked. The door opened immediately and before I could even say hello Cam pulled me inside and slammed the door.
“Hey!” Ty yelled, banging on the door.
“One minute, Ty!” Cam yelled. “I won’t be able to contain myself at the hotel and there will be way too many people there, so hopefully this will hold me over until tonight,” he said, before pushing me back against the door, grabbing both sides of my face and kissing me in the most pants-tenting, can-I-drop-to-me-knees-now-and-service-you way possible.
I really wanted to blow off the Olympics and stay in that room for the rest of the trip, but Ty’s insistent banging kept me tethered to reality.
When Cam pulled off me, I needed a minute to gather myself. Dazed, I looked up at him. “You seem pretty proud of yourself.”
“I silenced you for almost a full minute. I am pretty proud of that.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. And pulled him towards me for another quick kiss. He opened the door and Ty was standing right there, staring.
“Oh, is Sexcapades over already? Did I miss the finale?” He mimed looking at a non-existent watch. “It can’t be very good if you both finished already. That’s like pre-premature.”
“Sorry, Tyler,” Cam said, as we made our way to the elevator. “Just wanted a quick kiss is all.” He blushed.
“Aw shucks, Cam. I can’t be mad at you when you blush. You’re too cute,” Ty said, pulling him into a half hug.
“Hey!” I yelled, inserting myself between them. “Hands off. He’s my man,” I said, comically puffing out my chest.
“Okay, Tarzan. Message received, loud and queer.”
I gasped in horror.
"Can he say that?" Cam asked.
I wasn’t truly upset. “Eh, he’s gay adjacent. I’m okay with it if you are, babe.”
"Uh, if you keep calling me 'babe’, I think I'll be okay with anything."
"No prob, babe."
"Puke," Ty interjected. "You guys should get married already."
Before I could say anything, Cam said, “We already did. We didn’t invite you. Queers only!”
And just like that, we kept walking toward the Hilton. I was afraid when I let the 'babe' slip that Cam would freak out, but he seemed okay. I really didn't want to push him away by being too clingy or needy.
Damn it, why are you so insecure, Luke?
Probably because you have self-esteem issues stemming from the poor relationship with your parents.
Ugh...I needed a vacation. Or Cam to confess his undying love for me. Either would work.
Scratch that. Definitely the latter.