26. Lucas
Lucas
“That fucker!” Cam half-yelled.
“Camden! People can read lips, you know?” Noah said, handing him a towel. “Swear into this.”
Etienne Beaufort just launched himself into first place with the Kane.
“I can’t believe he just did my vault. I only debuted it like a week ago.”
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, kiddo,” Woodward said as he approached Cam and sat next to him.
“Well, I’m not flattered.”
“Do you know the rest of that quote, Cam?” Noah asked.
“No.”
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.”
Cam stared for a few seconds. “And?”
“What Noah and Oscar Wilde are saying is that Etienne is the mediocrity and you are the greatness,” I said, squatting in front of him, our eyes were level. “You’re better than him and he knows it. He’s probably trying to rattle you, but you’re better than that too.”
“Luke’s right, Cam. You can wipe the floor with him,” Noah said. “It’s your vault. Nobody does it better.”
I gave him some space. I could see him take a few deep breaths. Noah was encouraging him to relax and focus. He closed his eyes for almost a minute before standing up.
“I’m ready.”
A chorus of “attaboys” surrounded him, and I held out the coin for him as he walked over to me.
“This must’ve been why I got silver yesterday.”
“Yeah, sorry. I forgot about it.”
“Well, I did too, so no biggie.” Cam took the coin from my hand and gave it a kiss, then grabbed my arm and placed it back in my palm. “Hold on to it for me.”
The smile that graced his face should’ve knocked me off my feet.
I felt it deep within me. It felt like love, which floored me because never in my wildest dreams did I expect Cam to take me back after what happened.
But here he was, hugging me in front of the whole world.
I felt something break, a tension I didn’t know I carried.
I felt relaxed and content, and I willed those feelings towards Cam.
“I know you’ll do great,” I said, my voice almost breaking.
“I feel like I can do anything with you by my side,” Cam said.
I pushed back to look him in the eye. “I feel the same way, handsome.”
“That’s good, because I’m not letting you get away this time.”
“I wouldn’t have it any different.”
“CAMDEN KANE. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.”
“A little obvious if you ask me,” Noah said, leaning towards us.
“Especially after that kiss,” Shane added, from our other side.
“Don’t care anymore,” Cam said matter-of-factly.
“Well, please care about your vault.”
“Sure thing, coach,” Cam said, giving Woodward a mock-salute as he climbed the steps to the podium.
I watched with my fingers and toes crossed as Cam readied himself for the vault. A few runs back and forth, some stretching and chalk on his hands and feet, and he was ready. The judges signaled they were ready, too.
Cam saluted them and turned to face the table.
I knew I had the same ability - nowhere near the same level, of course - but watching Cam sprint, seeing his muscles flex, the concentration in his stare, it was mesmerizing.
He also did this adorably cute thing right before he hit the springboard.
He bit his lip. Ay dios mio, it made me want to run out there and tackle him so I could cover him with kisses.
Of course, I’d have to tear his leotard off to access his gloriously pale and perfect skin, so that might not be the wisest course of action in a crowded arena. Maybe later.
His takeoff was clean. His form in the air, perfection. I held my breath for the landing.
It was flawless.
After saluting the judges, Cam pumped his arm, showing the world his gorgeous bicep - that’s all mine - and whooped in celebration, loud enough that I’m sure half the arena heard him.
Noah was the first to wrap him in a big hug as he came off the podium. Woodward was next and did the same, adding a hair tousle. Shane and I were standing back by the seats. Shane let me have him first.
“That was incredible,” I said.
“Thanks,” he said, fixing his hair. “I owe it to the platypus.”
“Yup. That’s it. Nothing to do with your years of training and dedication.”
“Well, I guess there’s that.”
The coaches paced in front of us while we sat together, waiting for the score.
16.100.
“Yes!” Noah cheered.
It was two-tenths higher than Etienne’s score.
“You deserve it,” I said, standing up with him, expecting another round of hugs. Even Etienne came over to congratulate Cam.
I had drawn the eighth spot, so I busied myself by teasing Cam.
“So, how do I know if I’m ready for the Kane? What if I want to do the Kane? Can anybody do the Kane now?”
“Stop! You’re gonna make me piss myself. We should be watching the other vaulters.”
“What skills do I need to perfect before attempting to give the Kane a go?”
“You’re so childish,” Cam said, giggling.
“Oh whatever, you know you love it.”
I hadn’t meant to use the L word yet, even in that context, so he surprised me when he said, “I do love it. Now, kiss our coin and get ready. You have a gold medal to steal.”
I didn’t steal Cam’s gold medal or Etienne’s silver. I finished in third place.
And I was happy with my bronze.
I was about to share the podium with Cam for the second time at this Olympics, with one important difference.
We were together. He was the gold medalist this time around, so that was different too, but honestly, that made it even better for me.
I’d rather see him get the gold, especially in the vault.
I knew how hard he had worked perfecting the Kane.
It made me want to push Etienne right off the podium for attempting it so soon after Cam, but you know, decorum and all that.
Pssh.
With Cam on the podium right next to me, it took every fiber of my being to not be playful with him, but I held it together. I received my medal first and a single rose. On Cam’s other side, Etienne was next, and then Cam. As the flags raised, the Star-Spangled Banner played over the PA system.
With my hand over my heart, I smiled, knowing Cam was probably tearing up already.
It was so sweet he got that emotional. I had never been like that.
Sure, I was proud as fuck to have won a medal, but I had never cried during a ceremony.
We never talked about it, but I was sure Cam’s father’s death contributed to his sensitivity.
And there was nothing wrong with him displaying his emotions like that.
For me, anyway. For some Americans, unfortunately, it probably fit into their stereotype of a male gymnast. My sexuality certainly did, but tough shit.
Our events were a lot harder than they looked, and despite my size, I could probably hold my own in a fight if I wanted to.
Not that I’d go looking for one, but I could bench almost twice my body weight.
This was one reason I never cried during a ceremony. I couldn’t stop thinking about random shit.
The anthem ended and Cam shook Etienne’s hand, so I stepped off my podium to do the same, but Cam was in my path. He had a big fucking smirk on his face, so when he put his arms out, I mimicked him, going in for an expected hug.
The second before my arms went around his torso, his hands shot up, grabbing me by the back of my head with one and my neck with the other, and he pressed his lips against mine.
I dropped the rose I was holding. It seemed the noise was sucked out of the room. I was shocked but kept my hands on his waist. It wasn’t until I felt his tongue flick against my lips that I responded in kind.
The hum I heard Cam murmur as I kissed him back was the best sound I’d heard all week.
“Get it, Cam!” I heard someone from the audience yell, followed by a whoop. Ty, if I had to guess.
It would’ve been too much to hope for a “Cam and Luke” cheer, but eventually applause filled the arena.
There were even a few cheers and whistles.
It was all mostly from the American section of the stands, but once Cam broke the kiss, I saw Jake and Graham standing in the Aussie section, as well as a few other athletes I recognized standing throughout the arena.
This was certainly a first for men’s gymnastics. It might’ve been a first for a post-medal ceremony, and secretly, I hoped everyone had seen it broadcast around the world.
“So, I take it you're gay?” I asked Cam.
“That’s what you’re going with?” he asked, intertwining his fingers with mine.
“Yes? I’m shocked, honestly. I thought you’d go the more traditional route. Instagram announcement, press tour, Ellen DeGeneres interview.”
“I guess I was just carried away with the moment.”
“You couldn’t wait, could you? You just had to taste these lips?” I teased, bending over to pick up my rose.
“Don’t bend over like that! Who knows what I’ll do next?”
“Alright, what have you done with the real Cam?”
We headed off the podium to where our coaches were waiting.
“I’m assuming you didn’t plan that?” Shane asked.
“He started it!” I pointed to Cam.
“It’s a good thing Coach and I already discussed this in Brisbane, and held onto it,” Noah said. “Ford only had to make a few tweaks to the press release.”
“Ford?” Cam asked.
“Woodward texted him the second you locked lips. He wants the world to know you have the support of the team and USA Gymnastics,” Noah explained. “Also, I hope you're fine being an official couple-”
“Like boyfriends?” I asked.
“Yeah, like that. Because that’s what the press release says.”
“We’ll let you sort out the details with the press,” Shane said. “You know, like, how did you meet? How long have you been together? Who’s the big spoon?”
I slapped him on the arm. “Maybe you guys should come out as a couple too, Shane?”
“And take away from your spotlight? No way. You guys will be the talk of the town for the rest of the games.”
Shane wasn’t wrong.
The torrent of flashes in our face before heading to the locker room was only the start of it.