18. Camden
Camden
I had finally calmed down.
Noah helped, but Coach made the biggest difference when he said we were waiting for Luke to arrive. He was speaking to security now. It seemed Luke may have already been pushed out of the system, but he was checking.
“Anything I can do, Cam?”
I shook my head. “Just want this day to be over.”
“I get that, but you should at least spend a little time in the gym. Stay loose.”
“I know, and I will.”
“We have another team meeting later. I’d imagine it’ll be a little peppier than this morning.”
I scoffed. “Not hard to beat that one.”
Coach turned to leave the station. I just heard him say, ‘Luke’s all set’ when I saw a car pull up outside the entrance. I didn’t think when I saw him get out, I just ran into his arms, careful to avoid his sling. I couldn’t help it, but I started crying.
“I’m here now. I’m here now.”
I wrapped both arms around his torso and he held me tight with his one arm, whispering into my ear that everything was going to be alright. I felt so silly for crying, but the stress just popped and I was letting it all out.
After a minute or two, my tears stopped, but I continued to hold onto him, and he continued to stroke the back of my head.
“Just breathe, handsome.”
I did as he said and in a few more minutes, I felt a lot better. Good enough to make words.
“I missed you.”
“I missed you too. Ready to see what Woodward wants with us?”
“Well, gentlemen, this isn’t really an official meeting, per se - hence the meeting place.” Woodward gestured to our surroundings. We were in a picnic area in one of the gardens in the village. “But I do have an exciting proposition for you.”
Noah stood behind Woodward, arms crossed, but smiling. I had no idea what these two were up to.
“Dmitry’s gone-”
Dmitry?
“-which leaves a spot open for a coach on Team USA. If Luke wants it.”
Wait. “What?!”
“Seriously, Coach?” Luke asked.
“Yup, we’ve already discussed it with the powers that be.
I spoke to Tyler already because of his Olympic coaching experience and because I thought you’d ask, but he politely declined.
His future Olympic experiences will be as a spectator, his words.
Luke, you can be a team coach, like Cassandra, but Noah and I are fine if the two of you work together with Cam.
Obviously, I’d appreciate any help you can give the other guys, but I assumed-”
“Yes! He’ll do it!” I yelled without thinking. “I mean, if he wants to.”
“Of course, I want to! You’re okay with it?” Luke put his hand on my thigh.
“Fuck yeah! It’s not the best scenario, but we’ll be together,” I answered, pulling him closer, my arm around his shoulders.
“At the Olympics,” Luke added.
I wanted to take him right there on the picnic table. I was so happy and my hormones were clearly all over the place if my thoughts were any indication.
“Excellent. We’ll get the team photographer to take a photo of the two of you in action at this afternoon’s practice, so we have it for the official announcement.”
“Official announcement?” Luke and I asked.
“Yes, of course,” Noah answered. “USA Gymnastics was very excited about this possibility. You guys are - let’s face it - media darlings at this point.
San Francisco has been eating you up already, according to Cassandra, and honestly, Cam, after the Today Show bit, I don’t wanna say you’re the favorite, but you’re the favorite. ”
Woodward continued, "And with Luke’s injury, bringing him back on the team is a PR win for USA Gymnastics. Now I know that sounds utilitarian, but it was my idea from the start. It just happened to coincide with their assessment of the situation.”
“Oh, we get that, Coach,” Luke said.
“Yeah, I don’t really care about the reasoning behind it,” I added. “I mean, I care that you put the idea out there. But if it means Luke and I can do this together, we’ll do it.”
“Bring on the photo ops.” Luke gave his best fake smile.
Christ, this day had turned around.
Luke wasn’t competing - it would’ve taken Wolverine’s healing powers for that - but this was the next best thing. We’d be together.
It was the first time since pissing in that cup that I thought we still had a shot.
After Woodward gave us all his signature pep talk, and the guys welcomed Luke back with multiple sets of open arms, we finally had a few minutes alone.
“I can’t believe I’m your coach,” Luke said, waiting for me to finish taping my hands. “Now, I can fulfill all my fantasies.”
I scoffed. “Were all your fantasies not being met before? I seem to recall a few orgasms from this last week as evidence contrary to your statement.”
“Well, now I get to boss you around.”
“I’ve got news for you, Luke. You’re already a bossy bottom.”
“Maybe I have a few ideas that might surprise you?”
“I’ll be sure to stay on the lookout, semi-hard dick at the ready.”
“Let’s get going, Cam,” Noah yelled from across the gym.
“Tsk, tsk, Luke. You’re not doing a very good coaching job if you’re letting me slack off like this.”
I jogged over to Noah with a smile on my face.
“Giving the new coach a hard time?” Noah asked.
“You know it.”
Luke caught up to me, joining us. “What’s the plan for today, Noah?”
“Preston was best on the bars, so I was gonna start there, run through a few things with Cam, then maybe some pommel work,” Noah answered.
Luke and I both nodded.
“One more thing,” Noah said. “If you two are gonna fulfill some locker room fantasy in the next week or so, please, for the sanctity of our friendship, make sure everyone’s gone for the day.”
I grinned because I had actually planned on seducing him. Maybe I’d wait til we actually secured a medal or two. That was probably a wise call. I’d never regret fucking Luke, but I would regret not preparing enough for my last Olympics. Especially when we were down a man.
I’d add him to my ‘to do’ list.
“I have to say, I enjoyed being a coach until the locker room,” Luke said, squeezing my hand. We were walking back from the village to our - well, his - hotel.
“Why’s that?” I asked.
“I didn’t get to see you naked. Instead, we had a coach’s meeting to discuss strategies for the team finals and the threats the other teams pose.”
“Yeah, my naked body in the shower does sound better than that, but what did you think you were gonna do? Stand in the shower fully clothed and watch the rest of us?”
“I don’t know. Maybe?”
“Ezra would throw a bone with you staring at him.”
“I wouldn’t be staring at him.”
“Aw. Isn’t that sweet?”
Luke pulled me to a stop for a kiss.
“Shit!”
“Was my kiss that bad?”
“Of course not.” I gave him a quick peck to prove the point. “We never took the promo photos.”
“Oh, is that all?”
“‘Is that all?’ That’s not very coach-ly of you! I’m texting Coach.”
I stopped and Luke followed suit. I could see the hotel up ahead, but I wasn’t about to roll an ankle because I was texting while walking. We didn’t have to wait long for a response.
Coach: Nope, all set. You obviously didn’t notice the photographer, but he was there.
Coach: Some great candids. I can see if he’ll send some to you.
“See,” Luke said. “Nothing to worry about.”
“Yeah, I guess I should’ve known they wouldn’t want staged ones.”
I fired back a thank you, but before we could start walking, he texted again.
Coach: And don’t forget, tonight we’re watching the women’s team together.
Coach: Tickets are already in your app.
“The women at seven?” Luke asked.
“Eight, I think. I’ll check.”
“Time for dinner then. We can see if the guys are around.”
The guys were, indeed, around.
Over dinner, a modest one for me, Colton and Zeph recounted their latest exploits in the pool. Brody was playing hard to get, so they set their sights on another one of the Corbin Fisher bros.
Ty spent most of the afternoon on the phone, dealing with wedding stuff.
“Is Declan on his way?” I asked.
“He’s still waiting on our custom suits,” Ty answered.
“Couldn’t you have them sent up here via courier or something?” Luke asked. “It’s the tailor’s fault they’re late. They should figure it out.”
Ty waved his hands in the air indiscriminately. “The suits are Declan’s thing. I’m letting him have that. He’s so nervous about the rest of it. By focusing on this one thing, it’s easier for him.”
“So he has cold feet?” Zeph asked.
“I think it’s more his parents and the attention the wedding’s garnering, as opposed to spending the rest of his life with me. He wanted to elope.”
“Aw, but then we couldn’t have been there to see it,” Luke said.
“Along with everyone else,” I added.
“It’s fine.” Ty shrugged. “Declan wants to make his parents happy. That’s part of who he is. Our honeymoon will more than make up for it.”
“I can’t believe you’re keeping it a secret,” Luke said, shoving him in the shoulder.
I looked up from my plate. “You’re really not telling anyone?”
Ty shook his head. “Don’t want the press around.”
“I reckon you don’t,” Colton said. “Was a wild first month at the ranch when we went public.”
“Oh shit! I remember when your brother chased that reporter down the road on horseback.”
“Don’t forget when Daddy pulled a shotgun on the one that made it to the front door.”
“I’m glad he ended up so cool with it,” I said, in between bites.
Colton nodded. “Probably helps that the man I brought home was super famous.”
Zeph was beaming. “I thought he’d have a problem ‘cause I was Black.”
“I told you Daddy’s best friend was Black.”
“Like I hadn’t heard that before. ‘I have a Black friend.’”
“My sister liked you too.”
“Your sister liked me coming out of the shower.”
“You guys coming to watch the women’s qualifications with us?” Luke changed the subject.
“Oh, of course,” Colton answered. “Gotta show ‘em all we’re united. One team, one dream.”
“That’s right,” Ty said. “By showing up to watch the women together, it sends a message.”
“That we’re fans of women’s gymnastics?” Zeph asked, a little too playfully.
“Are they going to boo us?” Ezra was fidgeting.
“They’re not going to boo us.” I offered him a reassuring shoulder squeeze.
We were outside the arena, waiting on Miles.