Chapter 18
I think Charlie and I just created a completely new pregame routine this morning, because I’ve never felt more ready for a match in my life. I’m relaxed, loose, and my mind is locked in on today’s game.
I’m literally bouncing on my toes as I wait for our match to begin.
We’re all warmed up and ready to take on Czechia.
The Olympics determine our stone colors ahead of time, and today we’re assigned the red stones.
I look up in the stands to see Charlie wearing her red team USA beanie, which must be a good sign.
Now every time I look down at our red rocks I’ll think of her.
Anything that reminds me of that woman is a good thing.
The Olympic official signals that it’s time for us to take our positions.
As the skip of the team, I make my way to the house, which is the target area of the ice.
This is where I’ll direct my team and decide where they should aim their stones.
With my broom in hand, which I’ll use to guide my teammates, I find my spot at the opposite end of the sheet.
Stepping aside, I allow Czechia’s skip room to work as his lead steps up to throw the first stone, officially starting the match.
Just like baseball has innings, a curling match has ‘ends.’ There are ten ends here at the Olympics, and each team gets to throw eight stones.
The first rock thrown by our opponent lands in the white ring near the front of the house, as they try to set up their defense off the jump. After a few practice throws by our team before the match and after watching that first shot by Czechia, I can see the ice speed is faster than normal.
If Wyatt, our lead who shoots the first two stones, can get his first one behind theirs, close to the center of the house, we can use their stone as our own protection.
It will be a great start to the opening end of this matchup.
The team with the rock closest to the button, or center of the target, wins an end.
I use my broom to show Wyatt where I want his stone to end up.
With my hand on my upper arm, I signal where I want him to curl the stone as well.
We’ve played with each other long enough that we have our own system of communication.
While yelling during the match is inevitable, we try to keep the shouting down to a minimum before a stone is thrown.
That may change further into a match, but for now, we know what we want to do.
Wyatt nods and then takes his place at the front end. I watch as he gently pushes off the hack, then delivers his first rock. Wyatt may be a shithead, but he’s one hell of a lead. He has the perfect touch and can deliver stones with excellent precision.
As suspected, the stone is moving at a decent speed. Brendan and Zack hold their brooms in front of them as they make their way down the ice next to the stone.
“Clean!” Wyatt yells, indicating he wants a broom down in front of the rock with minimal pressure to ensure the path is clear.
I watch as Wyatt’s first stone curves the slightest bit when it gets to the front of the house, stopping just behind the Czech’s yellow stone, closer to the button. Exactly where we wanted it.
Looking up from the target area, I see Brendan and Zack fist bump. I look to Wyatt and point at him, letting him know it was a great shot. With a quick nod, he finds his spot off to the side to allow Czechia their space to throw.
The rest of the end goes off without a hitch.
The Czech made a mistake on the last throw, which sent one of our stones out of play, but it also resulted in sending theirs out of play as well.
As of right now, we have one rock on the outer edge of the button.
The next closest is our opponent’s. So if we can knock their stone out of play and keep ours in, we’ll score two points this end.
The skip throws the last two stones in an end, which means it’s up to me to make this shot and give our team a two-point advantage off the start.
Brendan is at the back end, near the house, with his broom pointed at the front edge of the Czech’s stone. If I can hit it just right, it will be pushed out of the house and mine will remain inside for an extra point.
With extreme ease, I push off the hack with my stone in hand. Not wanting too much curl, I barely turn the handle as it starts sailing down the ice.
“Clean!”
Wyatt keeps his brush down in front of the stone, keeping the path clear.
It looks like it’s headed right for the rock I intended, but I’m afraid it’s losing steam.
Brendan and I scream out at the same time.
“Hard! Hard!”
Zack and Wyatt start sweeping as fast as possible, but I’m still not sure that’ll be enough.
“Hurry hard!” I command. Hoping they’ll apply as much downward pressure as possible.
My stone continues its trek down the ice, Zack and Wyatt pushing down on the ice with all their might. When it finally approaches the other team’s rock, it hits directly where I intended.
Czechia’s stone slides out of the house, but mine barely bounces off of it, landing on the inside edge of the blue ring.
Two points for us. Zero for them.
“Let’s go!” I hear Wyatt yell from the other side of the ice sheet.
A small smirk breaks my serious skip persona for a brief moment because I’m not going to lie, it feels pretty good to be up by two in our opening match of the Olympics.
But I put my mask back on, focus and determination setting in. We still have nine ends to play.
We ended up winning 8–3 against Czechia.
I’m pretty happy with our performance and how the guys stayed focused from start to finish. I’m hoping we can start building our momentum and carry this positivity into our next matchup against Switzerland tomorrow.
Usually, win or lose, I like to be alone after a game. I insist on going over everything that we need to work on before our next matchup. It is my duty as team skip after all.
But, right now my mind is only on one thing. And it’s the five-foot-eleven woman with gorgeous curls waiting for me next to my best friend.
Charlie still hasn’t spotted me and I take a moment to drink her in. She’s relaxed today, dressed casually in skin-tight jeans that flare at the bottom, showing off a pair of brown boots. Her espresso curls fall along her back and pop against the red of her puffer jacket.
Connor sees me and raises his hand in a wave, causing Charlie to finally turn my way.
Forget what clothes she has on, Charlie is wearing the most intoxicating smile on her face. She is absolutely breathtaking. What I wouldn’t give to be able to kiss those soft lips right now.
I step up to both of them and notice Charlie stuffing her hands in the pockets of her coat. I do the same because it’s absolute torture to not be able to reach out and pull her into me for a hug.
We need to find a way to tell Connor. Soon.
I don’t want to keep my hands to myself. And I sure as fuck don’t want to keep a secret from my best friend anymore.
As if Charlie can read my mind, she nods at me and mouths, “soon.”
“Thanks for coming, guys.” It’s the only thing I can think of to say.
Connor clasps his hand on my shoulder. “I wouldn’t miss it, man. You guys were on fire out there. No mercy, huh?”
He lowers his hand when I shrug. “We were definitely clicking. But you know as well as I do, we can’t dwell on this win for too long. We have another game tomorrow.”
“Back to back game days are rough. Mentally and physically. Although, I’m not sure how much time your muscles need to relax after curling.”
I know he’s only fucking with me, but I still shove my best friend in the chest.
“Fuck off. I seem to remember you complaining that your ‘hamstrings were screaming’ after you attempted to play curling with me one summer.”
Charlie turns to her brother with a glint in her eye. “Aw, have you been skipping leg day big brother? I can send you my workout routine if you need it.”
I feel myself growing hard in my pants as a result of her sassy attitude. I try to focus on literally anything else before anyone can notice.
Walruses. Root canals. Team Canada.
Crisis averted.
Connor looks between the two of us then places his hands on his hips.
“What the fuck is going on here?”
My ears start ringing. There’s no fucking way he figured this out already. My best friend is smart, but he’s not that smart.
Charlie and I look at each other, eyes bulging.
“Since when do you guys team up on me? You two spend some time together abroad and now I’m the third wheel? Fuck that.”
I exhale a relieved breath then clap Connor’s back.
“Sorry bud, but Charlie is cooler than you.”
Connor mutters something under his breath and I see Charlie flip her hair over her shoulder dramatically.
“What can I say? I’ve always been the better Smith sibling. It just took you guys too long to realize it.”
She walks up to her brother and taps his shoulder sympathetically. “There, there, big bro. Once you accept the fact, it will be easier to cope with.”
I snort under my breath which causes Connor to whip his head to me.
“Don’t laugh at her!”
Raising my palms, I back away slowly. “I’m not getting in the middle of whatever this is.”
Except, I already have. I’m so much in the middle and Connor has no freaking idea.
“Where are you going, asshole?”
Throwing my thumb over my shoulder to where Brendan is standing, I call out, “Over here. Out of the line of fire.”
Connor waves me off then turns back to his sister.
Just as I’m about to turn to my teammates, Charlie looks from Connor to me and winks.
Holy fuck, I love this girl.