Chapter 21
I’m trying like hell to keep it together, but when I look at Connor and see the mess of tears on his face, mine finally break free as well.
Charlie is watching us both, waving her arm around as if we don’t already see her.
In unison, her brother and I raise our hands in the air and proceed to wave them around like we just don’t care.
My inner millennial is really showing right now.
I watch as Charlie brings both hands to her face and blows us a giant kiss.
The way my heart aches to be near her right now.
Connor sniffles next to me. I wrap my arm around him and squeeze him tight. “This is pretty fucking sweet, man.”
He wipes his face with the back of his hand and places his other arm behind my back.
“This is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
And it’s not even happening to me. Winning silver at my Olympics was sick but this…
Charlie deserves this more than anyone. Growing up the way we did.
Working her ass off. No matter how annoying she was being my shadow, I’m so fucking glad she was. ”
Connor starts crying again, so I pull his head into my chest and ruffle his hair with my fist.
“Since when are you such a softie?”
He shoves me away from him but we remain standing with our arms wrapped around each other.
“Just starting to realize what’s most important in life, ya know?”
Charlie mentioned the reason Connor had to miss some of her games was due to an emergency back home with a friend. No, not just a friend. A woman.
I wasn’t surprised when she told me that. He’s dropped everything for me time and time again. But seeing him like this is new. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him cry besides the day he left for college.
Squeezing his neck, I try to get his attention. He finally looks over to me, his eyes still full of tears for his sister.
“You know you can talk to me about anything right? Whatever kept you from being here on time for Charlie’s games. I’m here to listen when you’re ready.”
He nods, but only once, then turns his attention back to the ice where they just finished handing out the silver medals to Team Canada.
We watch together as they start announcing the Team USA roster.
“Number twenty-one, Charlotte Smith.”
Connor and I finally break apart, only so we can cup our hands around our mouths and scream as loud as humanly possible.
My eyes track her every movement. The way she easily glides across the ice. The way she shakes hands with the woman passing out the medals. The dip of her head as she lowers it as the medal is placed around her neck.
But my favorite doesn’t happen until she makes her way back onto the blueline, this time standing closest to the bench.
Charlie raises the gold medal to her mouth and dramatically bites on it, pure fucking happiness etched on every inch of her face.
I throw my head back and laugh just as Connor yells, “Tastes good, doesn’t it?”
She’s close enough now that she hears his words and breaks out into laughter, causing the medal to fall and bounce off her chest.
I need to get out there.
Team USA moves to center ice so they can take their championship picture, all the while I’m bouncing on my toes, impatiently waiting for families to make their way onto the ice to celebrate.
We agreed to tell Connor what’s going on between us after the game today. We came to that decision after Charlie expressed how nervous she was for his reaction. I didn’t want anything distracting her during this game.
But now that I’m watching her live out her childhood dream, I don’t think I can hold it in anymore.
I turn to talk to Connor when an Olympic representative signals that it’s okay for families to join the players on the ice.
Connor is gone in the blink of an eye.
Damn, he’s fast.
I crawl underneath the railing and hop down onto ice level, doing my best to keep up with him. It’s absolute chaos out here but I’m able to remain a few paces behind him.
He finally finds Charlie, and I watch as he picks up his little sister and twirls her around.
Not wanting to interrupt this special moment, I hang back and watch two of my most favorite people share a once in a lifetime moment together.
Once he finally lets her down, Connor takes hold of her hands. I can’t make out what he’s saying, but if I had to guess, he’s letting Charlie know just how proud of her he is.
Charlie’s nodding along as he talks. Meanwhile, my body is nearly shaking with how badly it’s being pulled in her direction.
I’m wringing my hands in front of me, trying to do something with all this energy, when she finally looks over and spots me.
Charlie holds one finger up to her brother and starts skating my way.
She stops in front of me, and with her in skates, we’re standing eye to eye.
“Baby, I’m so pr—”
It takes me a second to realize that my words were cut off by her lips.
Charlie’s hand is gripping the front of my jacket and she’s kissing me like nobody’s watching.
I’m well aware that’s not the case, knowing full well her brother is probably watching. But I just can’t find it in me to care.
I grip the back of her head and let her know just how proud of her I am with this kiss.
She finally pulls away, dropping her hands, but I keep mine where it is, tangled in the mess of her curls.
“Like I was saying—I’m so fucking proud of you, baby.”
There are tears in her eyes, dimples on her cheeks, and I move my gaze across her face, committing the way she looks to memory.
On bad days, I want to remember this—my girl’s dreams coming true and being here to witness it happen.
“Someone want to tell me what the hell is going on?”
Oh right, Connor.
We both turn, our hands instinctively finding each other’s, and we link our fingers together. We may not have planned for Connor to find out like this, but we’re in this together.
Luckily, when I see my best friend’s face, I don’t see anger. I just see confusion. I don’t want anything to ruin this moment for Charlie so I take the lead.
“We were going to tell you after the game.”
Connor’s eyes bounce between me and his sister. “Tell me what, exactly?”
Shock still paints his face, his eyebrows raised and his pupils wide.
“Your sister and I are together.” Connor’s jaw drops for a brief moment as he takes in the news.
I take advantage of his stunned silence and continue.
“We actually have been sharing a hotel room. And before you get pissed, we never technically lied to you about that. You just assumed she had her own room. Which doesn’t matter. ”
Good grief, now I’m rambling.
Charlie squeezes my hand and I look over at her. She’s smiling, not at all affected by this news getting out earlier than we intended.
“I got it from here, Luke.”
She turns her attention back to Connor. “I’m sorry we didn’t tell you sooner. We just couldn’t figure out how to do it. You mean so much to both of us and we don’t really talk about things like this. I was afraid you’d hate me for trying to take your best friend away.”
Connor takes a step closer to us. His eyes soften as he looks at his sister, no longer holding shock and confusion.
He takes his sister’s other hand, cradling it between his own.
“I could never hate you, Charlotte. I know I may not have said it much in the past, but I love you. I’m sorry you thought you couldn’t talk to me about this.”
Charlie releases a sound that is half sob, half laugh, causing both me and her brother to laugh with her.
“Now, Luke, on the other hand.”
Oh, fuck.
He releases Charlie’s hand and holds one of his out for me to take.
I grip his hand with mine and he looks me dead in the eye.
“I love you brother, but if you do anything to hurt my sister, I will fucking kill you.”
Laughing, he pulls me into a hug. Before he lets go, he whispers in my ear, “There’s not a better man I’d want for my sister.”
My nose tingles with impending tears but that feeling is gone quickly due to Charlie breaking up our bromance.
“Don’t worry brother, if he hurts me, I have no problem taking care of him myself.”
Liv chooses this moment to interrupt this family moment with her own threat. “And I know the perfect place to hide a body.”