She stood to leave, but I could see the hesitation. “Please don’t do something stupid. Call me tonight and have fun at Opening Ceremonies. I’ll be here tomorrow.”
“Me stupid?” I felt Jim’s hand on my back.
“Hi, Ava,” he greeted her.
“Hi, Jim.”
“Blaine, we’ve got press in an hour.”
“All right. Bye, love.”
He shuttled me to the locker room, but I wasn’t content. I had to see her tonight. Tomorrow was going to be my greatest swim, but I needed Ava Gold tonight if I was going to make that happen.
***
I knocked on the hotel door with my bag slung over my shoulder.
“Hold on,” I heard Ava call on the other side.
I knew she would be surprised to see me. It was late, but I came straight from the ceremony. It was an advantage walking in as one of the first countries. I carried the Australian flag proudly. Took the pictures. Waved to fans. And as soon as the fans focused on the dance show, I took off.
I wouldn’t head back to the village tonight. I had everything I needed for the swim tomorrow.
Ava cracked the door, banging it against the chain lock.
“Blaine?”
She closed the door, unlatching it to let me inside.
I looked around the room. Something was off. She was wearing a T-shirt slung off her shoulder and a pair of panties. Her hair was twisted into a bun on her head.
“Are you okay?” I asked. I felt as if I needed to pull her into a hug, or tuck her into bed. I couldn’t figure out which.
She nodded. “I’m fine. I just didn’t expect you. Aren’t you supposed to be at the ceremony?” She pointed to the TV. The commentator had a strong Portuguese accent. There were fireworks shooting across the screen.
“You don’t look fine.” She was pale as a ghost.
There was a gallon of water on the table where she usually worked. I also saw two cartons of plain crackers.
“That’s not very nice to say.” She sat on the bed, but I saw her eyes close.
“Are you sick? Do you want me to take you to see someone?” The insensitive bastard in me wondered if I needed to get the hell out of this room. What if she infected me with something and I couldn’t swim?
“No. I’m fine.” She waved me off.
I sat on the edge of the bed, knowing I was taking a chance with my health. I prayed like hell I didn’t catch some fucking stomach bug.
“Would you stop watching that damn fire dance and tell me what’s going on?” I barked.
“I told you, it’s nothing.” She turned up the volume as another burst of flames lit up the sky over the Olympic stadium.
“Ava, I broke curfew, left the opening ceremonies, and blew off the entire Australian team to come over here tonight. The least you could do is fucking look at me.”
She turned toward me and I saw something I’d never seen in her eyes before—fear.
“What is it, love?” I softened my tone. Why was I such a bastard sometimes?
“You have a big swim tomorrow, don’t you?” she asked.