Free Love and Other Games by Kara Leigh Miller Aria Kane Melinda Dozier Ana Blaze Page B

bought you a little memento, but I think I’ll use it here instead.” Ty reached inside his Olympics jacket.
    “When?”
    “On the sidelines, after the first interviewer finished her questions. See?” He handed her the medium-sized colorful stuffed animal mascot on a pretend snowboard. The Olympics symbols across the front and the US flag on the bottom of the snowboard.
    “It’s cute, Ty. I’ll always remember you when I look at it.”
    “You don’t have to remember me. I’m right next to you. Remember me by looking at me. Plus, I’m going to set it right here on your boss’s desk.” He placed the stuffed animal at the top of the desk calendar displayed on top of the table. “And the mascot will hold the torch.” He put the torch in the mascot’s hands. It kept falling over, but they had it standing up with the mysterious torch after a few tries. “Perfect. I’ll have to buy you another one. Now come here.” He reached out to pull her to him. He couldn’t hold back anymore. “I see you’re not wearing a vest. That’s always a good start.”
    She shook her head. “No,” she whimpered out.
    “Your boss’ll be back soon? Let’s find a secluded spot. A celebration is called for.” “About that. Ty, I’m so happy for you.”
    “I know, right? The freaking Gold. Wanna touch it?” He held out his medal, pretended to bite it like the Olympians did. “I kept thinking about wrapping this around your neck with nothing else on.” His fingers finally touched hers and he rubbed up her arm.
    She winced. It wasn’t what he expected. “Ty, I need to get back to work. I’ve had so much fun, but work is my priority here. You knew that from the beginning.”
    “Wait, so you won’t go out to celebrate?”
    “No. Not tonight.” She paused, looked at him in the eye, tears forming in her own. “Not ever.”
    “What the fuck is going on? The best thing in my life just happened, and then you go and shove this in my face?”
    “I’m not trying to hurt you. I’m feeling kind of hurt, too. It’s just that, I can’t think around you. Work is the whole reason I’m standing here – in the village – at the Olympics. I’ve got to get that position. If I don’t, my dad will never speak to me again.”
    He rubbed the back of his neck. “Are you serious? You can still get the fucking promotion and spend time with me, you know.” He stepped closer to her, because she had taken two steps back. “Nadia, I really need you right now.”
    He tried to reach out to her again, but she backed away. “It’s better if you go.”
    “I don’t get you.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Look, I have a trip to Zurich scheduled tomorrow with the guys. We planned this before we even got here. I wanted to ask if you could go with me.”
    She held her hands out. “See. That’s another example. I can’t just take off and play around, Ty. I have a job to do.”
    “Are you fucking kidding me?” What the hell got into her? This is why he never committed to women. He just didn’t get them. “I really wanted to … I don’t know … Spend time with you. You’re special. Remember?”
    Her face rose to meet his, the top of her head raised to the tip of his nose. The tears in her eyes hadn’t fallen yet, but it looked like they would, soon. The pained expression she held struck him all the way to his toes – her eyes glazed, her face red. “I’m more than just a sleep in the sack, Ty. This is over. I wish you luck in the future.”
    “You were my luck, Nadia. Hell – I don’t get it.”
    “You don’t have to.” She turned to walk to the door and hesitated when she opened it. “Goodbye.”
    Her words pained him all the way to the center of his heart. Then it enraged him. He turned in circles, in the middle of the room, and slammed the stupid bobble-head doll off the desk. With all the bravado he could muster, he left the Community Building without seeing her again. She must have hidden in another room –