Page 25 of Going for Gold (Sweet Cravings 3)

I was going to think of something clever to say, but then I had an idea. I snapped my fingers. "You're a genius, Alex! If I go right now, maybe I'll conveniently bump into Alina as she's leaving volleyball practice." I was only half joking.

Alex shook his head. "I think you totally missed the point of what I just said. Maybe instead you need to go find a nice Brazilian prostitute."

I glanced at my phone to try to ignore Alex. Somehow he always managed to steer the conversation back to his favorite topic: Brazilian prostitutes. I'm pretty sure the only reason he trained hard enough to be a part of the ITAs was so he could come to Brazil to find himself a nice prostitute. He didn't even like running that much. I was hoping to see a text from Alina, but instead I saw I had a missed call from my sister, Emily.

"Be right back," I said, ducking into the hallway to call her back. I leaned against the wall and dialed her number.

"Hey, Bryce!" she said. Despite all we had been through as kids, she always managed to be so positive. It was infectious. But today there was something else in her voice.

"Hey, Em. What's up?"

"Nothing, it's okay now I think." The bubbliness from her voice was suddenly missing entirely.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Well when I got back to my dorm today after class I got a weird feeling, like someone had been in here."

"Was the door open or something?"

"No, no. Nothing like that. It just felt off. A few things looked like they weren't how I left them. It was like when we used to know Max had been in our room." For a year and a half, Max had been our foster brother. He loved stealing stuff from our room whenever he had the chance.

"Weird. Maybe it was a maintenance guy or something?"

"Yeah, maybe. Anyway, don't worry about it. You need to focus on your race."

"I'm actually having a little trouble with that."

"Is Alex keeping you and Tim up all night by banging poor, sweet Brazilian girls?"

"Surprisingly, no. It's this girl Alina. I can't stop thinking about her."

"Is she some sexy foreign girl?"

"No, she's American," I said.

"Is she cool, or do you just like her boobs?"

"Don't worry, it's not another Michelle situation."

Em made a gagging sound. "Thank God. She was the worst. Just keep in mind that I have to be sisters with whatever girl you end up with. Don't screw me on this."

"I'll try not to. Anyway, I dunno if anything is going to come of it. She's in a relationship or something right now. It's complicated."

"But you like her?"

"Yes."

"Then it's not complicated. Go get her."

I smiled. Em always had a way of making everything seem so simple. "Alright. Thanks for the advice. I wish Tim and Alex could be as sensible as you."

"Let me guess: Alex told you to fuck her and forget about her, and Tim told you to send her a dozen roses and a singing telegram?"

"Something like that, yeah."

Em laughed. "Those two..."

"I wish you'd been able to come," I said. I had tried to think of a way to get her here to watch my race, but it was just too expensive. All the money we had went towards her schooling.

---