Page 42 of Going for Gold (Sweet Cravings 3)

"No buts!" She pulled away from me. "You can get over Chris, win Gold, and get Bryce. For once in your life you're allowed to have it all. If you don't stop worrying, you're going to miss out on living, Alina."

Yesterday I felt like I had lost everything. I needed time.

"We're in Brazil. Did you ever think we'd end up here?" She looked up at the stars above us. "We worked so hard. We deserve to enjoy this moment."

I looked up too. She was right. I took a deep breath. It was time to start living. I'd never forgive myself if I let Chris ruin the most amazing week of my life.

Chapter 17

Monday

Bryce

My hands were shaking as I clicked on Em's name in my phone.

"Hi!" Em said after just a few rings. "Are you calling me to tell me you won over that girl you're crushing on already?"

I put my face in my hand and exhaled. I just needed to hear her voice. I needed to know that she was okay.

"Bryce?" This time her voice sounded concerned.

I cleared my throat. "Yeah. It's me. Sorry, the reception here is pretty shoddy."

"Is everything okay?"

It will be. "Yeah. You were right. I was calling to brag about my date."

Em laughed. "It went that well for you? What happened to the complication?"

"She was dating the biggest scum bag on Team USA. He cheated on her with this girl that used to bully her in school. He's a complete asshole."

"Wow. What a dick. So they're definitely done?"

"I think so."

"Well, it sounds like things just got a little less complicated. When's your next date?"

Less complicated? Yeah, right. Hearing Em's voice had calmed me down, but things were definitely still complicated. What the hell was I supposed to do when I got Rodrigo's first demand? What was he going to want me to do?

"Bryce?"

I ran my hand through my hair. "Sorry, I'm still here. I'm going to her game tomorrow."

"That's so cute."

I laughed. "So cute!" I said in a high pitched, valley girl voice.

"So cute!' she said in an even higher pitched, squeakier voice.

We both laughed.

"I have to get back to studying, Bryce. Good luck on your second date. Love you!"

"I love you too, Em." I looked down at my phone as soon as the line went dead. I had three text messages from Alina asking if I was okay. I smiled to myself. She was worried about me. Granted, she should have been. I was fucking kidnapped. But my friends hadn't texted me at all. Alina cared, and that was a really good start. I was about to text her back when I saw I had a few more unread messages. The first was an alert about a missing ITA athlete. A Canadian swimmer named Liam Clark. He had last been seen in a town near the athletes' village earlier tonight. The other message was another alert. The director of the ITA was suggesting that all athletes stay inside the athletes' village until Liam was found. For our own safety.

I didn't think it was a coincidence that news about the disappearance of an athlete came through right after I had talked to Rodrigo. He was most likely Rodrigo's last operative. And I had a sinking feeling that Liam wasn't just missing. Rodrigo had said he'd hate to see it end the same way for me as it ended for him. Liam was most likely dead.

Instead of texting Alina back, I sent a message to Alex, saying I got sick on the way home. I couldn't talk to Alina right now. The butterflies in my stomach had disappeared and now my insides felt like they were twisting. Maybe I was going to be sick.

---