Page 49 of Going for Gold (Sweet Cravings 3)

Bryce laughed. "Hey." He put his fingertips under my chin and tilted my face back to his. "I get it. Beating your arch nemesis, especially after what she just did, will be the most satisfying feeling in the world. That's not revenge. That's overcoming something. And everyone here wants the money that comes with gold. There's nothing wrong with that being an incentive for victory."

"All I meant to say was that Chris and I are done."

Bryce laughed again and his fingers dropped from my chin. "I'm glad to hear that." He squeezed my hand. "Tell me about why you need the money."

"I..." I let my voice trail off. Chris had told me my plan was dumb. That I should be using my education after I retire from volleyball. Or that I should go pro. I didn't want to do those things, though. They didn't make me as happy. And Bryce wasn't Chris. He loved dessert. Maybe he'd understand. I looked up into his blue eyes. "My grandma owns a bakery. But she has beginning stages of Alzheimer's and has to retire. The bakery is kind of in disarray. It needs new ovens and basically a remodeling in general. My parents don't want to front the cost of all that. They're planning to sell it. But it was my dream to take over for my grandma. I love baking. All my best memories from my childhood were in that bakery. I need the money so I can take over the lease and buy the necessary equipment to keep it going. This is my only shot. They're selling the bakery at the end of the month if I can't take over."

"See, that's a good reason." Bryce smiled. "Is your grandmother's bakery in Wilmington?"

"Yeah. It's the cutest little shop. And it's actually in a really good location. If I could fix it up, I know it could do really well again."

"I envy you."

I laughed. "Why on earth would you envy me?"

"Because you know what you want to do after all this. I just graduated too, and I have no idea what I want to do."

"Are you going to keep running after the ITAs?"

"I don't know. It depends on a lot of things." He looked out the window. We were passing some of the beautiful mountains in Rio. But it didn't seem like he was actually seeing them. He seemed lost in thought.

"You said you run because you had something to run from. What was it?"

Bryce shrugged. "Everything. I felt like all I did was run. We grew up in foster care. Bad foster parents, even worse foster siblings. It wasn't...easy."

My heart seemed to constrict. That was why he knew what it was like to be bullied. "You said we?"

Bryce smiled. "Yeah, me and my little sister, Em."

"Is that why you're so good at comforting girls when they cry?"

He laughed. "I guess I've had quite a bit of practice." He looked down at our hands, rubbing his thumb against my palm again.

I loved

that feeling. I never wanted him to stop touching me. "Why do you run now?"

He looked back up at me. "I need the money too. To pay for Em's college. I don't want her to have to start her career with a bunch of debt."

"That's really sweet."

"Or horrible, since I'm motivated by money?" He raised his eyebrow at me.

I laughed. "Well, sweet and horrible. Maybe I could come to your race tomorrow and cheer you on?"

"I'd love that."

I bit my lip. It was almost like he said it because he knew I said love earlier by accident. "Where does Em go to school?"

"Penn U."

"Oh, in Philly? That's actually really close to where I live. Do you visit her a lot?"

"Not as much as I'd like to. But if I win gold tomorrow, I'll be able to more often. Me and my greedy ways."

I gently nudged his arm with my free hand. "You knew what I meant." My hand hesitated on his arm a moment too long. God his bicep felt amazing. "Sorry, I..." I let my voice trail off and laughed awkwardly as I removed my hand.

His eyes lingered on my lips. I watched his Adam's apple rise and then fall. He's going to kiss me!

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