Page 85 of Going for Gold (Sweet Cravings 3)

"He's just doing his best to make us win. You really think Gabriela isn't going to be strutting around in a thong? Hell, we'll be lucky if she keeps her underwear on."

"Fuck my life." As much as I hated to admit it, Kristen was right. We needed to go all out to beat Gabriela, because Gabriela would sure as hell do whatever it takes to beat us. Like bribing the refs in the final. So many shitty calls...

"For what it's worth, your ass looks beautiful," said Kristen. "Cindy did an awesome job. Go look in the mirror."

"Do I have to?"

"Yes. Go look."

I stepped off the platform and got between the mirrors. "Damn," I said. Somehow, Cindy had made all of the stretch marks on my ass disappear. I still wasn't comfortable mooning millions of people, but at least it would be slightly less mortifying than I anticipated.

I got back on the platform and Annie helped me slip into my dress. Then she helped me strap my blue stilettos on, slid some red, white, and blue bracelets on my wrists, and put dangly earrings in each of my earlobes.

"All done," said Annie with a smile.

I carefully stepped off the platform and walked back to the mirror. I didn't want to twist my ankle like Kristen had. Or maybe I should to get out of this horrible performance. The thought was tempting, but I couldn't do it. I had to beat Gabriela.

I looked in the mirror and twirled around. The blue dress was covered in sparkles, had a super deep V neckline, and had slits practically up to my hips. If I wasn't going to strip it off anyway, I would have been horrified at how revealing it was.

"You have to admit," said Kristen, "Tim has a great eye for fashion."

"His eye for fashion was never what was in question." I turned to my three stylists. "Thank you so much for all the magic you three just pulled off. I've never felt so pretty in my entire life."

"You look beautiful," said Cindy. Judy nodded in agreement.

"You're going to do awesome," agreed Annie.

Kristen smiled at me. "Time to go win gold."

Chapter 35

Sunday

Alina

"By the way, there's a high probability that you'll be totally freaked out by Bryce's outfit," said Kristen as we approached the door to go backstage.

"Oh God. Did Tim put all the backup dancers in man thongs?" A picture of Bryce wearing a man thong flashed through my head. "Actually, maybe that wouldn't be so bad."

"Uh, not quite."

I held the door open for Kristen and then went through. I immediately saw what she was talking about. In the corner, Tim was leading a group of men in American flag morph suits doing jumping jacks.

"Please tell me that's not them," I said.

"Who else would it be?"

"Fair enough. How do I know which one's Bryce?"

"Just look for whichever one gets a boner first when they see you. Those suits don't exactly provide much coverage down there."

My eyes immediately gravitated to their crotches. Kristen was right - I could see a pretty clear outline of all their packages. So that's why Tim chose these suits.

One of them turned to look at me. "Hey, eyes up here," he said.

"I'm sure she would say the same thing to you if she could see where your eyes were looking under that creepy mask," said Kristen.

The guy shrugged. "Alina, you look stunning."

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