Fight or Fall (20 page)

I turned around and followed his line of vision and standing a few feet behind me was Bee.

She was in a white blouse and blue slacks, and her blonde hair had grown longer – she looked the same but different at the same time. She has really grown into a woman our parents would undoubtedly be proud of. Her blue eyes, the ones she’d inherited from our mom, were filled with tears and her mouth was quivering, like she was trying to say something but couldn’t say the words. I stood up, closed the small distance and hugged her. Unlike what happened after the World Championships, this time she returned my hug.

“I missed you.” Three simple words.

I was forgiven.

I loosened her from our hug and she smiled at me. The way she used to. Like I could hang the stars in the sky. Like I could make her dreams come true. Like I could answer all her prayers.

“I’m sorry,” I said, choking on my words. “I’m sorry for hurting you. For shaming our family name.”

Her eyes glistened with tears, and she swiped a fingertip on her face. “I know. I know you are…” Her face curved into a smile. “I’m just glad you’re back.”

“Me too.”

And just like that, no other words were needed. I knew she accepted my apologies wholeheartedly.

She hugged me one more time and then proceeded to sit down by Kieran. He kissed her on her cheek and she took a long look at him, a wide smile forming on her face. She was happy, very happy.

Sixteen years ago, on a seemingly ordinary summer day, I became a man. I was her only brother, one of her closest friends, and I also became a father figure to her. I ensured that she had the best of the best. New shoes, new supplies, Kitchen Aid mixer, her Christmas wish list filled out and granted before my own. It was what my dad would have wanted. It was what my mom would have dreamt of. And it was what I’ve always done. Protect her, love her, and keep the tears away.

There comes a time in a person’s life when the scale is tipped and you know when it’s time to turn in the reins, I extended my right hand to Kieran and said, “Take good care of her.”

He took my offered hand, and I added, “Or I will rip your fucking balls off.”

He merely raised a brow and laughingly, he replied, “Damn, I miss racing against you in the pool.”

Ava’s voice interrupted our mini-reunion, “I’m so sorry, I had to go to the bathroom. Ohmigosh, I missed everything, didn’t I?”

Dinner was going great. Bee ordered her favorite shrimp primavera, Kieran and I both had steak, and Ava had crab linguini alfredo. The bottle of Merlot was halfway gone. We were actually having a great time. I really should have given Kieran a chance to explain instead of just taking Dia’s side. But whatever happened, happened.

Kieran asked, “When’s FINA lifting the ban?”

I answered, “I’m out for another year. Two years total.” I had received FINA’s official letter two weeks ago, and Ava had there when I opened it.

The ladies were quiet. Ava took a sip of her wine and Bee ate more of her dish. Kieran reached around Bee’s shoulders comforting her. Bee knew how much I loved swimming.

“It’s okay. I think it’s a fair judgment. It would have been worse if you pressed charges,” I said, signaling my head at Kieran.

He shrugged his shoulders. “Yeah, well, it would be nice to have you back.”

“Yep.” It would be nice, but I did the crime and I have to pay the time.

Kieran leaned over Bee who looked like she had lost her appetite and whispered something to her left ear. Bee let out a tiny giggle and proceeded to eat the rest of her food.

The server came by to ask if we wanted desserts, and both Kieran and I deferred to the ladies.

When the chocolate soufflé and crème brulee arrived at our table, Bee asked Ava, whose hands I’d been touching under the table the whole evening, “It’s so cool that you’re here in Arizona and so is Milo. What a great coincidence! I missed hanging out with both of you. By the way, Ava, how’s Alex?

I felt Ava’s posture stiffen. “Umm…he’s okay, I think.”

Who’s Alex?

“You don’t know?” Bee wondered, her blonde brows arching. “He’s like your man candy…”

Kieran asked, “Man candy? Honey, that’s weird.”

Bee said, her head shaking, her eyes on Ava whose hands were getting clammy under mine, “Just the other day Ava said she’s dating someone. Well, tell us about him.”

Bee had no idea I came here with Ava. I’d dropped off Ava with her small bag of clothes at Kieran and Bee’s house and quickly left without seeing my sister so I could talk with Kieran first. The news of them moving in together was something I knew of because Bee had texted me months ago about it but I never replied. Obviously, my duchess hasn’t divulged anything about us to my sister.

“The guy I’m dating?” Ava inquired, as I formed circles with my fingers on her palm.

“Yeah,” Bee said, her blue eyes inquiring. “Is it Alex Totikov? The Russian model?”

Who the fuck is this Alex? A Russian model? I already sent a Russian back to his roots. Maybe I’d send this Alex Fed-Exed back to wherever he came from and join a federation with his banged-up countryman.

“No.”

“Ava, you’ve only lusted, umm, crushed on Alex for years…” Lusted on this Alex guy? I stopped the swirling motion on her hand and tightened my hold on her right leg instead. She was wearing a red dress that showed her curves, long legs, and high heels that I’d ask her to keep on for later.

Bee continued, “And now you’re dating someone and it’s not him? Seriously. Who is this guy? I mean, who can top a guy with a body like Beckham?”

Kieran’s brows shot through the roof at that statement. “A body like Beckham? Are these your words, honey?”

Exactly buddy, whoever this Alex guy is, I’m going to kick his ass harder than Beckham.

“No, Ava’s.” Bee rolled her eyes.

Ava took a swig on her glass of wine before saying, “Alex is super hot. I mean, he’s like the most gorgeous male model on the planet...I know I’ve said he’s, gah, delicious.” It’s one thing for Ava to say these kinds of things before, when we weren’t together. Actually, she never really mentioned guys or if she did, she didn’t say it like this.

Jealousy at her looking all dreamy for this Alex piece of shit, irritation at her being all dreamy for this Alex dickwad, and an animalistic drive to possess her, to have her see only me, instead of pining for this motherfucking Alex guy ran through my veins.

“Baby, you better stop now,” I warned, my right hand slamming hard on the table. The liquid on my glass vibrating, bouncing with the force of my hand.

“Un, deux, trois.” Whenever I was getting worked up, she’d start counting in French. I liked the way the words rolled over her tongue and I didn’t let her finish…ever. I grabbed her head and kissed her. Hard.

Her response was to kiss me just as hard, her tongue making its way around my mouth, her hand pulling on my shoulder.

“You’re dating my brother?” Bee’s excited scream dulled our heated moment, my momentary lapse into Ava’s lips.

Ava nuzzled my chin, trailed a fingertip along my jaw, and I caught her ears flushing hotly against her tiny diamond earrings.

She still hadn’t answered Bee. Maybe she was shy about us. We haven’t had exactly a great history of liking each other in front of my sister.

“I’m not dating her Bee,” I declared, my left arm covered Ava’s shoulder, her head downcast. “She’s my girlfriend.”

“Ava, look at me,” Bee ordered. My sister and Ava have been friends since they were both in first grade.

Ava was refusing to look at her, which was pretty funny considering they were facing each other, and Ava’s never been the shy type especially towards Bee.

“Ava! Avalea!” Bee grated out, and was she was standing now, reaching over the table. She often used Ava’s full name when she wanted Ava’s full attention. Kieran had to move her wineglass out of the way, shaking his head, and obviously trying to hold himself back from laughing.

I whispered in her ear tauntingly, “Baby, are you ashamed of me?”

Ava straightened her back and finally came out of hiding, out of my arms, and held my left hand on top of the table, giving my sister a calm smile, she said, “Yes, Brynnie… Milo and I are together.”

“This is the weirdest and best news ever.” Bee sighed, looking at our entangled hands. “I mean, Ava, you don’t even like my brother. And Milo, you can’t stand Ava. I mean, how? What? When?”

Kieran’s shoulders were now openly vibrating, chuckling. “Honey, I think they’ve pretty much answered the what. I’m not sure you wanna know all the details.”

Ava leaned into my chest and I inhaled her flowery-citrusy scent. She always smelled enticing, so fresh, so feminine, so her. I couldn’t wait to get her inside our hotel room. I had a lot of things planned out for her tonight. I stopped myself from drifting into horny thoughts because first, my sister was here. Second, my sister who was her best friend, looked shocked at seeing us together.

“It turns out we do like each other.” Ava’s lips turned up. She had that shimmery lipstick, or she called it gloss, well, whatever the fuck it was, it tasted great and damn, I couldn’t wait to dive into those lips again. “We didn’t expect it to happen, but it did.”

“You mean all the times you said you were seeing this super hot, super great, amazing guy with abs that were out-of-this world, you were actually talking about my brother?”

Ava nodded her head. “Yep.”

“That’s really weird and gross, but okay, I guess.” Bee breathed in, trying to soak in the news, she tapped her right finger on the table. “I feel like I’m in a parallel universe right now. I mean, I’m so happy that you’re finally talking to me, Milo.” Her eyes sparkled in joy. “You and Kieran are okay…and now this, Ava, you and my brother…I can’t, I don’t know what to say.”

Kieran took a big chunk of the crème brulee and I followed suit. We were both in agreement – we’d let the ladies talk.

“I’m happy, Brynnie,” Ava announced. “I’m really happy.”

Bee’s eyes softened, her cheeks puffing out, her eyes misting. “I love both of you... As long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”

Kieran pulled Bee into a side hug, wiping her face with a small napkin because a show of tears started falling from her face.

If Ava started bawling, shit, this place would be a hormonal mess, so I said, “Bee, you know what Ava says?”

“What?”

“She says I make the second best omelet in the world.”

Bee’s eyes were as big as the dinner plates on our table. “You cook? Since when did you start cooking?”

“Come on. You knew I cooked,” I argued, shaking my head.

“You never cooked for me,” she retorted. Kieran spooned some of the crème brulee and lifted it to Bee’s mouth.

It’s true, I didn’t cook when my sister was around. I was lazy when she was in the kitchen. Plus she makes the best of everything, so why bother?

“He does,” Ava said. “But like he said, second best, Brynnie. You’re still number one.”

“Of course she is,” Kieran agreed. “She’s the greatest cook.”

“Milo doesn’t even know how to boil eggs when I’m around,” Bee snickered. “All he does is clean and say, ‘Watch where you put your glass. Make sure there’s a coaster.’”

Ava let out a snort, almost choking on the glass of wine she was currently drinking. I softly ran my hand over her back. “Ohmigosh! That’s so true! He also goes, ‘Dry the dishes right away so there are no water spots.’ Oh, and, ‘Did you use the wash rag or the dust rag to wipe the table?’”

Bee and Ava started laughing uncontrollably. They continued trading stories about my habits – the way I drove, my obsession for separating my white shirts from colored shirts, and the neurotic, in Ava’s words, habit I had of keeping everything neat and organized inside the refrigerator.

I took it all in stride. To see them like this – my sister’s face glowing with delight and my woman’s cheeks tinting with bliss – I couldn’t ask for anything more. Kieran and I exchanged a knowing look. “We’re cool. Everyone’s cool.”

Finally.

Everything is good now.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur. Ava and Bee were back to their besties mode – talking non-stop and updating each other on the latest boy band gossips. Boy bands still existed? Who knew?

Kieran and I got to talking about next year’s Olympics. At first he was quite unsure if it was okay to talk about it until I said, “It’s alright. I mean I can’t do anything about my situation now. But once the ban’s lifted, I’m looking forward to racing against you again.”

The Olympics were going to be in Brazil.

“I think it would be cool if we all went to Brazil,” I voiced out. Ava caressed my arm. I knew she was concerned for me. I’d told her that I still haven’t gotten back in the pool since the day I left Shanghai. “Bee’s gonna be there since you’re competing, man. I’d probably stay out of the Aquatics Center just so the press won’t make a big deal out of it, but other than that, I’d like to go.”

It’s amazing what a suggestion, a thought, could do to another person’s outlook.

Ava had suggested that I talk to Brynn. She didn’t force me into doing it. She merely gave an honest opinion.

Now here I was. Here we were. Making plans. Opening myself to new possibilities after causing a scandal in the sport I loved.