Tonight was Opening Ceremonies and tomorrow was my first event. I had one final day to warm up before competition started. And I wanted Ava here.

I couldn’t explain it, but she fed something in me. Calmed my soul. Energized my blood. Fueled my strength. It had only been a week since I had found her again, but it felt longer than that.

Jim hovered over the edge of the pool. “Ready for the butterfly?” he asked.

I snapped my goggles into place and splashed water over my shoulders. I saw Ava walk in and I grinned.

“I’m ready now.”

She waved at me as she took a seat in the bleachers.

Jim dropped his arm and I dove into the water, ready to plow through and kick ass on this lap. By the time I touched the wall at the other end of the pool I knew I had done exactly what we wanted. I had cut time off my first turn.

Jim laughed. “Son of a bitch. You’re going to blow the other chaps out of the water. Now if you can do that on every turn, it’s going to be incredible.”

“That’s the plan.” I pushed out of the water and dragged my body over the side of the pool.

Ava watched as I walked around the wall separating the swimmers from the fans. I didn’t give a shit who saw me. I planted a rough kiss on her lips.

She licked her lips. “Mmm. Wet.”

“Thanks for coming.”

“That looked amazing. How did you do that with the turn?”

I admitted it was fucking hot as shit my girl knew what she was talking about when it came to sports. She never got tired talking about swimming or any of the sports at the games. She was a better listener than Jim was sometimes.

I realized how hot it was she was mine. Only mine.

“I don’t know. I’ve been working on it all week and it suddenly clicked. I couldn’t get it down in Sydney.”

“If you’re going to make a change like that, this is the time to do it.” She smiled.

“I have to hit the showers. Want to go get lunch?”

A fan leaned over Ava’s shoulder and shoved a phone in her face. I glared at him, but saw Ava’s warning expression before I grabbed the phone and threw it in the pool.

“Which lunch is this for you? First, second, or third?”

I cracked a smile. “I thought I dispelled those hobbit rumors with you. And it’s second lunch.” I winked.

“I can’t.” She shook her head. “I don’t have anything to write today and I really need to get something to my boss.”

I scratched the back of my head. “Dinner is out because of the ceremony. That’s going to take all night.”

“I’ll be here tomorrow,” she piped up. “I’m going to watch you swim.”

“That’s not enough,” I growled. “Fucking dictators keeping us in the village. It sucks.”

“Think of it this way. You’ll get more sleep.”

There was truth there, but I’d rather fall asleep naked and inside Ava. I didn’t like that someone regulated when and where I could sleep. Not with the biggest games of my life in front of me. I needed her.

She was my release. She was my calm. She was fucking everything to me.

I kissed her quickly. “I’ll figure something out.”

She eyed me. “Blaine, what does that mean?”

“Don’t worry about it, love.”

She stood to leave, but I could see the hesitation. “Please don’t do something stupid. Call me tonight and have fun at Opening Ceremonies. I’ll be here tomorrow.”

“Me stupid?” I felt Jim’s hand on my back.

“Hi, Ava,” he greeted her.

“Hi, Jim.”

“Blaine, we’ve got press in an hour.”

“All right. Bye, love.”

He shuttled me to the locker room, but I wasn’t content. I had to see her tonight. Tomorrow was going to be my greatest swim, but I needed Ava Gold tonight if I was going to make that happen.

* * *

I knocked on the hotel door with my bag slung over my shoulder.

“Hold on,” I heard Ava call on the other side.

I knew she would be surprised to see me. It was late, but I came straight from the ceremony. It was an advantage walking in as one of the first countries. I carried the Australian flag proudly. Took the pictures. Waved to fans. And as soon as the fans focused on the dance show, I took off.

I wouldn’t head back to the village tonight. I had everything I needed for the swim tomorrow.

Ava cracked the door, banging it against the chain lock.

“Blaine?”

She closed the door, unlatching it to let me inside.

I looked around the room. Something was off. She was wearing a T-shirt slung off her shoulder and a pair of panties. Her hair was twisted into a bun on her head.

“Are you okay?” I asked. I felt as if I needed to pull her into a hug, or tuck her into bed. I couldn’t figure out which.

She nodded. “I’m fine. I just didn’t expect you. Aren’t you supposed to be at the ceremony?” She pointed to the TV. The commentator had a strong Portuguese accent. There were fireworks shooting across the screen.

“You don’t look fine.” She was pale as a ghost.

There was a gallon of water on the table where she usually worked. I also saw two cartons of plain crackers.

“That’s not very nice to say.” She sat on the bed, but I saw her eyes close.

“Are you sick? Do you want me to take you to see someone?” The insensitive bastard in me wondered if I needed to get the hell out of this room. What if she infected me with something and I couldn’t swim?

“No. I’m fine.” She waved me off.

I sat on the edge of the bed, knowing I was taking a chance with my health. I prayed like hell I didn’t catch some fucking stomach bug.

“Would you stop watching that damn fire dance and tell me what’s going on?” I barked.

“I told you, it’s nothing.” She turned up the volume as another burst of flames lit up the sky over the Olympic stadium.

“Ava, I broke curfew, left the opening ceremonies, and blew off the entire Australian team to come over here tonight. The least you could do is fucking look at me.”

She turned toward me and I saw something I’d never seen in her eyes before—fear.

“What is it, love?” I softened my tone. Why was I such a bastard sometimes?

“You have a big swim tomorrow, don’t you?” she asked.

“God, what is going on with you?” I shoved off the bed. “I’m here because of the swim. You’re the person I want to be with before I swim tomorrow. Haven’t I said that in every way possible?” I felt the irritation under my skin.

“Blaine, I’m fine. Focus on the swim. Focus on the world record. Don’t worry about me.”

“How can you say that? I came over here for you.”

“I didn’t ask you to do that.” She covered her hand with her mouth.

I picked up my bag. “Fuck, if that’s how you feel, don’t worry about it.” I pulled the handle of the door as she scampered off the bed.

“Blaine, don’t leave like this.” She tugged on my arm, but I was done with these games.

“I didn’t mean to upset you,” she pleaded. “I was just—” But before she got another word out she ran to the bathroom, and I cringed as I heard her vomit.

“Shit, Ava.” I rushed over to see if she needed anything.

She steadied herself, brushed her teeth, and washed her hands.

She turned off the bathroom light and walked toward the bed.

“You can’t tell me you aren’t sick.” I glared at her. “I can at least get you to a doctor. Maybe I can call someone in the village. They’re already programmed into all our phones.”

I reached for my cell when Ava grabbed it from my hand.

“I’m not sick.”

“Like bloody hell,” I raised my voice. “Stop being stubborn. You just threw up.”

And then it hit me.

I saw the tears well on her bottom lid. “Blaine, I’m pregnant.”