Page 29 of The Fall

“I know, Sav. But I was right there with you. I know it wasn’t my injury, but I still lost my chance to go to the Olympics, too. And I’m willing to forgive him. He’s actually a nice guy if you get to know him.”

I roll over and look at Max. “Do you two, like, hang out?”

“Not regularly or anything, but we text, and I’ve taken him to a few restaurants.”

“What?” I gasp. I feel like my partner has been living a secret life behind my back.

“Did you think I was going to tell you that I was hanging out with your arch nemesis? Yeah, no. I like my balls right where they are, thank you.”

“Then why are you telling me now?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.

He puts his hand on my waist and pulls me closer to him. “Because I’ve vetted him. I wouldn’t be asking you to come with us if I really thought he was a bad guy.”

“Well, it sounds like you guys are BFFs already. Why do you need me there?”

“Because I like hanging out with you. And I know you’ll waste your entire day if I don’t drag you out of bed.”

“That’s not true. I had things to do today,” I tell him. It’s a lie that he sees right through.

“Like what?” When I don’t answer, he says, “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

“And we have to go hiking?” I whine. I understand that I’m an athlete and it’s literally my job to move my body, but I’m more of an indoor athlete. Being outside in the sun, with the bugs… yeah, not my thing.

“Well, I’d be more than happy to spend all day making you come, but I’m guessing you wouldn’t let me, and it might make it awkward for Logan to hear you moaning my name all day.”

I throw a pillow at his face, and we both laugh. I know it’s completely inappropriate, but my mind instantly starts thinking about what it would be like if Max made me come while Logan watched. I have a feeling it’d be really hot. Those piercing blue eyes zoned in on me while I completely came undone? Or if they both…

The thought alone embarrasses me. I can’t be thinking about that with my coach.

“Savannah… are you blushing?” Max asks. I don’t blush often, but when I do, Max always calls me out on it. I hate that he notices.

“No,” I say quickly, ripping the bedding off me. Guess I need to get ready to go fucking hiking.

“Yes, you are. Are you turned on by the thought of someone else hearing you get off?” Sometimes it’s really annoying that Max can read me like a book. Like, can’t a girl get a little privacy, especially when it comes to fantasies?

“Absolutely not.” I open a drawer and pull out a pair of shorts.

“Nah, I’m pretty sure I just figured out a new kink of yours. I’m sure if I called Logan in here right now, he’d be cool with it. LOGAN!”

“Have you lost your fucking mind?” I grab a stuffed bear from one of our competitions that’s sitting on my dresser and throw it at his head.

Max laughs like this is the funniest thing in the world, while I feel like I might die from embarrassment. A few seconds later, Logan Sokolov appears at my bedroom door, and I’m extremely aware of the fact that I’m currently not wearing any pants.

“Yeah? Everything ok?” Logan asks, looking from Max to me. His eyes drop from my face to my chest, where it is also very obvious I’m not wearing a bra, and then on to my thin cotton panties and finally my bare legs. I want to die.

“Everything is fine,” I say quickly before Max can say something stupid. “I just wasn’t prepared for a hiking expedition today. Some advance notice would’ve been nice.”

“Oh, sorry. I thought Max had already asked you,” Logan says, and I instantly feel bad. I have no doubt Max made it sound like he had already talked to me about this.

“He didn’t, but it’s fine. I just need a few minutes to get ready. So if you boys will leave…”

Logan doesn’t hesitate. He steps back and is about to turn away when Max says, “I can’t watch you change? It’s not like I’ve never seen your tits before.”

Logan freezes in the doorway, and I notice his hand that’s closest to the hallway clenches slightly into a fist.

“Max, get out of my room.”

He gets up from the bed and laughs as he follows Logan back to the living room. I quickly get dressed in my shorts and a tank top, then throw my hair in a ponytail and grab my shoes.