Page 23 of Knot Giving Up 2

“I’m out,” Harrison shakes his head and stands to leave, but Meggie wraps her hands around his ankle.

“Can I tattoo you?” Her laugh is giddy, and Harrison’s lips can’t stay in the frown of disapproval he tries to wear.

He gives into the smile and points to Oz. “I think he should be the target for dick decorating.”

“Meggie can give Little Oz any attention she wants.” He replies. “I’ll even bring the bagels.”

13

McQuinn

Ican’t stop jiggling my leg and rubbing my rabbit’s foot. I wasn’t half this nervous last time I played in the Olympics. But I didn’t have a quarter million dollars on the line last time. I also wasn’t playing alongside an illegal omega.

Shit, there’s so much that could go wrong today.

The stakes for every game are always high at the Olympics. One game lost and you’re out. But the first game feels almost as intense as the last one. This game sets the tone for what’s coming. It proves that you’re good enough to be here.

Just before I’m about to slam my locker shut, my phone dings. The name on the screen makes me tense. I’d asked my parents if they wanted to come to the games. Offered to get them flights and tickets and everything. Not that I really have the money to spare right now after my stupid bet, but they didn’t come last time, and I thought maybe they’d support me this time.

That was more than two weeks ago, and my mom is only just now responding.

Mom: Sorry, honey. Your sister’s got her bonding ceremony this week. Don’t you remember? We can’t go gallivanting off to Europe in the middle of that.

Right. Because the Olympics were a last-minute thing, not something on the calendar for years that my omega sister could have worked around.

Mom: But good luck today.

Not bothering with a response, I toss the phone on the top of my bag. It lights up again with another message. This one, from an unknown number.

Unknown number: I know who you are, McQuinn. We’ll be talking soon.

What the fuck? I copy the number and search google to see if it’s spam or some kind of weird shit. Nothing comes up.

My stomach drops. Could this be Glenn? Did he find out I’m an athlete?

“You okay?” Nils rubs a hand up my back, a comforting touch, but it still makes me shiver and wish we were somewhere else right now.

“Nervous, carrot top?” Oz snaps his towel at my ass and I glare at him.

“I’m fine.”

“In the pool,” Dante calls, holding the door open. It’s time to get out there.

Whoever that message’s from, I’m going to have to deal with it later. Right now, we have a game to win.

***

“Fuck, did you see that?” The noise Oz’s locker makes as he slams it is as loud as his shit-eating smile. “Did you see the way I saved this guy’s ass?” He wraps an arm around Dante’s shoulder, and the bigger man shoves him off. “When Dante fumbled, I thought we were done for. That ball was a good ten yards from me and the Serbian winger was closer. I thought he was gonna get it for sure, but he didn’t. I did! That was me, baby. I made the winning goal. Hell, yeah!” He pelvic thrusts the air. “Did you see it, baby girl?”

He sweeps Meggie into his arms, making the towel she wrapped around her wet swimsuit fall. I can ignore that body when we’re in the pool, but now, with those long legs still wet and glistening… I look away.

“I saw it.” Meggie giggles, her eyes glowing with that athlete's victory high.

“We all saw it,” Harrison gives an indulgent smile, but I know he’s pleased with how our first game went.

“We won! What are we gonna do now?” Oz asks, still buzzing. “Hit up a party? A bar? A bed?” He wiggles his eyebrows at Meggie, who’s back on her feet.

Personally, I’ve got a lot of energy I need to burn off. Anxious energy about that text. Angry energy about my parents choosing my sister over me. Again. Excited energy about winning our first game. “I vote dancing.”

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