Page 84 of The Retreat

“What are you doing to my brother?” Oliver says in an icy tone.

“Fulfilling his every sexual desire,” I snap back, but feel a little weird about saying it after Owen said he wanted to keep it from his brother, but I know if I act any other way, Oliver will see through me.

Oliver gives me a flat look. “I almost believe you, but I know how Owen feels about sex. So what is it? How are you giving him all this dopamine?”

“Do you feel inadequate, Oliver?”

He narrows his eyes. “I will figure you out.”

“I look forward to it.”

I get checked in, and Roberts gets us to our seats with minimal fuss. A reporter tried to yell a question at me, but Roberts put his hand in the guy’s face and pushed him out of the way. It was hilarious. I doubt that was part of his training, but I really don’t care. I have no idea where Oliver went, but I’m rather happy he decided not to sit with me.

“What do you do when you’re not protecting my delicate sensibilities?” I ask Roberts.

The large man with a shiny head and arms bigger than my thigh lifts an eyebrow. “Ballet.”

“I would pay good money to see you in tights and leotard.”

“I’m sure your husband would, too.” He rolls his eyes and scans the crowd.

“Oh, I’m sure he would enjoy your ass-ets as well.”

“You are impossible.”

Deciding to give him a break, since he’ll be with me most of the day today and the next two days after that, I scroll through my phone for a while.

Baby Bird: How is he? Is he nervous?

Corruptor: Of course he’s nervous, he has anxiety.

I chuckle at myself since I’m hilarious.

Baby Bird: You know what I mean!

Corruptor: He’ll be fine.

Corruptor: Why didn’t you come with Oliver?

Baby Bird: I couldn’t get out of class. Not all of us are married to USA team members.

Corruptor: Oliver didn’t pull strings?

Baby Bird: He told me to ask for myself.

Corruptor: You didn’t ask, did you?

Baby Bird: Rude. But correct.

I’m sure Owen doesn’t have his phone and won’t check it for a few hours, but I send him a message anyway.

Juicy Peach: You’re going to do amazing.

And send him a picture of my ass, dripping wet from the shower this morning.

The stands fill, talk of fencing and people’s guesses about who will beat who surround. It’s been so interesting being on this side of the game. It’s not often I’ve sat in the stands instead of competing in them or at least been with my team. Here, I’m just a spectator. Another face in the crowd.

Annoying Little Sister: Tell Owen to knock ‘em dead!

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