Page 34 of Going for Gold (Sweet Cravings 3)

He wasn't just handsome, sweet, and funny. He was real. And honest. I barely knew him, but I trusted him more than I had ever trusted Chris. I wanted to know what he was running from. Actually, I wanted to know everything about him. But before I could ask, he had another question.

"How complicated is it?"

I sat down on the stool beside him. "Complicated."

"Enlighten me."

I bit my lip. I wanted to know more about him. I didn't want to talk about Chris. Maybe it wasn't complicated at all. "He cheated on me."

"Then he must be an idiot."

I laughed. "Thanks for saying that."

"I don't really see the complication, though."

"We've been dating for two years. He made one mistake." That I know of. "I don't know if that means I should throw it all away. And you've seen what people do in the middle of the athlete's village..."

"Wait, he's here?"

"Yeah, he's on the swim team."

"What's his name?"

I didn't see why telling him that mattered. "Chris Hamilton."

His jaw seemed to tense.

"What, do you know him?"

"No, I've seen him around." He shrugged his shoulders like it didn't matter. But I had seen him clench his jaw. He had reacted to hearing Chris' name.

"I told him it was over right before Operation Red Rip. And I haven't heard from him since. I guess it really isn't that complicated. He seems perfectly happy with my decision."

"Are you happy with it?"

"I'm trying to focus on winning the rest of my games."

"Well, I personally think you made a great decision."

"You do?" My heart seemed to flutter.

"You deserve better than him."

"What, like you?"

He raised his eyebrow. "I never said that. Are you hitting on me?"

I laughed. "Like you aren't hitting on me."

"Let's just say that I wouldn't mind making things a little more complicated for you."

It took me a second to realize I had stopped breathing. I wasn't sure if him liking me complicated things, or made them way less complicated. Because from everything I knew about Bryce, he was worth taking a chance on. He seemed to understand me. And I couldn't stop thinking about his hands on me and his perfectly sculpted torso. Especially when his gaze was fixed on me like that. My whole body felt overheated.

He picked up both glasses of water. "I think our food is ready." He nodded toward our table.

Our dinner had just been served. Alex and Tim looked like they had both moved a little closer to Kristen. It seemed like she might be getting close to achieving that devil's threesome Tim wanted so badly.

"I know how much you're craving meat in your mouth," Bryce said. "I'm surprised you're not running over there."

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