Going for Gold (An Olympic Medal Romance Book 1) (7 page)

He was too stuck in his own thoughts to see the young kid bump into Mia. The boy had slammed her into a damn building, and he had to yank the kid away from her. His focus was on her, but she blinked as if she couldn’t see him.

He’d heard someone yelling behind him in Portuguese, at least he thought that’s what it was, but he couldn’t turn away from Mia. Hands grabbed at his shirt, trying to pull him down.

“Stop!” a woman screamed. She yelled something else too, but he couldn’t understand it. Then the hands released him, and he was able to grab Mia before she hit the ground.

He had her in his arms when he finally turned to see one of the uniformed police officers knocked out with a muscular guy standing over him.

“Mia!” The woman who’d screamed rushed from around the man and over to them. “Oh, Mia.”

Gunnar thought the woman looked familiar, but he was too worried about Mia to ask.

“Come with us. Now,” she demanded. When he hesitated, she said, “I’m Louisa, Mia’s friend. Hurry!”

He followed her and the man, who he guessed was the boyfriend Mia had told him about. They went through a darkened alley until they got to a back door. Juan opened the door, and Gunnar followed Louisa through.

He heard the door lock after Juan came in behind them.

“Set her over here,” Louisa said. “Gently.”

He placed Mia on the bed, and Louisa put a wet cloth over her eyes and nose.

“Stupid thugs,” she said. “I swear they ruin the parties around here more than the police with their silly gangs. Now, they’re getting other people hurt with their foolishness.”

“Is she going to be okay?” Gunnar asked, unable to focus on anything but Mia’s condition.

“She’ll be fine. The gas just knocked her out.”

“Some kid pushed her into a wall.”

Louisa checked Mia’s face and head. “She doesn’t have any cuts or bruises. It’s definitely the gas. She would have passed out before with that mess those idiots threw out there.”

“So she’s not hurt?”

“Having no physical injuries doesn’t mean she isn’t hurt,” Louisa said, staring at him. “But we’ll wait and see.”

Gunnar didn’t have to be completely with it to know she meant more than what had just happened outside. Maybe Mia’s friend had a point.

He was so worried that Mia would only see him as an Olympic star that he didn’t think about the harm from not telling her.

That’s what he got for not trusting the one person he shared every other part of his life with. Every part except for the biggest reason for why he came to Rio. Not telling her had done nothing to show how much he really did depend on her to get him through the pressure he faced with everyone else back in Michigan.

“She really cares about you,” Louisa said, taking her friend’s hand. “She talks about you all the time. Gunnar this, Gunnar that. I even threatened to disown her once if she mentioned you more than twice in one day.”

“That sounds awful.”

“Trust me. It was. I even bribed her with other boys. That’s why she even had a high-school boyfriend, but she never talked about him like she does you.”

Juan moved closer to Louisa. “I think he meant that you threatening to disown her was the bad thing, Lo,” Juan said.

“Oh. Well, it was just a threat. I’d never leave her. She’s my family.” Louisa squeezed Mia’s hand. “My parents weren’t the best people in the world, and Mia helped me get through it.

“I don’t know what to say,” he said.

“Say you won’t fuck over my best friend.”

He appreciated the lack of bullshit in their conversation. People sweet talked him so often back home that he forgot what it was like to have a normal talk ever since he got famous. He didn’t walk on water, and he never wanted to. Everyone demanded too much of him without saying a word.

“I don’t want to hurt her.”

“Then don’t.” Louisa stared at him.

Her words were simple but honest. There was no kissing his ass or expectation for him to be anything other than genuine. Louisa didn’t seem to care what his status was outside of the walls they were in. She was looking out for her friend, and he respected her for it.

If she didn’t treat him any differently, why did he think Mia would? She never showed anything in her emails that proved her to be superficial, or that she even cared about any of that.

Gunnar had always found a connection with Mia. Innocent correspondence had turned into something he’d never had before meeting her. With the other women, he didn’t want to stay. Mia made him anxious every time he left her, and being near her was the only thing to calm him down since he arrived in Rio.

In that moment, it clicked for him, the indecision that he could never focus on. Mia was his split second of heaven, that adrenaline rush of freedom that flung him through the air after each vault. She was it.

“I won’t ever hurt her again. I can promise you that.”

“Good or you won’t be around to play in the next Olympics, let alone see it happen.”

He liked Mia’s friend more and more. “That seems fair.”

Before coming to Rio, he never would have thought it would turn into something romantic. He was doomed as soon as he saw her in that airport holding the sign with his name on it. There was no way he could go back to just being friends with her, and when she woke up he was going to tell her that, and he hoped like hell he wasn’t too late to finally tell her his truth.

M
ia woke up to sunlight shinning in her face and Gunnar sleeping partially in the chair next to her with his legs up on the bed. She realized she’d never seen him asleep before, and he looked so handsome and peaceful that it made her chest ache to watch him.

He was close enough to touch, and she couldn’t resist playing with his hair, watching the sun move between the stands.

He stirred under her petting and peeked up from the stray hair that shielded his face. “Mia?”

“Morning,” she said, tucking the stray hair behind his ear.

“You’re okay.” He took her wrist and brought it down until her hand cupped his face.

“I’m fine.” She rubbed her temple with her free hand, trying to hold off the ache building there. “My head is throbbing a little, but I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“You don’t feel nauseous or dizzy? Maybe we should have a doctor check you out.” The corner of his eyes crinkled with concern.

“No, I’m all right. I just need some water.”

“I’ll get you some and let Louisa know you’re up.”

While he was gone, she sat up. It felt like she’d been hit by a bus and knocked out for hours.

“Mia, you’re awake, finally.” Louisa rushed over and gave her a hug. “You had us worried for a bit. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you sleep so long.”

Gunnar brought her a glass of water, which she drained in a few gulps. Her thoughts of last night slowly came back to her.

“What happened?” she asked, sitting the empty glass on the small night table.”

Louisa scoffed. “The police crashed the party, because some drug runners decided that was the best hideout. I swear if I find those boys, I’ll make them wish the police got them instead.”

Mia remembered seeing a group of young boys running from the police before everyone went into a frenzy.

“Someone slammed you into a wall,” Gunnar said. “I was so worried he’d hurt you.” Tension rose in his shoulders, and she could see the anger behind it.

“He didn’t. I think it was the gas that knocked me out, but the last thing I saw was that policeman attacking you.”

“Juan took care of him after we found you,” Louisa said.

Mia looked around the room. “I was trying to get here to your building, but I got turned around.”

“You weren’t far off. Thank God we got to you in time.”

That made her remember where Gunnar was supposed to be. “What time is it?”

“Almost seven in the morning.”

“Gunnar, you have to go! You’re supposed to be at the track competing.”

He shook his head. “I’m not leaving you.”

“If you don’t, you’ll miss your run.”

Gunnar sat down next to her. “I don’t care about that anymore.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“I do if it means anything were to happen you. I’m so sorry about lying to you, Mia. I’d die before hurting you.”

His words made Mia’s insides soar a little, and she almost forgot the pain edging up on her.

“Americans,” Louisa said, shaking her head. “Always with the drama.”

“Louisa.” Mia nodded to the doorway.

“Fine. I’ll leave you.” She gave Gunnar a look that proved she wasn’t playing around, one Mia knew well. “Don’t forget what I said.”

“Never,” he said.

After she left, Mia asked, “What was that all about?”

“She’s just making sure I don’t disappoint her best friend. Something I should have been more mindful of before now.”

“You could never disappoint me,” she said.

He sighed. “I should have told you the truth.”

“I understand why you didn’t, but I could never see you any differently than I always have, Gunnar. Whether you’re an Olympian or not, you’ll always be you.”

“Even if I don’t know who that is just yet?”

“Then I’ll be happy to figure it out with you.”

He laughed. “You’re smart and beautiful. Do you know that?”

“Finally figured it out,” Louisa’s voice called out from the kitchen.

“Stop eavesdropping, Louisa!” Mia shouted back.

“This place is too damn small to not hear you two, but if he doesn’t kiss you soon, I’m going to smack him with my favorite frying pan.”

“I guess I better kiss you then?” Gunnar asked.

“She is good with swinging that pan, so you probably should.”

Mia’s eyes widened as he slid her from the bed and into his lap. She forgot about any pain or soreness as he stared at her with adoration.

“For the record, I would have kissed you no matter what.”

She grinned before he consumed her with a kiss that lit up her body and soul. He was the quench her thirst needed. His lips took hers like a man with a set intention and complete determination, making her melt into him and block everything and everyone else out.

When he pulled back, she saw a smug look on his face.

“You look happy,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“I am. You make me happy.”

“If you want me to be happier, you need to finish the games. I refuse to be the reason for you to quit.”

“I’ll only go if you come with me. I need you there.” He pulled her closer as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

“I don’t know how to respond to that.”

Louisa stormed into the room. “Did you catch his stupidity or something? He just asked you to go support him, and you’re going.”

She pulled Mia by the arm until she stood up from Gunnar’s lap.

Mia stumbled a little trying to follow her. “What are you doing?”

“Getting you some of my clothes to wear. You are not wearing that party dress to the Olympics. If I saw you on television dressed like that, I’d never forgive myself.”

Mia pulled out of Louisa’s grip and went back over to Gunnar. She planted a small, quick peck on his lips. Even though she wanted a longer kissing session with him, there’d be time for that later. “I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll be here waiting for you,” he said.

That was more than she could ever ask for.

***

M
ia sat in the stands with Gunnar’s parents, Lorena and Miles Kingsley and looked on as the athletes stretched and prepared for their pole vaulting event.

His mother had hugged Mia as soon as they met, making Mia feel less antsy about meeting them.

“Gunnar always said you were beautiful,” Mrs. Kingsley said. “He just didn’t tell us how much.”

“Thank you,” Mia said, thinking the same about her.

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Mia,” Mr. Kingsley said, hugging her, too.

She remembered the tight embrace Gunnar had greeted her with at the airport and realized he’d got such warm greeting habits from his parents, which made her smile.

“Gunnar has us sitting in the front row,” his mother said. “You have to sit with us, dear.” She took Mia by the arm before she could respond.

“Thank you. I’d love to.”

His parents were a striking couple and seemed so happy. Mia couldn’t help but wonder what she and Gunnar would look like after so many years together. Although they hadn’t talked about their future, she couldn’t see one without him in it.

Watching Gunnar in his element was both the best and worst feeling combined into one ball of anxiousness and exhilaration. He had spotted the three of them sitting up front, and he’d smiled up at them a couple of times before putting all of his concentration into the event ahead.

The television cameras were a little intimidating, but Mia tried to ignore them the best she could.

All through the stands were multitudes of people holding flags and signs for their country, along with matching clothes. Brazil’s flag was everywhere, too. One of the athletes participating was from her country, but out of everyone competing, Gunnar was the man she focused on.

He wore his country’s colors of red, white, and blue with pride, and the confidence surrounded him like it was invisible armor shielding him for battle.