step back.
His smile twisted into something sinister.
“Well whoever he is, he probably isn’t keeping you happy if you’re coming to a party alone looking like that…” He stepped closer and ran his hand down my arm, eliciting goose bumps I tried to cover with my hand.
I shook my head, ready to shove him away from me, but then I caught sight of Lexi and Molly behind him.
“Guys!” I said with obvious distress. “There you are!”
His hand dropped from my arm and he twisted around to take in my two friends. Lexi nodded in greeting, but I shook my head. “Owen was actually just leaving.”
Molly frowned, confused.
“Good seeing you again,” I said with a fake smile, all but pushing him away from the group.
He snorted and turned away, knowing he wouldn’t get anywhere.
“He was cute,” Molly said, watching him walk away.
I scrunched my nose. “Not one of the good ones. Believe me.”
“Are you sure you don’t want a sip?” Lexi said, holding her drink out to me. We had a day off before individual all-around finals, but I still wasn’t in the mood. I needed to call Erik and I wanted my full mental faculties for our conversation.
“Actually, I’m going to head to the bathroom. I’ll be back in a second.”
I sidled through the party, careful to keep watch of Owen. He was on the other side of the room by the time I slipped into the bathroom, locked the door, and called Erik.
It rang four times before he picked up.
“Brie?”
His deep voice sent a shiver down my spine.
“Where are you?” I asked, glancing up at my reflection in the mirror. My eyes were dilated. My cheeks were flushed. I spun away and stared at the wall, waiting for him to answer.
“At my condo—”
“Could you come pick me up? I want to talk to you.”
“Can it wait six days?”
In six days, the Olympics will be over.
I crossed my arm over my chest, protecting myself from him. “No. I think we should talk now.”
My heart was pounding in my chest with such intensity I was sure he could hear it through the phone.
“Are you at the athlete complex?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be there in five minutes. Meet me outside, by the U.S. flag.”
I inhaled his words, biting down my smile.
He was coming for me.
After I slid my phone back into my purse, I turned to the mirror and dabbed on a bit of lipstick, fluffed my hair, and checked to make sure there wasn’t any mascara under my eyes. My dress was tight, the sweetheart neckline accentuating my small frame, and I smiled confidently as I left the bathroom.
Molly and Lexi were right where I left them and though they weren’t happy when I told them I was heading out, neither of them tried to stop me. I guessed they could sense how little I wanted to be there.
The elevator was empty when the doors slid closed and the silence in the space amplified my nerves. My hand shook as I leaned forward and pressed the button for the ground floor. I pressed my other hand to my stomach, trying to get ahold of myself, but my heart was really to blame. It wouldn’t slow down. The elevator descended slowly and my nerves grew, multiplying until I could hardly breathe.
I clenched my fists by my sides as I strolled through the lobby, pausing briefly when I caught sight of Erik through the glass doors. He was leaning against the side of a cab, staring up at my building. He looked ready for war: mussed up sex hair and a dark scowl marring his handsome features. His dark jeans stretched across his long legs and his arms were crossed over his black shirt.
His armor was in place, but he didn’t need it any more. I’d wipe away that scowl and kiss away his frown.
I’ll be the one to surrender.
His gaze skimmed down the building and locked onto me as I pushed open the glass doors.
I smiled and stepped closer as I felt him take me in slowly.
“You’re early,” I said, holding up my phone.
The right side of his mouth tipped up in a smirk, but he made no move to greet me, not like Hudson. He’d bent and kissed Rosie’s cheek, but Erik kept his distance, standing a foot away from me, waiting for an explanation.
“I called you because I want to talk to you about…” I wet my bottom lip and glanced away, trying to collect my thoughts. “About us, I guess.”
His brow arched.
“I’ll admit