Under the Circumstances

Bet On It

Alex's POV:

"I thought you were so much better at bowling. I feel lied to." I laughed as Tobin and I walked down the sidewalk back to the hotel.

"Okay, first of all. I'm amazing at bowling." Tobin replied, smiling while keeping her eyes infront of us. She looked so cute. "Second of all, that place was definitely rigged."

I rolled my eyes and laughed at her, hugging her side as we walked.

"So, what are we, Alex?"

"What do you think we are?"

"I think that you broke up with Servando." Tobin said quietly and then smirked at me. "So, you're like mine now, right?"

Scrunching my eyebrows in thought, I looked around for a moment and frowned. "No, sorry. I'm not really... interested."

Tobin just smiled at me and took my hand. "Please?"

Shaking my head, I kept walking forward. "No, thanks though."

She stopped me. "Pretty please?"

I thought again for a moment. "And you are?"

Glancing around, Tobin grabbed my arm gently and lead me off the sidewalk before we got to the hotel entrance. It was dark, but I could tell we were back at the outdoor pool.

"What are you doing, Tobin? I can't even see you."

Without responding, she crashed her lips against mine, her hand wrapped around the back of my neck. I kissed back, feeling her being more aggressive while pushing me back gently until my back hit the wall of the hotel. I felt a pang of pain from my lower back, but I ignored it and wrapped my arms around Tobin's neck while her hands moved down my back. She pressed against me as we continued to kiss and her hands started to tug at the bottom of my shirt.

"Tobin... no... we'll probably get caught... again." I huffed and Tobin pulled back, smiling slightly. She leaned forward, her hands still around my lower back as she rested her forehead against mine.

"Alex?"

"Yeah, Tobs?"

"Will you be mine? Like for real." Tobin whispered, her eyes studying my face.

"Yes, Tobin." I smiled and she sighed with relief, kissing me once more before backing up and taking my hand. "But..."

"What, lex?" Tobin said as we started to walk back.

I stopped her and she gave me a confused look. "I don't know about... about going public." She looked down at the ground and I felt disheartened for a moment. "Just give me some time, okay? I need to sort some stuff out." I bit my lip as I waited for Tobin to respond.

She took a short breath and sighed, pulling me in for a hug. "Of course, Alex, we can wait as long as you need. But I hope it's not forever."

"Let's set a date." I pulled away from her hug, smiling at her. "By this time next year, we'll be public."

A small smile tugged at the corners of Tobin's lips. She stuck out her pinky finger to me. "Bet on it?"

"Absolutely." I assured her as our fingers intertwined.

~~~~

When we got back to the hotel lobby, the rest of the group was already back, lounging on the lobby chairs and couches.

"Where were you two?" Kelley called from the couch.

"Hooking up obviously." Pinoe laughed as she juggled a ball around the room.

"We were not. We just walk slow." I said very matter-of-factly with a serious face. But out of the corner of my eye, I saw Tobin try to hide one of her million-dollar smiles.

"Tobin's smiling! You're a liar! Liar, Liar, pants on fire!" Kelley replied and I gave Tobin a slight shove.

"And you're immature."

"Old news, dude." Kelley finished and focused back on her phone which was buzzing.

I rolled my eyes, feeling the comfort of Tobin's hand on my back. "Hey, movie night in my room tonight." Tobin said softly and I felt my eyes drift over to the dark, curly haired striker who was sitting quietly in the corner of the lobby.

"You mean you and Christen's room? I'll pass." 

"C'mon, it'll be fine," Tobin replied, her arm still laid across my shoulders. "We could do your room instead? Do you think Hope would be cool with that?"

At the mention of the goalkeeper's name I felt my eyes drawn to the ground. "No, your room would be better I guess. I'll go get my charger and meet you in your room, okay?"

"Sounds like a plan, Stan." Tobin joked lightly and I smiled at her, leaving her to talk to Cheney as I walked out of the lobby and got onto the elevator. 

Without looking, I hit the floor number and stood back against the wall of the elevator. 

"Hold it!" I heard a familiar voice call out and I stood upright to stop the doors. To my dismay, Christen hopped into the small elevator. "Hey, thanks."

"Yeah, no problem." I said curtly and leaned back again.

It was a fairly awkward ride up to our floor. I mean, Christen looked like she wanted to start a conversation, but I wasn't really feeling it.

"So, are you excited for the olympics?" Christen feigned a smile in my direction and I looked up from my phone.

"Huh?" I heard her, but I really didn't feel like talking to her.

"Oh, haha, never mind." Christen laughed quietly and I started to feel bad.

"Well, I'm looking forward to movie night. What movie are you thinking about?" I asked her half-heartedly as the elevator doors opened and we walked out.

"Oh, I haven't thought about it. Just nothing sad about dogs, and it's okay with me." Christen mentioned and I actually laughed at her response.

"You really love dogs, huh?"

"Oh my god, yes! Do you wanna see my babies, here look." Christen's face lit up like a christmas tree as she pulled out her phone and started showing me pictures of her dogs.

"Awww, cute doggos, Chris." I smiled at her pictures and we reached my door.

Just as I was about to open the door, it flew open. "You're not coming in." Hope spat in my face and I flinched.

"What are you talking about? This is my room too." I replied, clenching my jaw as I felt anger starting to rise in my chest. 

Hope just stared at me and I felt Christen's hand take my arm and start to lead me away. I heard the door slam back shut while we were walking and Christen's grip on my arm loosened a bit. "Sorry but, I didn't get such a good vibe from that." She explained carefully, putting the keycard into her door.

"Yeah, thanks. Do you have a charger I could borrow?"   

"Of course."