Worth The Wait

𝟑𝟐|𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐈𝐓

𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐓𝐓

I'm not sure how I ended up at this charity gala. Kolton and Sophia had been all over me about supporting underfunded sports programs, and somehow, they managed to drag me into it. To be honest, I would've preferred staying in, relaxing, not thinking about the upcoming Olympics for one damn second. But here we are, all dressed up, walking through the glittering venue.

Lucie's at my side, looking like she belongs in a magazine spread rather than a charity event. She's in this floor-length sleeveless V necklined black dress, her hair falling in soft waves around her shoulders. It's strange how effortlessly she makes everything look like she could walk into a room full of strangers and instantly own it.

But we're not here as a couple. Hell, we're not even pretending to be. She walks a little ahead of me, her shoulders straight, every inch the champion she is, while I trail behind her like a second thought.

"Stop staring at her like that," Kolton mutters under his breath, giving me a look that's a mix of amusement and judgment.

"What?" I scoff. "I'm not staring at her. She's... Lucie. I'm just—"

"You're checking her out. In public. While I'm right here," he says, nudging me with his elbow.

I roll my eyes, but my mind is already back on Lucie. I can't help it. There's something about her that pulls me in every time. It's not just her looks—it's the way she moves, the way she commands the space around her without even trying. It's a confidence I can't ignore. A confidence that feels like it's slowly seeping into me too, every time I'm around her.

Sonya, our coach, walks by, giving us a nod before going off to mingle with some other supporters. She looks like she's in full business mode tonight, working the crowd. I can tell she's doing it for us—her way of making sure we're seen, that we're out there in the spotlight. I know it's part of the game. But it doesn't make it any easier to swallow.

"Are you going to bid on anything?" Kolton asks, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I glance around the room, noticing the various silent auction tables with their displays of jewelry, art, and ridiculous decorations. "Nah. I don't know anything about jewelry or... art."

Sophia laughs softly, leaning toward me. "You don't have to know anything about it. Just bid on something. It's for the kids." She gives me a playful nudge. "Besides, Lucie would probably appreciate the gesture."

Lucie. The name hits my chest like a punch. I look over to find her talking to some other skater—a guy I don't recognize. His smile is way too friendly, and Lucie's laughing in that way that she does when she's not guarded. It bothers me more than I care to admit.

I don't know what it is—maybe it's the pressure of the Olympics creeping in or the stress of knowing how close we are to the Games—but seeing them talking like that, so casually, stirs something in me. A flare of frustration burns in my chest. I tell myself it's just jealousy, but it feels more complicated than that. It's the competition. It's the fact that I'm always worried I'm not good enough. And watching Lucie give attention to someone else—someone who isn't me—just reminds me of how little I still have a grasp on everything.

I force my attention back to the table in front of me, pretending to care about the jewelry that's on display, though my mind's still stuck on her.

Kolton notices the shift in my mood. "Dude, relax," he says, his voice quiet. "She's just being friendly. You're making a big deal out of nothing."

But it's not nothing. I've seen the way Lucie interacts with others, and there's something different in the way she moves with me. It's something she doesn't share with anyone else. At least, that's how I've always felt. But now, I'm not sure anymore.