Read Online Going for Gold by Ivy Smoak - Free Book Online Page A

to steer the conversation back to his favorite topic: Brazilian
prostitutes. I'm pretty sure the only reason he trained hard enough to be a
part of the ITAs was so he could come to Brazil to find himself a nice
prostitute. He didn't even like running that much. I was hoping to see a text
from Alina, but instead I saw I had a missed call from my sister, Emily.
    "Be right back," I said, ducking into the hallway
to call her back. I leaned against the wall and dialed her number.
    "Hey, Bryce!" she said. Despite all we had been
through as kids, she always managed to be so positive. It was infectious. But
today there was something else in her voice.
    "Hey, Em. What's up?"
    "Nothing, it's okay now I think." The bubbliness
from her voice was suddenly missing entirely.
    "What is it?" I asked.
    "Well when I got back to my dorm today after class I got
a weird feeling, like someone had been in here."
    "Was the door open or something?"
    "No, no. Nothing like that. It just felt off. A few
things looked like they weren't how I left them. It was like when we used to
know Max had been in our room." For a year and a half, Max had been our
foster brother. He loved stealing stuff from our room whenever he had the
chance.
    "Weird. Maybe it was a maintenance guy or
something?"
    "Yeah, maybe. Anyway, don't worry about it. You need to
focus on your race."
    "I'm actually having a little trouble with that."
    "Is Alex keeping you and Tim up all night by banging
poor, sweet Brazilian girls?"
    "Surprisingly, no. It's this girl Alina. I can't stop
thinking about her."
    "Is she some sexy foreign girl?"
    "No, she's American," I said.
    "Is she cool, or do you just like her boobs?"
    "Don't worry, it's not another Michelle situation."
    Em made a gagging sound. "Thank God. She was the worst.
Just keep in mind that I have to be sisters with whatever girl you end up with.
Don't screw me on this."
    "I'll try not to. Anyway, I dunno if anything is going
to come of it. She's in a relationship or something right now. It's
complicated."
    "But you like her?"
    "Yes."
    "Then it's not complicated. Go get her."
    I smiled. Em always had a way of making everything seem so
simple. "Alright. Thanks for the advice. I wish Tim and Alex could be as
sensible as you."
    "Let me guess: Alex told you to fuck her and forget
about her, and Tim told you to send her a dozen roses and a singing
telegram?"
    "Something like that, yeah."
    Em laughed. "Those two..."
    "I wish you'd been able to come," I said. I had
tried to think of a way to get her here to watch my race, but it was just too
expensive. All the money we had went towards her schooling.
    "Me too, but you know I'll be watching from here and
cheering you on. Hey, I gotta run to class, but call me soon to tell me how
it's going with Alina. I want to hear all about her."
    "Will do. Oh yeah, if you have a chance, watch the
highlights tonight of the men's gymnastics."
    "Why? Oh my God, did you..."
    "You'll see."
    "I can't wait. Bye, Bryce!"
    "Bye, Em. Stay safe."
    Click.
    I stayed leaning against the wall for a few seconds thinking
about what Em had said. I knew she was tough and could take care of herself,
but I still worried about how she thought someone was creeping around in her
room. I tried to think of someone on campus that I could have check in on her,
but no one came to mind. All the people I knew there had already graduated.
    Tim poked his head out of our dorm. "Dude, come check
this out."
    I went back in and walked over to Tim's computer. He had
found a BuzzFeed article featuring gifs of Yao Kai splitting his pants. Tim
seemed to think the one where someone had photoshopped an image of a kitten in
place of Yao Kai's penis was particularly hilarious.
    "Who were you talking to?" asked Alex. "Please
tell me it wasn't Alina."
    "No, it was Em," I said.
    "Did you tell her to get a flight here? She can share my
bed; I don't mind."
    I punched him in the arm. "How many times do I have to
tell you that I'll kill you if you ever touch