After a lifetime of devotion, Ben Thornton tries to focus on gold at the 2012 London Olympics. Unfortunately, a British tabloid reporter sets his sights on outing a famous athlete, namely Ben, who is just now accepting his sexual identity himself.<br><br>Meanwhile, someone crushing on Ben reveals himself via a mysterious love note. Is best friend and teammate Richie Stoker the one, or maybe Richie’s twin brother, Adam? Team members Steven, Vijra, or Cory could have authored it. Then, there’s Ben’s ex; the exe’s sibling; friend with occasional benefits, Booger Fisher; and also Ukrainian weightlifter Iggy, who follows Ben around the Olympic Village. It could also be a trick perpetrated by the gossipmonger, Ben fears.<br><br>Will the pressure of the media circus interfere with Ben’s competitions, or will Ben leave London with gold and the man of his dreams?

Double Flip

“I don’t want,” Richie said. “Not really. We were all together more than we weren’t—some new guys, like Vij, coming in, but…the gang, all the time, really. The Three Musketeers.”


“Fine.” Richie sat up and threw his legs over the side of the bed. “The Two Musketeers.” He was wearing argyle boxers, red diamonds with white lines on a background of blue, which had ridden up to flash extra skin. “That doesn’t make it easier. Three, two, one.”


“Nah. Two forever, no matter what.”


“It’s kind of like—” Richie pulled the underwear back into place “—kind of like high school all over again.”


“Except we’re old now.” Ben yawned, his eyes too heavy to keep open.


“Yeah, and all those people we said we’d keep in touch with, but didn’t…”


Richie got quiet again, so Ben let himself start to drift off. He was a good sleeper, blessed with an ability to just conk out as soon as his head hit the wrong end of the bed pillow.


Chapter 16