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

“What does the mouse thing mean, though?” Ben wanted to know.


As Iggy started the tale, he also started to laugh. Kat joined in, as did Ivan, the boyfriend.


“What are they saying? Ivan…Igor…?”


Ivan, Igor, and papa Yuri—the old standards seemed to hold up over there, as opposed to the US, where for every Benjamin or Richard there was a Cory and a Booger.


As the Ukrainian chuckling and chatting went back and forth, Ben grew tired of being the joke everyone else seemed to be in on. “Hello? Care to fill the American in on what’s so damned funny?”


“It’s an old fable, sort of,” Kat said. “Iggy was reminded of it at the opening ceremonies. This bear is lost—emotionally and literally—looking for his place, his people.”


“Little deep for a bedtime story,” Ben sniped.


Chapter 29