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

“Don’t think so, Shrimpy. Maybe at one time.”


“Plus, uh, I believed your big declaration to the press.” Adam mimicked Ben with a Bronx intonation he didn’t actually have. “Yo, I’m not gay.”


“Oh. Hey! I don’t sound like that, and I never said yo! You’re the one with the valley boy affectation.”


“All those years and it didn’t rub off on ya.”


“The point is, I didn’t know anyone was really gay,” Adam said. “I thought it was all gossipy bullshit. The ice dancer, sure, but—”


“That’s stereotyping. Plenty of figure skaters are completely hetero—”


Adam growled. “Really? A political correctness lecture about Booger Fisher now?”


“Fine. So…um…who isreally gay?” Ben kept trying to get the answer he wanted.


“As it turns out,” Adam raised both palms, “apparently everyone is. Duh!” He smacked himself in the forehead. “When Richie dropped the bomb that you and Fisher were dick to dick in the men’s room—”


Chapter 42