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

The closing ceremonies were a little bitter but mainly sweet, a real party atmosphere TV couldn’t really capture, Ben thought. Athletes always mingled at the closing, instead of lining up by country. Ivan and Iggy hung out right beside Kat, Tanya, Richie, and Ben. And when the mouse couldn’t see everything that was going on, someone hoisted him up for a much better view. The picture in the paper the next morning was a lot like the one that had started Ben’s Olympic story, except this time, Ben wasn’t smiling. He’d been hoisted by the bear, not the giraffe. And not the friendly bear, the other one—Ivan—possibly hell-bent on revenge against the guy who had messed with his beau. It had all ended happily, of course. Igor, Kat, and Richie were all smiles. Even Ivan grinned away. And once Ben was back on solid ground, certain Ivan wasn’t about to introduce dwarf tossing as the newest Olympic sport, he was happy, too. But was he happily ever after? 58


Chapter 46