9. Ellis

9

Ellis

O ur apartment is new and beautiful, but small. Just a simple room with simple furniture. A kitchen. A hallway that leads to two bedrooms. A shared bathroom. Nothing fancy. But I couldn't care less. I'm in Paris, at the Olympics, with my pack, my bonded, and my omega at my side.

During the last Olympics, I wasn't on the same water polo team as Harrison, McQuinn, and Dante, so this is my first Olympics. Dante and I were dating then, but I was working and couldn't fly out for the games. It was the first time we'd been apart for that long since we started dating, and without a bond, it was miserable. That's when I started working on convincing him to bond me. Kinda like I'm working on Meggie now.

I come up behind her and pull her against me as we take in the sparse living space that will be ours for the next two weeks. Harrison drops his computer bag on the couch and goes to check out the tiny balcony that looks out over the grassy area all the building's in the Olympic Village face. Nils and McQuinn head down the hall to check out the bedrooms.

Oz is already rummaging through the kitchen cabinets, which are all covered in plastic—probably to protect them from our fingerprints. After the Olympics, these buildings will all be sold as apartment complexes.

"There's shit here," he grumbles, pulling open empty silverware drawers.

"I think we're supposed to eat in the cafeteria," Dante says.

"After all the free stuff they gave us, you'd think there'd at least be some snacks." Oz leaves all the cupboards open and turns his attention to the fridge.

Dante comes up behind Meggie and me and wraps his long muscular arms around us both. It feels good to be held between them. My bonded and my soon-to-be-bonded. I know Harrison told us not to bond Meggie until after the Olympics, and I know not everyone in the pack has come around to the idea of her being ours, but she is. She's mine and Dante's. If we have to leave the rest of the pack to have her, I'll do it. If I have to give up the Olympics, or water polo, or the entire world for her, I will.

"Meggie," Nils calls from somewhere down the hall. "Which room do you want?"

"Doesn't matter." Meggie snuggles deeper into my arms.

Nils walks back into the living room, puts his hands on his hips, and glares until Meggie relents and says, "The one with the outward-facing windows."

Nils gives her an indulgent smile. All windows are outside-facing. But we all know she means the windows that face away from the Olympic village and not into the heart of it.

He picks up her bags and carries them into the room.

"I need some water," Emily says. She came with us to our room first, not wanting to go to hers alone. I know she needs to be with her team, but I wish her room assignment didn't put her bunking with Ava.

"Good idea," Meggie steps towards the kitchen and Dante lets go of us, but I stay glued to her back, moving along with her like some sort of four-legged monster. I didn't get enough time with her on the flight and, ridiculous as it sounds, I miss her. I'm a physical touch guy and need my cuddles.

Meggie laughs at my antics, which just makes me hold tighter, legs stepping awkwardly on either side of hers as we waddle into the kitchen. I love this woman's laugh.

"I read somewhere that the trick to jetlag is hydration," Emily says as she fills her water bottle.

"Are we supposed to drink that?" Oz asks.

"It's a major world metropolis." Meggie reaches for one of the free reusable water bottles we were just given. "They have water safety standards just like we do."

"I'll take some, too," I say, bringing my cheek down beside hers after the bottle is full. She tries to offer me the bottle, but I keep my arms locked around her. "Share."

Even from my position, I can tell she's smiling as she brings it up to my mouth. I wrap my lips around it and she carefully tips it to let me drink. I get in a few sips before she tips the bottle all the way, splashing water down the both of us. Minx.

I let go of her only so I can tickle her until she squeals.

"If you guys are getting into wet t-shirt contests, then I'm out." Emily laughs and refills her water bottle, but doesn't make any move to the door.

"You've seen us all in speedos, Em," Dante chuckles. "There's very little left to the imagination."

"Speak for yourself." Oz adjusts himself ostentatiously in his gym shorts. "There's an impressive, thick, girthy, veiny whole lot left to the imagination."

Em chokes on her water and sputters a laugh. "Veiny?"

Meggie rolls her eyes, but the girls share a giggling look. Something tells me what is under Oz's shorts will be discussed at their next opportunity for girl talk.

"I really should go find my room," Emily says, setting her water down. There's a slight wrinkle to her brow and I realize I've been so wrapped up in travel and everything else that I haven't given my sister the check-in attention she deserves. Her social anxiety can get crazy, but I haven't seen her biting her nails, and she wasn't doing tequila shots on the plane, so that's a good sign. She's alright for now.

"I'll come with you." Meggie sets down her water.

"No, I'm fine. Stay with your pack." She gives Meggie a meaningful eye wiggle that makes me grin and think about my own veiny situation under my clothes.

"I'm not leaving you to face the Wicked Witch of the Pool on your own," Meggie says.

I laugh, not having heard Ava referred to that way before. Em once told me she and Meggie had a not-so-nice nickname for Ava, but, being the sweet girl she is, Em wouldn't tell me the name. It's even better than I imagined.

"I wouldn't advise calling her that to her face," Harrison says, having joined us back in the apartment.

Both Meggie and Emily scrunch their noses and shake their heads. "Never."

"Smart girls," Dante chuckles.

Meggie wraps her arm around Emily and my heart squeezes.

My sister is the most important person to me, apart from Dante and the rest of my pack. Neither of us have talked to our dad much since mom died, so Emily feels like my responsibility—not in a bad, burdensome way, but I want to take care of her. And I love that Meggie cares about her just as much as I do.

The two of them head to the door, but I beat them to it. "I'll go with you. I want to see where you'll be."

I also want the excuse to have some alone time with Meggie. A little detour to stroll the Seine seems like a great idea. I smile at the thought.

Right now, I can't help but love my life. If we can just win the Olympics and bond this woman, everything will be perfect.