Open Water Part 17

Ca.s.s nodded, caught by the intensity of Laura's gaze. Here, in an arena of thousands, she felt as if it were just the two of them alone. "It was. But," she swallowed and looked away. "You hurt me. You...you didn't come to see me. At least, not when I could see you."

"I know." Laura closed her eyes and then whispered, "I'm sorry. I thought I needed to be away from you to make things better, and it just ended up making things worse."

"Did Amy give you my message before your last race?"

Laura's eyes popped open in surprise. "No." Then she frowned and thought for a moment. "Wait, just before she climbed into the boat she gave me a hug and she never does that." She smiled down at Ca.s.s. "That was you?"

"Yeah. It was the same message I sent before your repechage."

"I'm beginning to like your messages, though I'd like to get them firsthand."

Ca.s.s returned Laura's smile with a bright one of her own, her heart soaring. "If we're having a do-over, I think that can be arranged." They stood silently for a moment, looking anywhere but at each other as the next act came on the ma.s.sive stage behind them, but standing near enough that their arms brushed.

Around them, the crowd moved and muttered as the final speakers paid tribute to the athletes. The Olympic flag was handed off to the representative from London with all the pomp and splendor that could be mustered, an adorable little Chinese girl enchanted the crowd and athletes with her song, and the lights continued to dance across the arena floor.

For the next two hours, Ca.s.s and Laura enjoyed the show, with Ca.s.s conscious of every movement Laura made. They laughed and chatted about everything and nothing and cautiously rekindled the friends.h.i.+p that had grown between them over the course of the Games. In the press of the crowd, they shared the wonder, noise and excitement of the final, official hours of the Olympic Games...along with bits and pieces of each other's interests and ideas. Laura grinned at the delight in Ca.s.s's face at each new acrobatic trick of the Chinese entertainers; Ca.s.s laughed at Laura's attempts to answer the questions of a large man in the colors of the Belarus team. Both happily snapped pictures of each other and other athletes, and occasionally signed memorabilia as it was handed to them.

Finally, the speeches were done and the real party began in earnest. Amidst a thunderous burst of pyrotechnics, China's hottest stars flew from the ceiling, popped from the floor and ran from the sides to begin the spectacle of entertainment to cap the evening. The international television coverage had stopped, leaving only the locals and the visiting compet.i.tors to revel the night away. This time was for the crowd, for the athletes, for the volunteers.

Ca.s.s found herself forced closer to Laura as the crowd behind them pressed toward the stage to be nearer to the singers. One surge of the crowd nearly knocked Ca.s.s from her feet; only Laura's quick reflexes and strong grip kept her from falling. Ca.s.s grinned at Laura and righted herself, glad to have someone bigger nearby in the growing crush. Another yell to the right, another singer, another shove and once again Ca.s.s lost her footing; once again, Laura reached out just in time. This time Laura did not let go.

"Here, hold onto me, I won't let you fall." Ca.s.s felt her hand engulfed by Laura's larger one and she smiled up at her. For a moment, as her eyes met Laura's, the music and laughter around them faded. They were jostled again and Laura tugged Ca.s.s a little closer, pulling her into the circle of her arms. She bent her head and put her lips near Ca.s.s's ear, her low voice making Ca.s.s s.h.i.+ver. "Turn around, I'll watch your back. It's getting a little crazy in here, eh?"

Ca.s.s could only nod as Laura's arms moved around her. Oh G.o.d! This is so not happening, right? Shut up, Ca.s.s, and enjoy it. Tonight is not real, it's magic.

But this time I believe in the magic.

She settled against Laura and tilted her head to see the stage. She was very aware that her head was resting just under Laura's chin, Laura's b.r.e.a.s.t.s pressed against her back... Ooh, yeah, this is so not real.

Together they enjoyed the show, although if pressed, she could not have said with certainty what they saw and heard. Ca.s.s closed her eyes and just absorbed it all. The laughter, chatter and singing around her were muted somehow by the soft buzz of Laura's humming vibrating through her body. She felt Laura, with her chin resting atop Ca.s.s's, tilt her head into Ca.s.s's and breathe in deeply from time to time and Ca.s.s s.h.i.+vered each time it happened.

With a mighty bang the singers and musicians stopped, the crowd seeming to lift them up with their triumphant roar. It was over. One last, tremendous flash of light, color and sound and that was it. The 2008 Olympic Games had ended. For one last time, the stadium was plunged into darkness as the crowd roared, stomped and clapped its approval for the show, the athletes and the venues.

It was over.

"No," she muttered under her breath.

"What?" Laura's chin left the top of Ca.s.s's head, and she bent her head to speak into Ca.s.s's ear. "Ca.s.s?"

Ca.s.s tightened her grip on Laura's hands where they lay tight across her abdomen and shook her head. She hadn't realized she'd spoken aloud. She felt like a child being asked to leave a birthday party. "I, um. I don't want it to be over." She leaned her head back against Laura's shoulder, staring at the darkened sky above and letting the joy of the crowd and the comforting sensation of Laura's arms around her carry her, imprinting the moment in her memory forever.

Laura leaned further, s.h.i.+fting Ca.s.s to one side but keeping her tucked within her arms. Slowly Ca.s.s turned her head to face Laura, letting the green eyes capture her, ground her. She gave Laura what she knew was a weak smile, hoping she hadn't sounded as wimpy as she'd felt. Laura deliberately lowered her head, until their lips were brus.h.i.+ng. "It's not over, Ca.s.s. It's just beginning." Softly, she touched her lips to Ca.s.s's, hesitating for a moment, waiting for a response.

Oh my... Ca.s.s's mind emptied of everything but the feel of Laura's lips against hers. Someone groaned and Ca.s.s couldn't be certain the sound had not come from her. She s.h.i.+fted and turned, pulling Laura to her, tangling her fingers in her vibrant curls. This was like nothing she'd ever felt before, this was it. Kissing Laura was more than Ca.s.s had imagined. She lost herself in it-the softness, the texture, the unrestrained thrill of the moment. She felt Laura pull her closer, vaguely aware of the crowd around them; a sense that completely left her at the first touch of Laura's tongue against her lips, asking for entry. That brief touch flashed through her from head to toe and she opened herself to Laura fully.

Hours, minutes, a lifetime pa.s.sed. For just a moment, Ca.s.s could see her future...their future. Together. She couldn't say how she knew, but she knew.

In this moment, anything was possible.

The kiss ended slowly, wonderingly. Ca.s.s slid her arms around the solid strength of Laura's body and reveled in the feeling of belonging as Laura held her tight. Trembling, they clung to each other for security, for strength. They stood, pressed closely together, their breath mingling, their pulses unsteady.

Slowly, Ca.s.s leaned back to look up into Laura's face, watching as those green eyes opened again and seemed to light from within. She nodded, rubbing her nose to Laura's. "Yes, it is beginning."

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