He managed to get his laptop to cast to the TV, so they could watch something easy in English, something with explosions because that seemed to be Caleb’s choice.
Once they were all snuggled up with the covers over them, Caleb resting against his side, hand on his shoulder, Hawk stroking his hair, Hawk felt like it was safe to ask.
“Are you feeling okay? You’re moving a little tight, and it looks like the workout wore you out.”
“I keep telling you I’m fine. I’m just a little sore and a kinda worn down from the tour.” Caleb put a hand on his chest, then started playing with his chest hair. “I have some arthritis, and it drags me down sometimes, but I’m fine.”
“Okay, I just worry. Probably not my place to worry about you, right? But I feel like it is.”
Caleb glanced up at him, a soft smile on his face. “I don’t mind. I really don’t. But you don’t have to worry about me. I know my limits, and I’m going to take it easy and only do what I need to do up until the day of prelims.”
“I’ll hold you to that, since you’re going to be here with me anyway, I hope.” Hawk had a lot of hopes, but they wereprobably inappropriate, if not silly, so he would keep most of it to himself.
“I’m gonna be with you so much you’re gonna get sick of me.” Caleb kissed his chest right next to his nipple. “Now can we watch this movie?”
Hawk chuckled at the change of subject, but the movie was pretty fun, so he’d shut up for now, and they could watch it. He’d keep an eye on Caleb, though, because somebody needed to. It might as well be him.
Thirteen
Caleb didn’t really want to go to practice.
He and Hawk had been having such a good time. Opening Ceremonies were tomorrow, and he knew he was going to have to go up to Livigno the day after and get to practice. The preliminaries started two days after that, so he had to get familiar with the pipe.
But it sucked. He wasn’t ready to leave Hawk’s hotel room or lose Hawk’s quiet sense of humor and his great big, muscled body.
They needed to talk about what was going to happen after the opening ceremonies. If anything was going to happen. Caleb had this half-ashamed, half-hopeful feeling they would see each other again after the Olympics, or even during, and that things would keep going. But he wasn’t sure how to articulate it. He watched Hawk fill a plate at the hotel’s breakfast buffet, which Hawk had quietly slipped the attendant money for him to able to eat there, too.
Italian breakfast buffets were awesome, with lots of cheese and meat and other protein options. Croissants and yogurts,and sometimes omelets. This was a fancy hotel, so they had some eggy options.
The best part was that there was an employee who was made espresso drinks to order, so he was able to get his cappuccino.
After they both filled their plates with a bunch of yummy stuff, including a piece of wedding cake that was left over from a wedding the hotel had hosted yesterday, they found a quiet table near the patio entrance that would be amazing in the summer, he was sure, and sat to eat.
And suddenly, now seemed as good a time to bring things up as ever. So Caleb took a deep breath and a sip of his cappuccino, not at the same time because then he would have choked. He wanted to just get it out there.
Hawk glanced up from his breakfast and gave Caleb a tentative smile. “You’re looking very serious all of a sudden.”
“Am I?” His leg started to bounce, and he registered it, but he didn’t stop it. The motion would help. “I guess so. I, uh, wanted to talk about what happens after today.” He felt so connected to Hawk that he didn’t want this to end.
Hawk didn’t seem surprised at all. In fact, relief flashed in those silvery eyes. “I’m down. What’s the plan?”
“Well, for me, it’s to see you again. Like, after the opening ceremonies, and after the Games.”
Now Hawk gave him a broad smile, reaching across the table to touch the back of his hand. “This aligns with my plan.”
“Woo, good deal.” Caleb let out a hard breath. “That’s half the battle right there. The fact that we’re on the same page.”
“Yep.” Hawk sent back, cradling his coffee. “So in terms of the Games, the opening is tomorrow, which I’ll be smashed all day, and I think so will you.”
“Pretty much. But if I could stay here tomorrow night, I would really appreciate it.”
Hawk shrugged easily. “Of course you can. You know that. Even if it’s just to crash and not do anything else.”
“And I probably have to head up to Livigno the day after. There’s no official schedule, but we’ll all be trickling in because we’ve got to do our practice runs and stuff before the prelims.”
“Right. I’ll be doing a bunch of press junkets that day, but the tournament doesn’t even start for me until after your first two prelims, I think. I’ll double-check the schedule. If that’s the case, I’ll be able to hop on the train and come up to Livigno for at least one day of your prelims.” Hawk’s smile fired up even brighter at that idea, and it made Caleb proud to know that Hawk wanted to come watch him. “Depending on what they schedule for me, I might not be able to stick around for your medal round, but I can probably make it to your medal ceremony if you win anything.”
“You mean, when I do,” he scoffed.