Used by the Olympic Tennis Star

“Urgh!” A masculine grunt rings out across the tennis court.

I sit in the stands. Wearing a plain t-shirt and jeans, I blend seamlessly with the hundreds of other spectators. There’s nothing remarkable about me, but there’s something remarkable about the players down on the court.

This is the Olympics, and they’re the titans of tennis.

Colorful banners flutter in the breeze around the stadium, bearing the flags of countries from around the world. Hushed whispers in unfamiliar languages echo around me as I watch the game. Coming here has been a longtime dream of mine, and I saved up for months to afford it.

And best of all, I’m here with my best friend, Ben.

“Chase, take a photo of me!” He hands me his phone.

I focus the lens on his cheerful, boyish face. His blond hair flutters in the breeze as the camera captures his sparkling blue eyes. He’s short with a skinny build—a sharp contrast to the athletic beasts competing down on the tennis court.

A college sophomore, he’s a couple years younger than I am. We first met back in high school and had an instant connection. We bonded over our shared love of tennis, video games, and comic books. After I went away to college, we lost contact until he was accepted to my university. Now that I’m in my senior year, we’re spending as much time together as possible.

Which means taking a special trip to the Olympics.

“Alright, here you go.” I give him his phone.

“Awesome!” He smiles. “Do you think Rex is gonna win?”

Up on an enormous screen, the name “Rex Roberts” glows beside an image of our country’s flag. He’s in the lead, which isn’t surprising. He’s a superstar with an incredible track record. The guy he’s competing with is just a young Olympic debutant who doesn’t stand a chance.

“Yeah, he’s got this in the bag.”

Our eyes follow the ball, darting from side to side. The two players smack it with all their strength, emitting bestial grunts each time they make contact. The sun rains down as the match progresses, but I notice something strange.

Rex seems to be off his game today. I’ve watched him compete on TV dozens of times, but something seems…wrong. He looks a bit disoriented. It doesn’t seem to be affecting his performance, but it still causes anxiety to bubble up in my stomach.

“Does he look tired to you?” I ask Ben.

“Hmm…yeah, he kind of does. Maybe it’s the heat.”

He might be right. The sun beats down on Rex’s suntanned body. Even from this distance, I can make out the slick surface of his sweaty skin. The moisture highlights the lean sinews of his forearms and biceps. His shirt is damp with perspiration. It hugs his round, blocky shoulders. It clings to his full pecs.

I try to focus on his face. His sharp, masculine jawline and pointed nose project power. His green eyes are focused and determined. His messy brown hair is matted and dripping with sweat. He looks awfully exhausted…

But he manages to pull out a victory.

The match ends, and the score isn’t even close. He’s one step closer to winning a gold medal.

“Damn, that was awesome!” Ben chats in an excited tone while we follow the crowd out of the stands.

“Yeah! I can’t believe we got to see him compete in person.”

“Thanks again for buying my ticket. This really does mean a lot to me.”

“Of course! I’m happy to help.”

I smile down at him. It’s true—he doesn’t have a college job, so I’m happy to assist. I paid for us both to travel out here.

“Someday, I’m gonna repay you! I’m gonna pay for us both to go on a trip!”

“Alright, I’ll hold you to that.” I smirk.

“I mean, you’ve been so good to me ever since I started college. You’ve helped me make new friends, and you’ve helped me get good grades. I really look up to you.”

His cheeks flush slightly. Damn…I’m not even sure how to respond to that.

And I don’t get the chance to.

As we exit the stadium and enter the Olympic Park, a commotion up ahead catches our attention. A small crowd has gathered around a tall, tan athlete whose body seems to be swaying with the wind. His confused eyes dart around while sweat pours from his skin.

I recognize him immediately—it’s Rex.

“Hey, Rex!” I dash up ahead, pushing through the crowd. “Are you alright?!”

He mumbles something incoherent as I pull his arm over my shoulder, supporting his weight. Ben moves in on the other side and does the same. Together, we help him limp into the shade and sit him down on a bench.

“Everyone move on! There’s nothing to see here.” I flash the crowd a dirty look as I open my water bottle. “Here, drink this.”

I hand it to him, and he drinks deep. We stay together in silence while my heart pounds. How did he wander out here? Where’s his coach?!

“T-thanks, man.” His eyes seem to regain some lucidity after he’s drained the bottle. “I guess I overexerted myself.”

He flashes a weak smile, his pearly teeth glittering in the sunlight.

“You shouldn’t be out here. You should be in the players’ lounge.”

“Yeah. I guess I lost my way. Do you know where it is?”

“Sure. We can take you there.” I pull his arm over my shoulder again. “Ben—help me get him on his feet.”

Working together, we help him limp down the path. His beefy, muscular frame bears down on my smaller body as we move. I can’t help but admire the intense thickness of his muscles. There’s a sort of density here that I’ve never felt before. It’s like he’s made of stone.

As we follow the signs to the players’ lounge, I notice something strange. There’s a wet, dirty heaviness in the air. I inhale deeply, trying to figure out what I’m smelling. It takes a few breaths before I realize what it is.

It’s Rex’s sweat.