Page 93

“Ren told them everything,” I sneered back. “You are so fucking done in figure skating. You’ve lost your respect and your son. Congratulations.”

“Ren?” All the color washed from Goro’s face. “He wouldn’t.”

I barked a hollow laugh. “You don’t know him at all, do you?”

I couldn’t stay any longer, I had to find Ren. But I couldn’t let it go. “If you were a decent father, you’d be proud of your son, no matter what. He wouldn’t have to quit to get away from you.”

“He quit to save you.”

If I didn’t have to behave, I’d have swung for him then. But he wasn’t worth it. He wasn’t even worth my anger. He’d never learn. He’d grow old and die fucking lonely like the hateful person he was.

“Fuck you.” I walked away. I didn’t have Ren’s fancy words, but I was pretty sure he’d gotten my point. Hopefully, he’d be gone soon. Out of the Olympics and maybe out of Ren’s life again.

Ren.

don’t do anything stupid

where r u?

talk to me

The messages only got one gray tick. Sent but not delivered. Maybe he didn’t have a signal, or his phone was off?

u don’t have to quit

u can still dance

don’t go

don’t leave me

If he wasn’t going to answer me, then I needed to figure out where he’d be. I had to stop and think like Ren Hasegawa.

I’d made it back outside. But the Olympic Village was huge. I wasn’t going to find him by wandering around and hoping I’d see him. His apartment? It seemed like the obvious place, but when I got there, housekeepers were in the room, clearing it out.

I stopped in the corridor and stared at the trolley with all its clean sheets and cleaning stuff. He really had left. He was already gone.

And he hadn’t even damn well said goodbye?

That asshole.

I texted Zoe.

he’s gone

So go find him dumbass

how?

Where’s the only place he can go?

home?

London.

Oh shit. The airport.

But what if I went there and he was up the mountain looking at the view or something? What if I went there, but he was in the park, or the station, or in a fucking café somewhere drinking jasmine tea?!