AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Avery walks in first, followed by Mia, Nova and Autumn. Mia doesn't look at me. The arrow hits. The pain spearing dead center. I have damage control to do, I knew that much, but it hurts like a bitch when it happens.
"I'm sorry," I huff.
"For?" Avery edges.
This girl always wants the bones with everything. Good luck to Lucas.
"My dad died, but it wasn't his death that affected me. I've been keeping my family together for Amy's sake, and in some ways, for Matt. I didn't want to let him down."
Dexter carries the glasses of cokes to the table. "I've left the keys behind the bar. I'm trusting you to lock up."
"No problem." I nod and watch him leave before I continue. "I'm glad that Dad is no longer here, but with his death I feel like I've lost Matt all over again. I'm not sure I fully accepted his death before...so I went off grid to get my thoughts together. I shouldn’t have, but I knew my crew would watch out for you in my absence."
"You couldn't tell us this before taking off?" Kit argues.
"I didn't think, and when I did, my cell had died. There was no electricity where I was."
"I worried!" Mia snaps.
Those two words break my heart. "I know, and I'm so sorry. I won't do it again. I didn't think, I just reacted, and I'm so used to others not caring if I'm gone. I've had lots of thinking time."
"About?" Sawyer lifts his hands in exasperation, almost like he needs more answers and quicker.
"Rowing. BB. Where I go..."
"But you're going to the Olympics," Lucas growls.
I shrug. "There's another reason why I went off grid. I saw a physiotherapist." I hold up my hand to stop Kit asking his question. "He told me that my bones haven't aligned right. My ribs are also an issue, and he told me they may be for the rest of my life. There's no guarantee that bones align back where they were. For someone in a normal job, movement won't bother them. For someone like me... it changes things."
"So, what? You can't row?" Novas asks.
"I can row, just not to the level I have been, or the level expected to win an Olympic medal."
"But you can keep training, you can build that strength!" Lucas argues, dark eyes throwing off anger.
"I can, but how long will that take?"
"But you're the best!" Kit storms.
"Excuseme," Lucas scoffs.
I see Avery's eye roll.
"Shut up, Luc, you know he is," Sawyer counters.
"If I'm the best or not, I don't know how I can compete when every movement in Aspen hurt. Everything hurts, guys, and I don't feel I have the drive to prove myself anymore."
"That's why you were acting differently in Aspen..." Mia murmurs.
I look at my girl. "I was dealing with it, but it's hard when I have to think about where I see myself in the future, and that future is barreling towards me with speed."
"And where do you see yourself?" Autumn asks.
"I'm going into coaching."
"Really?" Kit looks mildly annoyed.
"Why wouldn't I pass this gift on?" I half joke.
