Chapter 19 Vox
Vox
Connor’s hot-and-cold streaks are giving me whiplash.
I barely got a chance to be the friend he clearly needs before he started shutting down again.
Our days are back to him giving me clipped orders while he throws lust-filled glances my way, and me doing everything I can to piss him off and prove once and for all that I got to the top on my own, and I’ll continue to stay there whether or not he’s in the picture.
It’s not that I don’t understand where he’s coming from and why he’s hesitant, but I’ve proven I can keep a secret, and it isn’t like I’m asking him to fall in love with me.
But Christ, we came in our pants just from dry humping.
If that’s not enough to tell someone the actual sex would be mind-blowing, I’m not sure what would.
I’m dreading another awkward-ass practice as I clip in and slide over to where Grey is handing out assignments with the coaches today.
At least the rest of the team is back. More than half of them went to Tahoe last week for another competition.
It sucked being left behind. It sucked even worse because it was such a wasted opportunity since Connor’s currently in the cold phase of this bullshit he does.
“Vox, you’re riding with Coach Fuller today for speed work. You’ll be training alongside Trent and Tasha,” Grey says when I join the group.
It’s fucking crazy how I can feel relieved and disappointed at the same time.
Like, yeah, working with Connor is a bitch, but it’s still Connor, and I prefer him to these other guys.
Besides, it feels like forever since Renner and I got to practice together, and I’ve grown to like the guy. Hell, I kinda miss him.
I stay quiet, already devising a plan to get out of this.
When Grey dismisses everyone, I pull him aside.
“You know my last downhill practice run was faster than Coach Fuller’s best competition time, right?” I ask.
“What’s your point, Vox?” Grey asks, a little snippier with me than usual.
“Training with him isn’t going to make me a better boarder.” I’m starting to whine, but also, my point is valid.
Grey’s eyes dart around like he’s trying to make sure we aren’t overheard.
“Look, Connor asked that you work with someone else today.”
My head jerks back like Grey slapped me. “What? Why?”
“Best guess? He thinks I’m pissed about you wanting to ride Vertigo again, and he’s trying to show his loyalty to me. Either that, or you’re wearing him thin.” Grey purses his lips in that disapproving parent way. “I honestly thought you two would get along better than this.”
“We get along fine,” I snap, keeping the rest of the thought to myself. We’d get along better if we could do it naked.
“Just ride with Fuller today, will ya?” Grey asks in an exasperated tone.
“Maybe teach your teammates something while you’re at it?
” Before he walks away, his demeanor changes.
His features soften, his tone lightens, and his shoulders relax.
“You still coming to Jenn’s birthday dinner? She misses you.”
Jennifer is Grey’s daughter. I’ve shared her birthday dinner with them every year since meeting Grey. Without fail, the whole family welcomes me with open arms and stuffs me full of Grey’s wife’s amazing cooking.
“Yeah, I’ll be there.”
Even when Grey annoys me professionally, our personal relationship remains strong, which is why I’m glad Connor dropped the contract stuff and the idea that Grey is taking advantage of me.
I board over to the small group waiting for me and feel eyes on me the entire time Coach Fuller is running through the plan. But I refuse to turn around.
Connor wants a break from me? He wants to suck up to Grey by putting distance between us? Fine. I’ll give him distance.
I take off toward the lift with Trent and Tasha. I haven’t spent much time talking to Trent, but he’s an easygoing guy. Tasha’s a bit chaotic off a board, but after our first run, I forget all about that, because on the slope, she’s fire.
The three of us, along with Fuller, are skiing on a closed slope with a gnarly drop-in, damn near close to the summit. Before tipping over the edge, Fuller looks at us and says, “Speed on this mountain is about more than just going fast.”
I’m already tuning him out because the fuck does he know about my mountain? I could board this slope in my sleep.
“We’ll do a mock race, so everyone needs to stay in their lane to avoid collisions.”
I can no longer stay quiet. My bad mood pours from me like a demon being exorcized.
Fucking Connor.
“Yeeaahh, that won’t work, Fuller.”
He cuts his eyes at me, the problem child.
“And why’s that, Vox?”
“Because a quarter of the way down, there’s a giant boulder that will cause Trent to have to come into my lane.
Halfway down, there’s a dip before the ledge, and unless you want one of us catapulted thirty feet into the air, we’ll all have to squeeze to the left to avoid it,” I explain.
“Then there’s the column of the chairlift to avoid, and the trail narrows at the end, acting like a funnel.
Only two people at a time can pass through it safely. ”
Trent looks at Coach Fuller. “I don’t mean to be a dick, but why’d you choose this run if it has all that shit?”
Fuller’s face reddens, and it’s not from the cold.
Ignoring Trent completely, Coach Fuller keeps his eyes on me. “So, what do you propose since you seem to have this mountain memorized?” he asks.
“We race without lanes. Whoever gets to the obstacles will either have to slow down and get in line, or speed up and get in front of me…but good luck with that.”
“That’s dangerous given the pitch of this slope,” he replies.
“Of course it is. That’s why it’s fun,” I reply.
I realize that my headspace is probably too fucked to attempt this right now, but that’s the same reason I don’t give a shit and am ready to use my anger and frustration over Connor to my advantage.
When I’m headed down this mountain, there won’t be room for anything else in my brain except staying alive and keeping my eyes on the prize.
“Yeah! Let’s race!” Tasha says confidently, pulling her goggles down.
“One at a time,” Fuller says.
“Aw, come on, man. Give us a run at Vox,” Trent whines, making me smile. I offer him a fist bump, which he returns.
Being outvoted, Coach Fuller shakes his head because he knows this is a bad idea, but agrees anyway.
“Fine. But take care of each other on the way down. I mean it. I want you to create space for each other if things get tight, you hear me?”
I simply nod while Tasha offers, “Loud and clear!” and Trent says, “We hear you.”
“I’ll be watching from behind so I can offer feedback once we’re down,” Fuller says before telling us to get ready.
He counts us off, and then I’m bent low, arms acting as my counterbalance while I think about what Connor’s recently taught me. I shove thoughts of the man himself aside and focus on rolling my hips…with speed this time because I need to get out in front so I can control the fall line.
Whoever claims it usually wins since it’s the steepest and most direct path down the mountain.
When you’re on the fall line, gravity does half the work for you.
You just have to commit…and make sure you don’t trip, because injury is certain at these speeds, and you’ll roll the entire distance.
The fall line is the most dangerous path down a mountain, but if you want to win, it’s the best choice.
I pull ahead of everyone with ease, despite my stupid, stiff-ass bindings. My mind wants to think about riding this with Connor’s board, but as I approach a patch of ice, I lock in, forcing all other thoughts from my mind.
Nothing matters except me and this fucking mountain.