Chapter 20
“I’m a world medalist,” Maria says for maybe the hundredth time since we turned out the lights in our hotel room to go to sleep. It’s past two in the morning and I’m happy for her, but I have to get up early tomorrow.
Brayden and I made it through that interview, barely.
Thankfully, it was over the phone so the reporter on the other end couldn’t see us sitting on opposite ends of his hotel room, barely looking at each other as we muttered answers to the standard pre-competition questions, and since it was a figure skating magazine, most of it was centered around actual skating and nothing about our lives off the ice.
There’s no way we’re going to be able to avoid that forever, though.
Eventually, someone is going to ask us and I have no idea what I’m going to say.
Not to mention, we have to actually go out and compete tomorrow, somehow, after everything.
Does a relationship ever recover from unrequited feelings or is it just doomed forever?
Because they are unrequited. I know that for sure. Maybe if Freddie had never come back into my life, maybe then, but he did come back and I know what that feels like and it doesn’t compare. Not even close.
Maybe we’ll be okay, though. Maria was in love with Charlie for years and they’re fine now. They went out today and killed it on the ice. So maybe Brayden just needs time? Time to heal? Time for him to get over whatever it is he feels for me?
We don’t have time, though.
We have like—I check the clock—eighteen hours, most of which I’m supposed to spend sleeping.
“You’re a world medalist,” I repeat back to my little sister, shifting against the mattress, trying to get comfortable. “You did so well today.”
“Is it weird that it’s under my pillow?”
“No,” I whisper, pulling the blankets closer to my chin and feeling my eyelids start to droop. “That’s normal.”
“I mean, we came in third and we still have another year or two as juniors. Maybe we’ll even be ready for Milan instead of waiting for another Olympic cycle.
I mean, like, you and Brayden didn’t even medal last year and look at you guys now.
You’re like huge stars. We are going to be so famous.
I talked to Charlie’s dad about sponsorships at the party tonight and he said he’s going to look into it. Can you believe it?”
“I can,” I say. “You’ve worked hard. You deserve it.”
“Maybe he’ll be able to talk to Nike about us too.
I mean, if they’re signing up one Russo sister why wouldn’t they want another?
Everyone knows that people care about pairs more than ice dance.
No offense, but that’s the truth. It would be wild if we were able to bring in that kind of money.
I wonder what else Charles could get us.
Those big money sponsors love Olympic athletes.
We’d never have to worry about money ever again. ”
She’s still talking as I drift off to sleep, but it’s the last thing I hear and the first thing I remember when my alarm goes off eight hours later.
I might not be able to do anything about the complete shit show that has become my personal life, but the business stuff?
That I can handle. Or at least I have to try.
If the last few weeks have taught me anything, it’s that there’s only one person responsible for my happiness and that’s me.
And I refuse to let what happened to Elisa happen to me too.
I love my dad, but my money isn’t his and I need to make sure that’s clear.
I don’t mind helping out, but after what happened at the restaurant, I need those accounts to be in my name only.
No more handing my card off to be swiped and rejected because Elisa decided she needed a new dress or Dad felt like splurging at Brooks Brothers.
And once that is out of the way, I’ll be able to focus on the only thing that should matter today: Brayden and I going out there tonight and bringing home a gold medal.
One problem at a time, though.
Maria is already up and about, her bronze medal around her neck while she digs through her suitcase.
“I need to figure out what to wear to the party tonight.”
“The party?”
“After you and Brayden win, obviously.”
“You say that like it’s guaranteed.”
“False modesty isn’t cute.”
What she doesn’t know is that it’s not false modesty. Not at all. We set a world record the other day, but this is still ice dance and without a great free dance there’s no way we’ll win gold. There are no guarantees in this sport.
I roll out of bed, moving right to the floor to start stretching out.
In the corner my skating bag is already packed, my costume is in its garment bag.
Everything is ready to go. We’ll leave in a few hours for the arena, but first, I need to find Charles.
I send him a quick text and ask him to meet me at the café in an hour and he responds with a thumbs-up emoji.
He’s already down there, waiting at a table when I arrive.
“Good morning,” I say, sitting down, ordering a grapefruit and coffee. “Congrats on Charlie’s bronze, by the way. They were really amazing, weren’t they?”
“They were,” Charles says, and smiles. “He’s a good kid and he and Maria seem to suit each other.”
“It’s not the weirdest partnership I’ve ever seen.”
He laughs. “Fair point. Anyway, before we get started, I wanted to tell you how thankful I am for how kind you’ve been to Riley, not just in Paris, but during training. I know how difficult and competitive this world is…”
“Riley’s my friend,” I say, cutting him off and trying to tamp down the guilt I’ve kept at bay for the last few weeks. Some friend I am, kissing the guy she likes.
“I know, but still, it’s not unheard of for friendship to take a back seat in figure skating,” he says, raising his hands a bit. “Anyway, what can I do for you this morning?”
“I want my money moved to separate accounts with only my name on it.”
“I think that’s a prudent path for you, though I’m not sure it’s possible.
Your father has a right to control your funds until you’re eighteen, though we could set up a legal trust. He wouldn’t have access to the monies, but then it’s likely neither would you until you turn eighteen.
” He pauses and then purses his lips. “Of course, there’s always emancipation. ”
He says it so casually, like that wouldn’t be a huge deal, separating myself from my family.
Probably having to leave Kellynch, because I can’t imagine Dad being okay with me skating there after something like that.
And they’re my family. But Charles has known my family for years and maybe understands my situation better than anyone.
Plus, he’s a dad. A good one. If that’s the solution he’s suggesting, then maybe I should consider it?
Sure, there’s some stuff I’d change about them and maybe they’re not the cuddliest group, but they are my family. If there’s a way to avoid a complete break, I want to try that first.
“I…don’t want to do that…at least, not yet. Can you look into the trust first?”
“Of course.”
“Thanks.”
“If that’s all, I have a meeting with the Nike reps on your behalf this morning?”
“That’s all,” I say.
“Good luck tonight, though I don’t think you’ll need it.”
“I’ll take it, though.”
Maria still isn’t dressed when I get back to the room.
“Where were you?”
“I had a meeting with Charles about making sure my money is put where it needs to go. You should talk to him about it too, actually, once he gets you those sponsorships you talked about. I don’t mind helping out with bills and stuff, but Elisa’s shopping sprees are not what it’s for.”
Maria snorts and nods. “I’ll make sure Charlie talks to him about it for us.”
“Good.”
“What do you think?” She spins around in a bronze sequined shirt and winter-white jeans that match the white of the medal’s thick ribbon.
“You brought a bronze shirt?”
“I brought a gold, a silver, and a bronze shirt, you know, just in case.”
“Smart.”
Maria beams at me, a little too brightly for such a small compliment, and I resolve to give her more in the future. I know how overlooked she feels sometimes.
There’s a knock on the door and I know that knock, which is ridiculous, but if you know someone long enough you know weird things about them like that. Brayden knocks firmly, almost impatiently, like he’s going to pound on the door next if you don’t open up in a few seconds.
“You ready?” he asks when I open the door.
“As I’ll ever be.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he snaps.
I shake my head. “Nothing. Let’s go.”
Yeah, this is going to go great.
· · ·
The training rink is bustling when we arrive.
There’s only one competition left to go, ice dancing, but tomorrow the winners from every discipline will skate in a gala to celebrate the ending of the World Championships.
So a lot of the athletes are around working on their exhibition routines.
It’s one of the things sort of unique to figure skating, having a fun routine set aside to celebrate the sport and not for competition.
Brayden and I skate to the finale song from Grease and it’s so campy and over the top that it’s a blast to skate.
That’s for tomorrow, though.
Today is all Thrones and making sure every detail is perfect for the judges.
There’s only one thought in my head as we warm up, skating simple patterns to get ready to train.
I’m not even worried about my expression today.
After everything that’s happened, channeling emotion is not going to be a problem.
I’m more concerned with keeping it under control, making sure none of this stuff spills out onto the ice.
We need to stay in control. Our first order of business is to get that lift right, the one that caused so much stress the last couple of days.
If we can nail that right at the start of training, hopefully everything else will fall into place.