Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
ABIGAIL
“A lright, guys.” I clapped my hands before I slid one arm around London’s shoulder and the other around Eden’s. Hazel joined our huddle and I grinned at them all. “We’ve absolutely rocked all day. We’re going to bring the Relay Race home, too. I know it.”
So far, we’d won in our first two events, which had been soccer and tennis, and it was looking good for us to win the entire Fit Gal Olympics. All we needed to do was keep our momentum going. “We didn’t come all the way out here to lose our last event, so let’s keep working hard, but if we do lose, that’s also okay. We had lots of fun, right?”
My youngest sister scowled at me from my left side, her beautiful face contorted as she let out a loud snort. “Nah, that’s not right. We’re going to smash this. Run fast and let’s win this thing.”
I laughed but high-fived them all and moved out of way of the runners. All the teams lined up, but I would be running the last leg of the race for our group. Eden was going first, then Hazel, London, and finally, they were counting on me to take us over the finish line.
As a dedicated runner, I was super fast and so was Hazel, which was why she was going to be in the middle. Eden had done her best not to even participate in the race, but each member of the team was obligated to, and London was competitive enough that her spirit would drive her to run like the wind even though yoga was more her speed.
We had a good strategy and it had been working well for us today. I figured we had a decent shot at winning, and while I’d meant it when I said it would be fine if we lost, it would also be much better to win. I wasn’t quite as fiercely competitive as my little sister, but I really did hate losing. I would give it my absolute best shot and I knew the others felt the same way.
Ashley appeared on the stage and there was a digital clock counting down on the screen behind her. Then her whistle shrieked and the runners took off. Eden didn’t make a great start, but I didn’t lose faith in our team. Together, we cheered for her, clapping and shouting her name into the din of the other teams doing the same for their own members.
It was complete pandemonium with so many people in the arena. Shouts, whistles, and clapping created a thunderous noise that added to the energetic, adrenaline-pumped atmosphere of the day. Goosebumps broke out across my skin as I drank it all in.
I loved a good competition, and as someone who was health conscious, there was nothing as energizing and electrifying for me as this, being surrounded by thousands of like-minded people. Everyone here was like me, or almost like me, and I truly appreciated the spirit in which we’d all gathered here to compete in the Fit Gal Games.
As I tuned back into the noise and the absolute chaos of the first handover, I heard someone a few people down yell out encouragement for their teammate, and a shiver of recognition ran through me. That voice sounded super familiar, but it was quickly drowned out again by the noise around me. I shook it off, doing my best to stay focused.
I wanted to get gold for my tier, and I wouldn’t even be able to move a muscle if I’d really just heard the voice I thought I’d just heard. No, it can’t be. It’s loud in here. It was probably just someone who sounds a lot like he used to.
Eden managed to do a smooth handover to Hazel, who sprinted around the track in what had to be record time, her long legs eating up the distance between her and London, whose features were set in a focused glower. I’d been so relieved when London had agreed to come over for this from Houston.
She and Olivia, our oldest sister, had moved down to Texas when our father had announced his retirement from our family’s marketing firm, and I hadn’t seen nearly enough of either of my sisters since. We still spoke often, but they were incredibly busy at the office in Houston, and since I’d stayed behind to run the New York branch, I couldn’t exactly just up and leave whenever I wanted to, either. Having her in LA with us had been amazing so far.
Hazel smacked the baton into her hand and she took off like her bum was on fire. I laughed with exhilaration. Yes, we can do this! She’s going to smash it.
As I got into my position and readied myself to run, I watched my sister drawing closer and closer to me. London’s light blonde hair was pulled up into a braided bun and sweat dampened her hair and dotted her forehead, her features still scrunched up in concentration.
Unlike Olivia, who had taken to laid-back country living with an ease so natural that I had realized she’d been born for it, London was still a city girl through and through. Wearing designer workout gear that she’d picked up especially for the day—regardless of the fact that I’d had shirts made for our team—my baby sister didn’t look like a baby anymore.
She looked like a fierce and ruthless athletic fashionista, and I borrowed that energy from her as she handed over the baton. Running like my life depended on it, I shut out everything else. Even the noise died down until it was just me and the track, which was just the way I liked it.
I heard the rhythmic smacking of my feet against the ground and the even puffs of my breath as it left me. My heartbeat was in my ears, and while sweat was definitely gathering at the nape of my neck, I was barely even aware of the heat.
This was what I lived for, these brief minutes when there was only me, doing one of the things I loved most. Usually my Doodle, August, ran with me, but Mom was taking care of her for me back home in New York.
I felt someone coming close on my right, but I leaned in and focused, refusing to be distracted by the undeniable presence of another person hot on my heels. Speeding up until I felt like I was flying, I lost myself in the freedom of the moment and forgot all about the presence, crossing the finish line much too soon for my liking.
I’d won gold for my tier. I knew it without even having to look. There was no one ahead of me and I grinned, my hands going up in the air as I looked for my team.
They were right in front of me, but there was no joy or smiles of victory on their faces. There was only concern and I frowned, slowing to a stop when I reached them and wondering what the heck was going on.
“Guys…” I managed between pants, out of breath from the run but needing to know what was going on. “We just… won… Why the worried looks… you goons?”
London’s eyes were as wide as saucers. She focused on something behind me, her lips parting and straight-up panic suddenly shining from her bright blue eyes. Still fighting to catch my breath, I didn’t even have time to turn and see who or what she was staring at before I heard that same familiar voice from before coming from right behind me.
“Hello, Abigail Walker. Fancy meeting you here.”
Immediately, the world stopped turning underneath me. I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t want to believe it, but Eden and Hazel were staring now too, both as slack-jawed and ashen-faced as my sister.
Unwillingly and yet completely unable to stop myself, I straightened up and turned to find myself looking into the eyes of the boy who had broken my heart and crushed my soul.
Except, he wasn’t a boy anymore. He was a man now.
Simon Astor had grown even taller than he had been at eighteen, which had been the last time I’d seen him. Standing at least six and a half feet tall now, he towered over me just like he always had, but I’d be able to fit neatly under his chin these days whereas in the past, my temples had aligned to that chin.
I hated that I remembered that kind of thing. I hated it even more that I’d taken just one look at him and I was already wondering what it would feel like to melt into him that way again. Would it feel like two puzzle pieces slotting into place? Would it be awkward? Comfortable?
He was a little broader than I remembered too, built like a guy who hadn’t stopped working out after high school and who liked getting sweaty just as much as I did. Although I bet there were plenty of ways he liked to get sweaty that I didn’t get around to much myself.
Looking as good as he did, with neatly trimmed, dark facial hair on his strong jaw and that short, black hair all damp and messy the way it was right now? I was willing to bet women flung themselves at his feet without sparing a thought for their knees.
Even his eyes had matured. Those dark greens I’d happily gotten lost in as if they had been the most beautiful forest on the planet held a new, sharp intellect now. He’d always been plenty clever, but time seemed to have jaded him a little, forging his gaze into some kind of weapon that made it feel like he could slice right through me with a single look.
All my breath left me in a rush and I froze without saying a word. Eden, London, and Hazel jumped into action immediately, my sister grabbing my elbow after seeing me completely freeze up.
“Bye, Simon,” she called coolly as they led me away. “It was horrible to see you!”
In the huge crowds, we lost him almost instantly, disappearing into the throng of bodies around the track. As if his absence released me from some kind of spell, I could suddenly breathe and move again, even if I still felt numb.
“There is no way I just looked into the face of Simon Astor,” I said, my voice breathy with shock. “There’s just… no way.”
Eden grimaced. “You absolutely did, babe.”
“And you handled it so well,” Hazel rushed to add. “If it had been me, I would’ve either slapped him or burst into tears.”
I felt my heart clench and my breath shorten all over again. I had never been hurt by anyone the way he had hurt me, and looking into those green eyes for the first time since senior year had just brought back feelings I’d had buried for years and had long since thought to be dead.
Well, hello, old feelings. If I may borrow a line from my sister, it is truly freaking horrible to see you. It would be so nice if you would leave right now.
Of course, they didn’t, tearing through me until it felt like my soul was being eaten up all over again. I had no idea where Simon had gone back in the day, where he’d come from now, or if I would ever see him again, but I desperately hoped not.
That boy had been in my past for a long time, and that was where he needed to stay.