Chapter 7 #5
“Oh, don’t worry about that,” he told her.
Ember loved how he wasn’t coy in the least.
“Will you let me know how it goes with your parents tomorrow?”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t let them make you feel bad. You did a great job today,” Craig told her.
“I’ll try.”
“Remember that I’m proud of you. And Trigger called you badass. And the other guys on the team are impressed as well. You’re incredible, Em. Don’t forget it.”
Ember couldn’t resist this man. There was something about him that drew her. She went up on her tiptoes and kissed him. Hard. Tears threatened but she forced them back.
“This isn’t goodbye,” she said forcefully.
“No, it isn’t,” Craig agreed. “I’ll talk to my commander about seeing if I can get some leave time and come out to California to see you.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really. I don’t know how we’ll make this work, but I want to try.”
That was all Ember needed to hear. It made the plans in her head all the more clear. “Okay,” she said simply.
“Okay.” Craig’s gaze roamed her face, as if he was trying to memorize it.
“Oh! I don’t even have a picture of you. Will you take a selfie with me? I promise I won’t put it on social media. It’s just for me.”
“Of course I will,” Craig said. He turned her so she was at his side and Ember dug into her pocket for her phone.
She swiped right and brought up the camera.
She held the phone in front of her and for the first time in a very long time, she didn’t have to worry if her makeup was perfect or the lighting was right.
She just wanted a picture of her and Craig together.
She touched the button to take the picture and laughed at the short preview she caught a glimpse of. “You weren’t even looking!” she exclaimed.
“Sorry, do it again,” Craig told her.
She did, and this time was satisfied that she’d captured both of them looking at the lens.
“I’ll talk to you soon,” Craig said.
This was it. He had to go.
“Same.”
Craig’s arms dropped and he took a step away from her in the hallway. “I’m gonna miss you,” he said softly.
Ember’s heart melted. “Me too.”
“Be strong, Em. You’re an amazing woman.”
“I will.”
“No goodbyes,” Craig reiterated.
“Later,” Ember said.
“Later,” Craig echoed. Then he spun and walked away.
Not able to watch him leave, Ember backed into her room and shut the door. She looked down at her phone still in her hand and clicked it on to look at the pictures she’d just taken.
The last one was cute. They both had goofy smiles on their faces and even though her hair was extra crazy and Craig’s forehead was shiny from the overhead lights, she loved it. Then she swiped to the first picture she’d taken. The one where Craig hadn’t been looking at the camera. She stilled…
Craig was looking at her with an expression so intimate, she knew she’d treasure this picture forever. She was grinning at the camera, and his eyes were glued on her. He had a small smile on his lips and the admiration in his gaze almost leapt off the screen.
God. Had anyone ever looked at her like that? If so, she couldn’t recall.
She wanted this man. Full stop. Period. She had no idea why or how he was still single. Maybe he was a slob. Or had a drinking problem. Or was a complete asshole after he got to know a woman. But she didn’t think so.
They’d been in the right place at the right time to meet, to save lives, and to connect.
Ember was ready to move on with her life, and Texas was looking more and more like the perfect place to put her plans into effect.
First she had to deal with her life in California. It wouldn’t be easy, but she was determined to stop being Ember Maxwell, social media star, and start being simply…Em.
Alex scowled at the phone yet again in disbelief. Ember Maxwell had choked!
It was unfathomable.
She was supposed to be this amazing athlete, and yet when push came to shove, she’d completely folded. She was an embarrassment to the sport, and to all the athletes and coaches who’d trained with her and shown her support over the years.
Not only that—her failure was an end to Alex’s dreams as well.
Ember’s performance was a huge slap in the face after all the encouragement Alex had given her!
Alex was the first person to defend Ember when people talked shit about her online. Endured name-calling and threatening DMs over supportive comments posted for the gorgeous athlete. Hundreds of dollars in gifts had been sent to the woman Alex admired and looked up to.
Alex wanted to be just like her…successful and loved and famous…and over the years had been nothing but supportive.
And for what? For her to choke? It was despicable. Unbelievable!
Alex’s rage exploded, thinking about all the years of supportive messages that had been wasted on the useless bitch. Fifteenth place? The other woman who’d made the US team wasn’t half as good, and she’d placed eleventh!
Years of admiration turned to hate in the space of a breath.
Ember didn’t deserve anyone’s support. Didn’t deserve all the nice things said about her. Didn’t deserve Alex standing up for her against the internet trolls over the years.
Come to think of it…not once had Ember responded to those messages and posts.
She hadn’t sent a thank you for any of the gifts.
She was nothing but a fucking bitch—and she was going to regret spurning Alex’s friendship!
If Ember thought people were mean before, she hadn’t seen anything yet. Her failure at the Olympics was a huge display of disrespect and betrayal—one that Alex wasn’t going to let her get away with. No. Way.
Ember would feel Alex’s wrath and would regret not trying harder. Not winning.
Second place was for losers…and fifteenth place?
That was a death sentence.