Chapter 9
Finn
The crowd had thinned out and Finn was relieved.
The qualies were nerve-racking enough without them resembling the finals, and the competition was tough this year.
Becky had surprised everyone with her flawless execution.
Maya had caught the whole thing on her camera and was sharing it on all the team’s social media platforms. Becky was glowing and had almost flattened Leo when she’d run into his arms afterwards.
Someone near him said that she must’ve been extra stoked because of her engagement, which didn’t make any sense to Finn.
He’d shifted away from them just as Coach Harrington joined them, patting Becky on the back and smiling.
Finn frowned. Why wasn’t Coach up with Sam?
He turned to watch Sam who was looking a little peaky.
Finn crossed his fingers as Sam settled herself.
He found he was smiling as he squinted up at the big screen to get a closer look at her.
She had her eyes closed, doing her usual gearing-up ritual.
When she opened her eyes, he was struck by how beautiful they were, but also by the slight flash of fear in them.
He’d seen Sam do this before, but never had he seen fear in her eyes like tonight.
This was her first qualie for her dream—was she really that afraid of failing?
Around him people chatted, laughed and complained about the cold, but he couldn’t move.
Sam looked off, somehow. He held his breath, anger stirring in the pit of his stomach as the loudspeakers above his head broadcasted Gabriel’s commentary, and unnervingly, Gabriel was saying aloud everything he was thinking.
“Sam Harrington, tipped for a medal in this year’s big air and in the halfpipe, is looking good, if a little awkward today. Let’s hope she can keep her cool on this, her final run for this big air qualification.”
Finn’s heart leaped into his mouth as Sam took off. His eyes never left her as she flew into the air over the jump. Finn’s hands balled into fists by his sides. Gabriel continued.
“She’s got the height—definitely has hit the highest in this qualifier—this could be the triple we’ve all been waiting … No! What was that? Sam Harrington has followed her teammate, Becky Stanford. A double cork 1080—what a statement.”
Finn grimaced as Gabriel went quiet. He didn’t need to say that “what a statement”.
Sam would be kicking herself, and she’d probably want to thump Gabriel for saying it.
In a sport where creativity was applauded, bringing attention to Sam copying Becky was a real sucker punch.
Something was wrong with Sam. Finn’s mouth went dry.
Was it what had happened between them earlier?
Had that thrown her off form? He stood still and watched the big screen as the camera followed Sam.
He stared up at the screen, hardly able to breathe, as Sam snapped out of her bindings.
She knew she’d messed up. She was stomping away, head down, her goggles still on.
She paused, waiting for her results. Her mouth was pressed together so hard that her lips seemed to have disappeared.
Gabriel was back commentating, and Finn mentally tuned him out.
He didn’t need Gabe’s voice and opinions in his head telling him—and the world—that Sam Harrington had just made the qualie, by the skin of her teeth, that her trick was lacking in her usual confidence and pizzaz, and that maybe there was some old injury possibly playing havoc now.
Pulling his old orange beanie off his head, Finn hurried to the break in the barrier where Sam was moving away, her eyes downcast and her dad hot on her heels.
Stopping, Finn stood in the snow as people drifted away.
The event was over, and the sky had clouded over.
It was dark and the lights were blinding.
Maya, in her satsuma coat, came over to him, her mouth pursed and her steps quick.
“What happened to our girl?” She slipped a phone into her pocket. “I’ve never seen her so rattled.”
“I don’t know,” Finn said. “She was really solid this evening, and then, right before she took her turn, I saw something in her change.”
Maya nodded. “She’s going to be so pissed about this.”
“Yeah.”
“Vodka pissed, I’d say.” Maya shrugged.
“I guess I would be too,” Finn said. “Come on, Mai, let’s go find her, see what’s going on?”
Walking beside Maya, Finn’s guts churned.
This was because of him, because of what had happened in the shower.
He should have left her alone, shouldn’t even have flirted with her in the hot tub—it was selfishness, pure selfishness and pity for himself that had made him go after her.
It was the evening of one of the biggest competitions in her life, and he’d let his stupid ego and his desire for her take over.
“She’s lucky she made it into the finals,” Maya said. “What do you think put her off? I saw her dad down here—when he should have been up there, with her. I think that didn’t help. Not on top of Becky getting Valestré.”
Finn nodded. “That did cross my mind.”
“I don’t like this, Finn.” Maya’s face clouded over. “Coach wasn’t at Sam’s training this morning either.”
“What?” Finn’s mouth dropped open. “That’s unheard of.”
“I know. Yikes—that doesn’t look good.”
Ahead of them, at the entrance to the ski center, Jake Harrington stood, glowering like a bull ready to charge. His eyes flashed when he saw Finn. Finn groaned inwardly.
“What now?” he muttered to himself as Maya scarpered by Jake, into the warm and cozy ski center. Louder he said, “What’s up, Coach?” as Jake stood in his path.
“You and I need to have a talk. Now.” Jake’s shoulders went back. Finn backed away.
“Sure, is everything okay?”
“No, everything is not okay.” Jake stormed around the side of the cabin. “Explain this to me.” He shoved his phone under Finn’s nose, the Instagram post of Finn and Sam in the hot tub dazzled Finn’s eyes.
Crap, crap, crap. Finn swallowed. How the hell was he going to explain this? Maya had posted the pic before their conversation and it was as hot as hell, and definitely something Finn had never wanted Coach to see.
“I told you, on day one, to stay away from Sam.” Jake’s voice was low and charged with anger. He towered over Finn. “I told you she was on track for a medal. That nothing was to get in her way. You told me you wouldn’t mess with her. Am I right?”
Finn nodded. Damn. He’d never even thought of what might happen if Jake saw the post. He hadn’t realized he had Instagram. Jake had never liked a post, posted a comment, or mentioned it in real life. Now that he saw it through his coach’s eyes—through Sam’s dad’s eyes—he could see how it looked.
It looked like they really were together. Just as they’d planned. He kept his eyes on the screen as the post gathered more and more likes, as comments rolled in. Jake swiped his hand away and started reading out the comments while Finn cringed.
“Have you something to tell me?” Jake snarled.
“No.” Finn pressed his lips together. What the hell was he going to say?
That they were pretending to be a couple on social media so that they’d get a deal that would give them both some control over their own lives?
That they’d had a steamy shower room session earlier?
That he’d fallen in love with Sam the moment he’d first spoken to her, and deeper every day since?
There was nothing he could say that would make it right in Coach’s eyes.
“I sincerely hope so,” Jake said. He took a menacing step toward Finn. “Because what happened earlier shouldn’t have happened.”
Finn paled. Shit. Did Jake know about them in the shower? Surely not. If he did, then he wouldn’t be so calm, if you could call his I’m going into battle, and I will annihilate you if you get in my way stance calm.
“Coach—”
Jake continued. “Something put her off tonight. If it was you, I swear to God, Finn, you won’t compete in this sport again, because …
shit.” Jake rubbed a hand over his face, dragging his features down, making him look a decade older than he really was.
“Keep away from her. I mean it. I’m not losing anyone else. ”
Finn blinked. That hit somewhere between what the and totally unexpected.
Jake quickly looked away, like he regretted the slip. He squared his shoulders before trudging away through the snow, his shoulders down and his face grim.
What the actual … ? Finn breathed out and leaned against the cabin, the cold seeping in through his jacket.
No one seemed to have noticed the altercation between them, thankfully.
It had clouded over, and tiny flakes of snow had started to fall.
On the slopes the groomers were out preparing for the competitions tomorrow.
The ski center lights switched off as the last of the staff left for the night.
Pushing away from the cold wall, Finn trudged through the snow in the direction of the town.
Lingering near the ski lifts, he looked down at the yellow glow of the lights that made the town look alive.
Music and singing from the nearest bar carried up the snow-covered mountainside.
People seemed to be in couples, everywhere he looked.
Coach’s words kept coming back at him. Stay away from Sam.
Keep away from her. I mean it. You won’t compete in this sport again …
Shit. What was he supposed to do now? He’d promised to keep his distance—promised not to mess it up for her.
And now here he was, falling apart after just one make-out session, one super-hot, intimate and unreal make-out session, with Sam—the one girl he wasn’t supposed to touch.
His head spun. Had that moment meant the same thing to Sam—because if it hadn’t, then what?
Had she gone along with it as a part of their fake-dating plan?
Nothing about it had felt fake to him. Not even for one second.