Chapter 16 #2
Finn frowned. Sam glanced at Maya and caught a flicker of worry in her eyes. What was going on? She turned to Harper with a light laugh. “You have more to be congratulated on?”
Harper lowered her tone. “You haven’t heard? Oh, I feel strange telling you my news, and it’s not a brag. I never expected it, and I’m just so thrilled and honored …”
“Heard what?” Sam said, while glancing from Finn to Maya who were looking stunned. Would she ever just get on with it?
Harper brushed an imaginary piece of fluff from her arm, her eyes sparkling. Glancing up at Sam she beamed. “It’s not public knowledge yet, only those in the know, know, but I thought you knew?” She turned to Maya.
Before Maya could retort, Finn interjected, “No, Harper, we haven’t a clue what you’re on about.”
Harper raised an eyebrow, her smile wide with happiness.
“Well then, I’ll tell you!” She winked at Sam.
“I know how you feel about women in sport, and how we always get second dibs when it comes to anything, so I think you’ll be happy for me—it’s a step in the right direction for us women.
” She wrinkled her nose and did a tiny dance on the spot.
“Salvaro want me to head their next campaign—can you believe it!?”
Sam’s throat constricted. Salvaro had gone and chosen Harper? A ringing sound in her ears made her stagger a little. She felt Maya’s hand on her back, steadying her. Through the ringing sound she just about made out Finn and Maya murmuring congratulations to Harper.
“I know, right,” Harper said as Sam tuned back in. “I can hardly believe it. I never thought it was possible—for me, you know? We’re signing tomorrow, before our qualie.”
Sam choked out the words. “Oh my God, Harper—wow!”
Maya caught hold of Sam by the elbow and pinched her. Sam pulled her arm away but smiled wider at Harper. “Huge congratulations!”
“Thank you.” Harper looked as if she was about to cry. “I knew you’d be happy for me—for women. This really is amazing.”
“It sure is,” Sam said. She felt like crying too. “I’m happy for you, Harper. But we have friends waiting …”
“Oh! Of course,” Harper said with a wave of her hand. “Have a great night.”
Sam watched as Harper slipped away into the crowd. The room suddenly felt too warm, too loud. She turned to Finn and caught his arm. “She got Salvaro.”
Finn nodded. “I got that.”
“Urgh,” Maya said. She frowned.
Finn took a mouthful of his beer, and a long look at Sam before speaking. “Don’t let it rattle you. Not now. Don’t let it get in the way of your qualie tomorrow.”
“Easier said than done,” Sam said. “When she’s a gold medalist who has the deal I wanted.”
“She’s a gold medalist by chance,” Finn said quietly, his eyes on Sam’s.
“And you know it.” Sam was about to interrupt when she caught the deep warmth in his eyes.
“And tomorrow, imagine that gold medal in your hands, because it’s yours, Sam.
It’s your gold medal. You’re unstoppable, and you need to remember that. Look at us—look at how far we’ve come.”
A warmth bloomed in Sam’s chest, spreading like adrenaline before a first jump. He was right. His words made her feel like she really could do it.
“Thanks for that, Finn. I needed that.”
“You’re welcome.” Finn spread his arms wide and took a bow. “I’m here all week. Now come on, let’s go over to Davide and Valentina.”
Weaving their way between people and tables, Sam felt butterflies in her stomach.
Finn believed in her. She couldn’t stop smiling as they sat at Davide’s table.
She almost believed in herself too, and it felt so good.
A fizzy joy wrapped around her. Valentina was pouring wine, Maya was sampling the fresh bruschetta, and even Finn seemed to have cheered up as Davide hugged him and demanded to try on the medal.
Laughing, Sam brushed her hair back from her face, soaking up every moment.
Harper forgotten, she smiled at Finn, loving how he blushed under Valentina’s compliments.
She couldn’t stop watching him. He was laughing at something Davide was saying about Valentina flirting with Finn.
He brushed a hand through his dark hair, and she remembered how his hands had felt on her naked waist, on her breasts.
He glanced at her, caught her looking at him, and smiled at her—and it felt like Christmas morning when you’d gotten everything you’d asked for.
Maya nudged her, her phone in her hand. Sam dragged her gaze away from Finn and looked down at the Instagram posts Maya was showing her.
They were all of her and Finn, and they were beautiful.
Sam’s breath caught in her chest as she flicked through the images of her and Finn hugging, their smiles only for one another, their arms filled with each other.
Their love was obvious. She started and looked up.
Love. Was that possible? Looking back down at the images she bit her lip. Love, of course.
Slipping from her seat, she wriggled past some people until she was next to Finn.
“Do I get to try it on, too?” she asked him, her fingers touching the gold medal that lay on his chest. “It might be my only chance.”
Finn looked down into her face, his expression serious, but soft.
Wordlessly, he lifted the medal from his neck and gently placed it over her head.
“It won’t be your only chance,” he said so quietly that Sam thought she’d imagined hearing it.
Touching the medal, she felt a fire stir inside her.
This was why they were here, and so far, they’d managed to get one medal.
In two days she’d have hers. Then, and only then, would she feel able to talk to him about them, about the possibility of a them—and in that moment it all felt so very achievable.
She felt light and free—until she heard it.
A sudden burst of laughter from a nearby table, a man’s voice cut through the air.
“Well, looks like I’m out—I had Harrington pegged for gold, but I guess I was wrong.”
Another voice joined in, chuckling, “Come on, you didn’t really think she’d win, did you?”
“Well, no, but I drew her name in the lottery, so I was hoping,” the first man said. “At least I only put five on the bet.”
“Five!” someone squealed. “Five? Why bother?”
The first man spoke again, and Sam could picture him shrugging, “I don’t know—I mean, we all know who the real contender is.”
“Yeah, someone who doesn’t flunk out and come in fourth place—I drew Sasha Mitford—an unknown but I bet you an extra twenty she scores higher than Harrington in the qualifier tomorrow.”
“I bet Harrington doesn’t even make it through the qualifier.” The sound of hands slapping down on the table behind her made Sam jump.
She bit her lip, tears smarting in her eyes.
Her breath raggedly escaped her as she held back the lump in her throat that threatened to escape.
She didn’t dare turn her head, terrified to face the people who were talking so callously about her.
Her pulse drummed loudly in her ears, and she closed her eyes, praying that no one else heard.
Opening her eyes she felt the blood drain from her face. She stood still, as if frozen.
“Sam?” Finn’s deep voice cut through her thoughts. Without looking at him or even saying a word she pushed away from the table and through the crowd toward the door.
Outside, Sam stood still, the cold seeping into her bones as snow fell softly all around her.
Finn’s gold medal sat heavy on her chest. She yanked it off and stuffed it into her pocket.
Everything was going wrong. A shiver ran over her body, and it wasn’t just from the cold.
Staring in through the glass, she saw Finn pull on his jacket as if he was coming to find her.
The cold air bit her cheeks as she shook.
She flinched as someone came out of the bar, loud music reverberating against the snowy street.
Her jaw clenched as Finn came out onto the street.
To hell with those idiots. She didn’t need their approval.
She needed to take control. Control of everything in her life—for once.
Finn wrapped her jacket around her shoulders, his warm fingers brushing against the back of her neck sending shivers down her spine.
Her mouth parted; heat stirred deep inside her.
She stared at him. His dark hair was tousled, his blue eyes warm and focused solely on her, the way they had been in the hot tub.
Could she have him? Maybe not forever—but just for this moment?
No competitions, no expectations, no jackasses in a bar slating her as if they owned her.
No. Just her, taking what she wanted—Finn—for once.
Her fingers curled around the collar of her jacket, as she stepped close to him.
His eyes darkened as her breath curled against his chest.
“I’m okay,” she said, her eyes locked on his lips.
“You sure?” His voice was quiet, his breath mingling with hers.
“Yeah.” She lowered her gaze and squeezed her hands into fists to stop them from reaching for him. “I really am. You should go back in. Celebrate.”
“Not without you,” Finn said quietly. “I’m not going anywhere without you. You’re not alone, Sam. I’m here.”
She looked down at the snow.
“Sam, look at me,” Finn said. She shook her head. With a sigh, he slipped his arm around her waist, tugging her closer to his solid, warm body. He hooked a finger under her chin and made her look at him. “Maybe you just need a change of scenery.”
Sam nodded breathlessly as his eyes scanned her face. He really was beautiful. “Yes.”
“Somewhere …” He hesitated.
“Somewhere where I can be me.” Sam stared into his eyes, mesmerized by the sensation of his hands on her face and body. How had that happened? She leaned closer, upwards, hoping he was thinking the same thing as she was.
He brushed a strand of hair from her face. “Yes.”