Chapter 3
THAYER
I picked at the scrambled eggs on my plate, not really able to stomach much after the amount I drank last night.
“And, once I landed that trick, I knew the gold was mine,” Kason explained to his family and friends at the hotel restaurant.
“So, when does Olympic training begin?” his mom asked.
“Been training for it my entire life,” Kason said. “Right, Thayer?”
I glanced up to find all eyes on me. “True story,” I agreed, knowing we’d both been training for it. Only, I fucked it all up and stopped competing.
“You considering any qualifying events?” Kason’s dad asked me. “I’m sure fans are waiting for your return.”
I shrugged. “You never know. I’ve been feeling like I need some time away from Colorado.
” My gaze shifted to Giselle, but her attention was on Gino, whose arm was draped over her shoulders.
I had no idea why I needed to constantly be reminded that she didn’t care what I did—unless of course I was entertaining a room full of girls.
Then, she went all crazy. “Maybe I’ll hit up Switzerland,” I added.
“Switzerland?” Kason asked, excited by the prospect of me going with him.
I only said it to see if it elicited a reaction from Giselle, but still her attention remained on Gino, the lame ass.
“Dude,” Kason said, nearly bouncing out of his seat. “It’d be epic if the two of us placed in Switzerland.”
“I’d have to get my feet wet again at Steamboat Springs before I even think about Switzerland.”
“If you could just place there, then the next legitimate step is Switzerland. You think you’ll be ready?” Kason persisted.
“I have no clue.”
“Giselle said you don’t snowboard anymore, Thayer,” Gino interjected.
My eyes narrowed as I looked to Giselle who was avoiding my stare. “I took some time off. But despite what some people think, I can do whatever I wanna do.”
“Whoa, dude, I meant no disrespect,” Gino said, not knowing my words were a subtle dig at Giselle.
“Got you a ticket,” Kason interrupted as he placed his phone down on the table.
“For what?” I asked.
“Switzerland.”
I blinked hard. Had I seriously just agreed to compete in Switzerland to prove a point? I glanced to Giselle who was finally looking right at me. “Great.”
Some distance would do me good.
And, who knew, maybe getting back on my board to compete would be exactly what I needed.
I carried my laptop into the small classroom, sliding into an empty seat next to a pretty blonde.
“Hey,” she said as soon as I was seated.
“Hey,” I said, curious if she knew me. But I’d like to think I would’ve remembered her. She was beautiful with a great smile.
“Are you in the wrong class?” she asked.
“What?”:
“We’re already a week into the semester, and you weren’t here last week. I figured you might’ve come into the wrong class by mistake.”
I shook my head. “I was in Aspen for the X Games.”
“Oh. Do you ski?”
“Snowboard,” I explained. “But I wasn’t competing. My best friend was. He actually took the gold.”
“Kason McCloud?” she asked.
I nodded.
“Can you do all those jumps and flips too?” She leaned in like she was really interested in what I had to say.
“Depends on the day.”
“I’d love to learn. It looks so cool,” she said.
“You should. They give lessons at all the mountains.”
She flashed a tight smile before reaching into her bag for her laptop.
The guy behind me leaned in and whispered. “Dude, she left it wide open for you to offer to take her.”
I laughed to myself. I usually wasn’t so off my game. How’d I miss that one? “Or…” I said when she glanced back at me, “…we could meet up, and I could show you the basics.”
Her face lit up. “Really? You’d do that?”
“Sure.”
After class, I hit up our buddy Jesse’s ski shop, Blades. Afternoons were slow. Skiers from out of town were off skiing for the day and wouldn’t be back to return their rentals until later, so I sat behind the counter while Jesse loaded up a snowboard with wax.
“You really going to Switzerland?” Jesse asked, his eyes on the snowboard.
“If I can place in Steamboat,” I said, playing with a block of board wax.
“Why don’t you sound like you think you can?” he asked.
“It’s been a while.”
“So what? You’re not scared, are you?”
“No. I know it’s time I get back out there and compete.”
“Agreed.” He stopped what he was doing and turned to look at me. “Did Kason winning the gold give you the itch?”
“Something like that.”
“That’s not an answer,” he challenged.
“I was good,” I said, staring down at the block of wax in my hand.
“Damn straight you were. You still are.”
I rolled my eyes, not looking for anyone to stroke my ego.
He turned back to the board and continued lathering it up with wax. “So, tell me about this girl you’re taking out.”
“She seems cool.”
“Yeah? Does she snowboard?”
“She wants to try.”
He laughed. “They all wanna try if it means they get to spend time with you.”
“I think you’re talking about Kason.”
“Dude, you’re so fucking blind. Girls like the silent type. That definitely ain’t our boy. That’s you.”
I didn’t respond because he was delusional. I knew from experience that this had always been Kason’s world, and I just lived in it.
My phone vibrated. Speak of the devil.
Kason
Need your help.