15
Finn
Finn sat at the breakfast table in his suite watching Maya, in the kitchen, as she poured a thick, pink, almost purple, liquid into a tall glass.
“Here you go, my famous Freestyle Fuel Smoothie,” she said as she placed it in front of him.
Finn stared at the smoothie. “Mai, this is huge—it could feed a giant.”
Maya shook her head and laughed. “I know what you’re thinking, but you will be glad of it later. Today is too important—and I know you won’t eat your snacks before the final.”
“You know me too well,” Finn said, picking up the glass. He took a deep sip and licked his lips. Having Maya here was making a huge difference, especially as his family now couldn’t come. His mom couldn’t make it due to catching a really bad flu, but she’d promised she’d call him before the competition later. Uncle Henry and Aunt Miranda had come down with the same thing and had sent him messages rather than come to see him, afraid of him catching the same horrible bug. Today was his first chance to go for gold. The final for freestyle slopestyle ski competition would take place just after midday and he was nervous.
“Have you seen Sam?” Maya called over her shoulder as she dropped a coffee pod into the Nespresso machine. “I waited up for her but eventually I had to go to bed. What time did you get in?”
“I was in bed by ten.” Finn took another mouthful of the smoothie, unwilling to share what had happened last night with Sam. “I didn’t see her.”
“Oh,” Maya said. She sat down at the table with her coffee. She picked up the room service menu.
Finn looked down into the smoothie. He tried to push down the image of Sam leaving him in the bar last night. And, if he was honest with himself, it was killing him not knowing what had gone wrong between them. He sighed deeply trying to think about how Sam was feeling. “You know Sam—she won’t want to talk about it.”
“For sure.” Maya twisted her mug on the table. “I think Sam is reliving a lot of things.”
Finn’s head shot up. “Yeah, I think you’re right.”
Maya nodded, still playing with her mug. “It really kills me to see our girl hurting so much. I know she never says anything—to anyone. Not even me. It’s like she’s afraid to ask for help—Little Miss Independence all the way. It’s like she’s afraid she’ll lose a part of herself if she admits she can’t do this alone.”
Finn’s thoughts drifted to Jake, to the words Jake had said:I’m not losing anyone else. A chill went downFinn’s spine. Sam wasn’t the only one struggling here. The conversation was starting to feel too heavy. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his gaze flitting around the room.
Maya let out a soft sigh. “All right, enough of that. Today is your day. So, eggs? How about an omelet?” Maya held up the room service menu. Finn pulled a face. “Never mind. What about you—are you doing okay? Worried about your qualie today?”
“A little,” Finn said. “But I’m okay. Are you sure there isn’t alcohol in this?” He raised his smoothie and took another drink, eager to change the topic.
Maya giggled. “You know, the very odd time I wonder what might happen if I added just another dash of vodka—would anyone even notice? No, Finn! Of course there’s no alcohol in that! Sheesh!”
“Any news from Montalier or Salvaro?” Finn leaned both elbows on his knees. “Things seem to have been a little quiet.”
“Yeah,” Maya breathed out. “There’s been some news, not great. Salvaro have signed a deal with Harper. I’m worried how Sam is going to take this.”
“Crap. Wow. How did Harper bag that one?” Finn flopped back on the couch. This was going to hurt Sam so much. Of course Harper had got the deal—she’d taken the gold medal. Finn groaned inwardly. This was another nail in the coffin of Sam’s seemingly depleting confidence. “Don’t say anything to Sam. She’ll only beat herself up for it. Blame herself.”
“Don’t I know it.” Maya swiped the glass from under hisnose and took a sip. “Damn, this is good. I am a domestic goddess.”
Finn laughed and reached for his glass. “You? In all the years I’ve known you, I have never seen you do anything in the kitchen that didn’t start with a coff and end with an ee.”
“Cheeky. Listen, back to business—the real reason why I’m here,” Maya said with a dramatic hand gesture as she whipped out her phone. “I want to share this with you.” She swiped through Instagram showing Finn post after post of him and Sam, including the video of him watching her lose her podium place yesterday. “Despite crickets from Montalier, people are eating this up, Finn. It’s unreal. You two are picture-perfect.”
Picture-perfect. Finn frowned. “Should you have put that one up?” He pointed at the post of Sam looking devastated at her loss, the pit of his stomach heavy as he wondered if she was still angry with him.
“Yes,” Maya said brightly. “It’s showing the world how real this is, and people really respond well to vulnerability.”
“Maya.” There was a warning sound in Finn’s voice. “I think that might be overstepping the mark. Sam wouldn’t like this.”
Maya’s face fell. “Oh. Do you really think so? I thought she’d be okay with it.”
Finn gnawed on his bottom lip as Maya stared at the phone in her hand, her finger hovering over the delete button. Shaking his head, Finn put his hand on hers.
“Don’t mind me. Why don’t you just ask her?”
