CHAPTER ONE
The cold air bites my cheeks as I do my best to huddle within the group of people behind me. Unfortunately, the wind is blowing from the opposite direction and rather than them acting as my wind break, I barely hinder the flow of frigid air from their faces. I’d step back and lose myself between a few tall people, but when your brother is about to receive a medal at the GoldMedal Winter Games, you kind of have to be in the front row.
“Reagan, do you see him yet?” Remi’s girlfriend, Marley, squeezes on my bicep so hard I feel it through my extra puffy coat.
I stretch my body out on my tiptoes and look as far as possible, but there’s no hint of my brother in his signature black snow pants with a strip of blue fabric running up the side.
“Not yet.”
I might notfind Remi in the crowd, but there’s one face I’m always able to spot, regardless of how many people stand between us. Knox Keaton. Snowboarding legend. He’s also my brother’s best friend and sometimes rival — when they compete in the same events. He’s been around forever.
Tall with dark hair and the most amazing green eyes you’ve ever seen. His laugh is full and hearty. His smile bright and often.At thirty he’s developed small lines that arc out from the corners of his eyes when he laughs. And if you get blasted by one of those, be prepared to never feel the same again. It’s what happened to me one day as a teenager and ever since I’ve been head over heels in love with Knox.
For some stupid reason he does not feel the same. Jerk face.
Since he refused to fall helplessly in love withme, I decided years ago I didn’t like him either. Too bad my eyes…and brain…and heart haven’t picked up on the development no matter how many times I remind them.
A name is called over the loudspeaker, one I don’t recognize so it must not be from the American team. Remi has been snowboarding for as long as I remember and competing almost as often. I’ve been around most of the guys and girls onthe American snowboarding team for years. And yes, that includes Knox. He’s acted like a second brother — one I never wanted — for most of my life. Which makes all the fantasies I have starring him worse. No one’s stomach should get tight and tingly when their brother is around. Remi surely doesn’t make me feel that way. Gag.
A tall well-built man, with a long face and a short beard steps upto the bronze section of the tri-level podium. The Polish flag waves behind him.
The usual fanfare is given to him, and an event official walks over, wrapping the third-place medal around his neck. For a few seconds they share a joke, the athlete laughing even if the punchline was horrible. He waves to his fans and the country’s anthem plays over the speakers.
And then a new name is called.
One I recognize. Which means one thing.
Remi brings home a silver.
The thought alone chokes me up. It may not be the gold he wanted, but it’s a damn fine accomplishment. My brother and I may fight like we hate each other — and there are times when I’ve resented him for the attention he’s received for being a pro athlete — but at the end of the day, he’s my brother. And I love him more than anyonein the entire world. Being here and seeing him reach this achievement is more than most people get in a lifetime. Remi’s stood on that podium four times over his career. It’s astonishing.
My mom sniffles next to me and that’s all it takes to make my own cold tears roll from under my eyes. Snowboarding hasn’t been around as long as many other sports, and with the opportunity to win medals onlyevery four years it doesn’t give many athletes much time to rack up the numbers. But Remi did it. It may not be four gold medals, but it’s still the most for anyone in a single Gold Medal Event in history. He should be proud. We are all.
Marley jumps up and at down my side, jarring my shoulder in her excitement. “He did it!”
She’s happy for him like any good girlfriend should be, even if Remididn’t win that sought-after gold. I worry in the back of her mind she’s considering the possibility he’ll try again. Marley said he promised, but he’s promised before. It’s all about the gold for him…no matter the cost.
I hope this time he’s honest and he’s done with it all. No more icing his knee at the end of every practice. No more dragging his kindergarten teacher girlfriend halfway aroundthe world to watch grown men fall down a hill.
Okay, for what it’s worth, Remi rarely falls down the hill. He normally practices on a halfpipe, but it’s the same idea. A gold medal means a lot more than new sponsors or a bigger house. It’s her chance of starting a life with the man she loves. Remi better follow through even though he’s wearing silver around his neck.
The officials finish upwith whoever won first place — none of us care at this point — and the crowd cheers extra loudly. Everyone within a seven-foot radius of me jumps up screaming and clapping. Fickle people. Silver is an awesome finish too.
Marley turns, squeezing me into a deep hug while those around us continue to clap and cheer for all the medal winners. When she releases me I’m jostled forward and then pulledup off the ground, my feet dangling in the air least four inches.
“Put me down!”
My attacker laughs, his warm breath tickling my earlobe. For a moment I go soft and relish in being this close to Knox. Of course it’s him. No one else here would be dumb enough to get this close to Remi’s little sister. There’s also no one else in the world who could lift me off my feet the way he does.
Literallyand figuratively.
Knox squeezes me super hard one last time, and I pretend not to enjoy it so much. Then he sets me back on my feet. “He did it.”
He’s excited for Remi as if this is the first Gold Medal Event they competed at together. That year Knox competed in the halfpipe event as well. Remi took first and Knox walked away with a bronze. We’d worried it would ruin their friendship, but itonly made the two closer. With Knox competing in the snowboard cross event this time, it’s easier to root for everyone.
I roll my eyes. “Yes, I’m standing here too.”
He only laughs. Leaning down to accommodate my shorter frame, Knox wraps his arms around me one more time, clutching me so hard breathing becomes difficult. When he pulls back he plants a short quick kiss on my cheek and then turnshis attention to my parents. The three of them talk loudly back and forth, congratulating each other like they won a medal.
