“I saw, Henry,” Sergio says, making his way to him to help him back onto his feet. “That was very impressive. Even your flip forward.”
“One day I’m gonna learn how to stop,” Henry says, very determined.
Sergio ruffles his hair and bends down to unlatch Henry’s skis from his boots. “Perhaps that will be tomorrow's lesson.”
“Dad says it’s funnier when I flip over.”
“He’s not wrong.” Sergio picks Henry up with one arm and grabs his skis with his other before making his way towards the lodge.
“But Jeremy says it’s not funny when I flip forward on the ice.”
Sergio laughs. “He’s also not wrong. The ice is a little harder than the snow, don’t you think?”
“It’s a lot harder,” Henry says, nodding his head yes. “And it hurts more.”
“Do you like skiing more than you like skating?”
“No,” Henry says, shaking his head.
“You like them both?”
“Yes!”
“You are a man of many talents,” Sergio assures him, even though he’s seen him on the ice. Not that Sergio, until after a plethora of secret private lessons from Jeremy, was much better.
“I know,” Henry says, smiling as bright as the sun on this clear bluebird day. He truly is his father’s son.
Although it could be argued he’s an awful lot like his uncle by the way he’s suddenly squirming in Sergio’s arms, yelling, “Jeremy!” at the top of his lungs. It’s an excitement that Sergio absolutely understands. If it were socially acceptable for him to do the same, he would.
Sergio puts Henry down, and the kid takes off at a clumsy run the minute his feet hit the snow-covered ground. “Be careful!” Sergio calls out after him. But he’s shifted his attention from Henry and is looking more so at Jeremy, loving the way his cheeks are flushed from the cold and wisps of his hair stray out from underneath his gray toque.
He doesn’t get much time to admire the sight, though, as he can feel Rose’s steel-eyed gaze upon him from where she standsbeside Jeremy and Allison. Sergio offers her a little wave. She glares at him and flips him the bird.
“You hungry?” Holden claps him on the shoulder. “This place has a great turkey burger.”
“I’ll have to try it,” Sergio says and turns to look at Holden, who’s wearing a beaming smile, completely oblivious to the fact that his wife appears to be out for Sergio’s blood.
“Come on,” Holden urges him along. “They know we’re coming and have set aside the best table.”
Once inside, Sergio tries and fails not to get a seat beside Jeremy, which is his usual custom, but beside Rose. She boxes him out, and he winds up where he always does, between Holden and Allison. Though unlike all the previous lunches, even Allison is quite chilly beside him. Apparently, Rose must have been whispering in her ear during practice this morning. It’s fine. Sergio isn’t in the mood to engage in much small talk today anyway. All he really wants to do is prove he’s not a total piece of shit and deserves at least a chance to be a part of Jeremy’s life.
Once they’ve ordered their meals and everyone has had a chance to laugh at Sergio and his exploits in Paris, Sergio makes his move. “What’s everyone’s plans once these Olympics are over?”
“Elite Sports Network wants me as a correspondent,” Holden answers before anyone else. Sergio nods his approval. That’ll be a good gig for him. He’ll crush it on camera, and his enthusiasm for all things extreme winter sports is contagious.
Allison lets out a light laugh. “Wake up and start preparing for the games four years from now.”
Rose raises her glass to Allison and winks at her. “Same.” They both turn to look at Jeremy.
He takes a sip of water and pales slightly. “The same,” he agrees, but Rose narrows her eyes at him.
Sergio feels awful. He’s inadvertently exposed Jeremy, but he supposes the truth has to come out sometime.
“You don’t seem sure about that,” Rose says.
Jeremy wipes his lips with his napkin, then takes a sip of water. “It’s not that I’m not sure. Of course, I want to keep working with you both. But …” He pauses and rubs the back of his neck with his hand. “I like working with beginners, too. They’re more my speed.”
Rose looks at him, shocked. “More your speed? Jeremy, you’re a world-class figure skater.”
