“But it’s annoying! And it’s not like it’s a private joke between us or something. Remember Beijing? He called me Marshmallow in front of the entire world in the post-qualifier presser.”
The look Danny gives me could make even the most confident of women shrink. I’ve complained about that moment so many times over the last four years, I wouldn’t be surprised if my bestie was about to ban me from bringing it up ever again.
“Mabes, they asked him about his routine, and he said he gets a craving for marshmallows before a run. Why do you not see that for the compliment that it is? He basically told you in front of the entire world thatyouare the thing that he needs to bring his best to the competition.”
“Oh yeah? Then what about my twentieth birthday, Cancun? He got wasted, and all those pictures of him waking up in a pile of naked bodies on the beach appeared on the internet. He turned my birthday into an orgy for public consumption, and Trina made us sit through a week of media training before I could start training for the X-Games again.”
“Okay, yeah, the orgy thing wasn’t great. But you have to admit, the photos of Ryder’s pepper grinder dick took the heat off of you. If Trina and the parents weren’t so busy being pissed at him, they would’ve been giving you shit for getting so drunk that I had to stay awake all night to make sure you didn’t choke on your own vomit.”
Chewing on my lip, I scrunch up my nose in annoyance. I doubt that taking the heat off of me was Ryder’s intention when he lost his pants and fucked every willing body on that beach in Mexico, but there is no denying that it worked.
Doesn’t mean I can’t still be annoyed that he fucked the entire resort and his reputation lived to tell the tale.If it were me who had passed out in my birthday suit in a pile of bodies on the beach, I’d be tarred and feathered. “Whatever. I’m clearly never going to get through to you. Even if you’re right and we live in some crazy, upside-down world where Ryder is secretly in love with me and is just waiting for me to open my eyes and notice him, it’s never gonna happen. He and his idiot friends have made mine and so many other athletes’ lives more difficult with their stupid antics. I will not reward him for his bad behavior by entertaining the idea that hemaybethinks I’m hot.”
Danny throws his hands in the air, letting a curl fall from its place wrapped around the iron as he does. I almost wish there were a photography crew here, because between my half-done up hair and the “I don’t believe you but I’m gonna let it go” look on his face, we make for a pretty chic-looking editorial. And just when I’m about to pick up my phone and take a mirror selfie for social media, Danny breaks out into song.
“How can I make you understand you’re having delusions of grandeur?”
“No way you’re trying to say that I’m Elphaba in this situation. I’m totally Galinda. Pretty, witty, and a helpless victim against the big, bad evil wizard.”
“If you’re seriously telling me you think Galindawas a helpless victim and not a willing prop for a fascist regime for most of the play, you have a fundamental misunderstanding ofWicked. You're Elphaba because I am a true alto.” He cocks an eyebrow at me in the mirror. Sighing, I smile at my best friend before I sing my line.
“I’m through accepting limits, cause someone says they’re so…”
We belt out the tune while Danny finishes my hair and then gets started on my makeup. Straddling my lap while he glues false lashes to my lids, I’m trapped, helpless to escape when he brings the conversation back around.
“I think you should give him a shot, Mabes.”
I want to roll my eyes, but with Danny holding tweezers so close to my cornea, I don’t risk pissing him off.
“I thought we were done talking about this.”
“We are! I’m done trying to make you open your eyes and see the thick slice of obsessed man cake sitting in front of you, begging you to eat him.” Danny winks, wiggling in my lap.
“That analogy makes absolutely no sense.”
“Don’t interrupt me. I’m not talking about Ryder’s obvious affection for you. I’m talking about Milan. You’re twenty-five; that’s practically seventyin pro-snowboarder years. This could be your last Winter Games, and you need to focus.”
“I know that, babe. I’ve thought of nothing but Milan for months.”
“Exactly. Which is why you need to have an open mind with Ryder.”
Danny brings a tube of lipstick to my mouth, and I have to mumble through pursed lips while he paints them.
“Still not following.”
“Mabel. Angel, sweetie, baby, lovey-pie. You do the same shit every time the two of you are in the same competition. You let yourself get all wrapped up in this one-sided rivalry and instead of living in the moment and focusing on yourself and your achievements, you spend all your free time texting me about the man you claim not to care about. So I’m thinking, maybe if you just grow up a little, accept the fact that Ryder is part of your life and try to think of him as a friend instead of an enemy, you might find yourself in a better head space and actually enjoy yourself.”
I yank my head back, looking at Danny in disbelief.
“Did you just tell me to grow up?”
“If the snow boots fit, baby doll.”
I feel my nostrils flaring, a bubbling annoyanceswirling around in my gut. He’s not wrong about the way I let Ryder under my skin. And while his antics over the years haven’t made our lives as pro-athletes any easier, there is a tiny, smidgen of possibility that I’ve stuck Ryder in the frenemy category because it was easier than admitting I had an unrequited crush on him when we were kids that I’m still butt hurt about.
“You know, one could argue that pulling at the Ryder thread might actually throw my mental game off, and is that really what I need this close to the Games?”
Danny gives me a pointed stare.
