The buzzer sounds a second later and I’m off, flying down the hill. I feel good. My body is loose but controlled, my mind is calm and focused. Except for the niggling thought that something is up with Poppy.
I brush it off as I near the jump.
My nerves are buzzing within me, rattling around in my gut, because I’ve decided to pull out the big guns. I let out a slow exhale, readying myself for the Big Earner.
It’s against Dan’s will, but my motto has always been “ask for forgiveness, not permission.” And I would never be able to live with myself if I don’t give this everything I have.
The Big Earner was almost renamed the Career Ruiner last year, and it could live up to it this time around. But my knee feels good today, so I’m hoping it holds up.
This jump is a lot bigger than the last one, and I know the air I’m going to get will give me the room I need to do this trick. I’ve only practiced it a few times last year, havingbeen too nervous to try it again since my injury. But here goes nothing.
This trick requires focus, speed, momentum, all of which I have in this very moment.
My skis fly off the end of the incline and I’m airborne. Then, the weightlessness hits, and all the nerves causing my mind to race still, my thoughts going quiet. And I initiate the Big Earner, twisting myself around both vertically and horizontally.
The whole world is silent for a few seconds, and then I hear the announcer in the back ground.
This is it folks, he’s going for it. The trick that cost him his career. And there’s one, two, three turns…
And like the last time, the world rights itself and comes up to meet my skis, and they land with a perfect soft thud in the snow.
I hear the announcer before I realize what just happened.
He did it! Aerial skiing history has been made here today. Jett Landry has started off the day with a strong start. He has a guaranteed place at the World Cup next week…
I fly past the big red blow-up arch marking the end of the run, and my eyes immediately scan the crowd of people at the bottom waiting for me.
I’ve just won the qualifier, I’ve secured my place at the World Cup in Zermatt, and yet there’s a sinking disappointment as I remember that Poppy isn’t here this time. That she won’t be running over to give me one of her kisses that I’ve come to look forward to so much.
Then I remember my promise to her, that I’d send her a celebratory selfie once I win. She made sure that it waswhenI win, she was so confident, so sure of me. I quicklypull out my phone to snap the photo, but I see the response to my text that came in while I was on the hill, followed by another one.
POPPY
Needed a couch day today, having a flare. I did make use of the vibrator again.
You were incredible out there!!!!! I can’t believe I missed out on this one. I’m so proud of you.
My heart drops, my mind unable to think past the fact that she’s having a flare, and I can’t be there for her. It’s one thing to miss her at the end of my run today. Having someone here to celebrate me has become something I didn’t know I needed.
But even more than that? Being able to care for someone else—caring forPoppy—has completely replaced any desire I have to have the spotlight on me.
I just want to be there for her.
Mark jogs over to me and picks up my skis as I unclip my bindings, and I trudge as quickly as I can through the snow over to Brooke. She’s on her phone, likely making arrangements for whatever public appearances she wants me to do after the event.
As I near her, she looks up at me, and her eyes widen at the intense and determined look on my face. She quickly replaces it with a smile as her eyes dart over to the cameras taking photos of me.
“The reporters are waiting to get a word with you, Jett.” She points to a woman waiting with a microphone, a cameraman hanging out behind her.
“I don’t care,” I cut her off. “I need you to cancel the press conferences and get me the first flight back to Heartwood.”
“Jett,” Brooke protests, and I flash her a glare. “Nuclear is not going to be happy. These press conferences are the one thing they have to try and garner some public support for you.”
“What did I say, Brooke?” I snap, now, shaking my head as I try to school myself. I’m not this person, but something instinctual has taken over me. “First flight out.”
CHAPTER 37
POPPY
