“Kirby Bonham! Kirby Bonham!” reporters yelled to get her attention.
She spotted a journalist named Henrik Jensen. “Hi, Henrik.”
He was a reporter for a popular online winter sports magazine. She’d done an interview with him once in Park City.
“Congratulations,” he said. “How do you feel about the results of the sprint?”
“Great! After almost missing out on the final heat altogether, I couldn’t be happier about a bronze medal. I haven’t hit the podium in that event in a few years, so it’s very exciting.”
“Your teammates were there cheering you on after your race. It seems like there is a lot of camaraderie in this group of skiers,” Henrik said.
It was a leading comment. Everyone knew the team got along, but not her and Mara. He was clearly guiding her in that direction.
But she didn’t mind being led occasionally.
“Not all of my teammates, but most of them, yes,” Kirby said with a smile. Mara had been absent. Which Kirby had expected, but it still stung. “It’s a special team. Lots of young and hungry skiers.”
Jordan and Brandilyn were so talented, and they would only get better. As long as Brandilyn’s injury wasn’t career ending, but Kirby wasn’t letting her mind go there. The men’s team had a ton of rookies and first-time Olympians too. Skiers like her, Lindsey, Apollo, and Mara were the millennials whose days were numbered.
Which was why Kirby had worked so hard at the Hollywood stuff. She wasn’t going to be able to ski competitively forever.
“This is the first time in the Olympics you haven’t raced the sprint against Mara May. Did you miss competing against her?”
“Of course. Mara is the best, and it’s a lot more fun defeating the best.I would know. But I’ll get my chance soon. I’ll get her in the fifty kilometer.”
There. That had been nice. And also not so nice.
Maybe it would send Mara running back to Kirby in a fit. A girl could dream.
She hadn’t spoken to Mara since the night after the skiathlon. Kirby wasn’t avoiding her, but she wasn’t seeking her out either. And Mara seemed to be on the same page.
Mara hadn’t even been there to watch the finals.
“There are rumors there has been conflict between you during training,” Henrik Jensen said.
“Oh? Me and conflict? Never!” Kirby said, putting her hand to her chest. She assumed teasers of their Janette Collins interview were starting to air. Not that that was the only proof of their animosity. The proof was prolific at this point. Their condom unboxing video had exploded online. Mara’s sexual repression had read as seething dislike on camera. “I’m a little sweetie. I would never cause conflict.”
Henrik smiled, but she could tell he wasn’t going to be satisfied with a little sarcasm.
“You’re known for making tactical, sharp, strategic moves. You’re not conservative.”
“No. I’m not. Inanyarena of my life.”
“But Mara is a conservative skier. She doesn’t take strategic risks like you.”
Kirby was aggravated he kept returning to that well. She’d won a medal. Not Mara. And anyway, Mara didn’t often need to take risks. She made the podium just fine without doing so.
“Mara doesn’t matter. I’m racing the relay in four days. The team sprint in six. She’s opted out of competing with me in either, which was the right thing for her. I’m putting my focus toward those races. I’ll take care of Mara after that.”
Kirby moved on, answering questions from other reporters. Mostly innocuous, repetitive ones about preparing for future races. Henrik’s were the only spicy questions.
Everything went fast after that. Kirby gave her urine sample. Then it was time to celebrate.
In their designated changing area, Apollo picked her up and swung her around. Lindsey and a few other athletes were jumping around and cheering, and it was a big pit of hugs and excitement.
Apollo was beaming and acting as excited as if he’d won a gold medal. He’d unexpectedly made the final, which was thrilling.
And that was the cool thing about their sport. You raced against your competitors, but it was also an individual challenge. Every skier had their own personal goals. Their own demons to overcome.
