“Or a pole,” Kirby said. “That would be better.”
“Don’t joke.”
“I’m not.” Kirby’s smile was slow and sexy.
And Mara couldn’t help but touch too. She took Kirby’s chin between her gloved fingers. Kirby’s eyes widened as Mara leaned in and kissed her.
Quick. Perfect. Public.
And then Mara slipped by Kirby to her starting position.
She breathed in the excitement, the thrill in the air. She let the roar of the crowd reach her for once, took it all in.
Then she let it all go. Every thought and worry and preoccupation. All that mattered now was clean technique, stamina, and a fight to the end.
As one, the skiers moved into their starting stances.
This was going to be so freaking fun.
The starting signal popped, and Mara powered off the line and onto the course, her heart exposed, full of joy, and full of grit.
EPILOGUE
Four Months Later
Warm,yellow sunshine filtered through the open blinds and painted stripes over Kirby’s sleeping form. Mara traced the streaks of light on Kirby’s bare back with her fingers.
Kirby had been exhausted since getting to Alaska two nights before. It was a busy summer off-season for her. She’d been in L.A. for a fast and furious three weeks where she’d filmed a game show, a trivia competition for charity, a few podcasts, two commercials, and interviews and commentary for a mini-docuseries about celebrity villains.
Mara should let her get some rest, but she wasn’t feeling particularly generous that morning.
“We need to do a practice run,” she whispered in Kirby’s ear.
“No.”
“Mount Marathon waits for no one.”
“Go away.” Kirby rolled onto her stomach.
Mara smiled and looked out the window of her camper. The tide was going out in Resurrection Bay, and early risers were outwalking their dogs or fishing along the rocky beach. The sun was high. She’d missed the sunrise at 4:40 am, but just barely.
She’d already eaten breakfast, caught up on the news, and gone for a long bike ride through Seward. She was tired of waiting.
“Let’s hike to Tonsina Point instead. It’s an easy hike,” Mara said, hoping a laidback trek would be more enticing than running a difficult five-k with a 3,000-foot elevation gain. They could do their practice run that evening instead.
Four days until the race.
They had plenty of time to figure out their mountain routes.
Kirby turned onto her back, and Mara pounced on her naked body, pinning her down.
“What time is it?” Kirby said, her voice scratchy.
“Six thirty.”
“Oh, fuck you, Mara. Leave me alone.”
Mara laughed. “No.” She kissed Kirby’s neck, her shoulders.
