After that, I know I have this in the bag. I couldn’t be more thankful that the race today is on my home mountain.
I know every dip and curve of this monster. I’ve been racing it for years. Today, she’s giving me everything she’s got and I’m making her my bitch.
There’s no better feeling as I race across the finish line to see that I have one of the best times of the day.
With only a few other racers behind me, I’ve secured my spot.
Congratulations are given to me from friends as I kick off my skis and head back to the waiting area with the rest of the team.
Coach eventually comes down, pulling me in for a hug.
“Great job out there today, Audrey. You looked great. Channel that next week and you’ve got this in the bag,” Coach tells me as we head back to the training center.
“Next week?”
“You’ll be going to Vancouver next week.” He’s not paying any attention to me—typing away on his phone.
“Wait, what?” That stops me in my tracks.
“The qualifier. It’s the one you need to be at.”
“I thought it was next month.”
He shakes his head. “They moved it up. Something about lifts needing repair.”
“When am I leaving then?”
“Tomorrow.” He goes into his office without giving me anything else. “New course, so I want you to be ready.”
Tomorrow? There’s no way I’ll be ready to leave tomorrow.
In the two days since I returned here, it’s been full steam ahead. Meetings with the team. The competitors event. The race.
I’ve been out of competition so long, I almost forgot what this was like. The “be ready to go at the drop of a hat” energy.
Before, I could pick up and go with the best of them. With no attachments, if I was needed on the other side of the world the next week, it wasn’t a problem.
No boyfriend or husband to worry about.
Except now, there’s a lot more I’m leaving behind.
Logan.
And he’s the very last person I want to abandon right now.
Heading to the locker room, I dig out my phone and call him right away. He picks up on the first ring.
“How’d it go? Results aren’t showing online.”
This is just like him. Tracking my race even when he’s not here.
“I did it.”
“You did? Holy shit, Audrey! I’m so proud of you!” I can feel his support from here. “I knew you would. Where’d you finish?”
“Third. But third is all I need.”
“And the final qualifier is next month?”
