Tish sipped her own drink, pausing as if to savor it.“Did I tell you why I wanted you to try out for the combine with me?”
It was so far out of left field that it had the effect of completely distracting Misty from her misery.“What?”
Tish repeated the question, and Misty thought back to the conversation that had set all this in motion.“Because I’m fast and strong enough for this, and you saw my lower body strength on the kickball field.”
“No, that was why I thought you’d qualify.I wanted you to come because it’s not just your athletic abilities that lead your teams to victory.You’re unstoppable—you fall, but you get back up, and don’t let it get you down.You keep your teammates laughing and motivated, and that’s the kind of person anyone would want on their team.Hell, at the rate you’re going, it wouldn’t surprise me if you made it and I didn’t.”
“Don’t say that!”Every time Misty thought about what lay ahead, whether going to the Games or watching them on TV, it was with Tish by her side.Even if it was a question of one without the other, she would’ve put money on Tish being the one going to the Games.
“Why?It could very well happen.The point is, Eva’s probably the strongest of us, but she isn’t the most fun to work with.You’re both a great athlete and an amazing human being.And if Spencer can’t see that for whatever reason, he’s been hit in the head too many times in his kickboxing days.I don’t know what’s going on with him, but I’m sure it hasnothingto do with you.”
The words warmed Misty more than the drink could.No matter what happened with Spencer or with the World Winter Games team, she’d have her best friend on the track and off.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“Attention, ladies!”Ms.Coolidge made the morning announcement from the breakfast buffet.“As it gets closer to the World Winter Games, corporations are starting to learn about the first-ever four-woman bobsled team.It’s with that in mind that Physiqua has just agreed to sponsor us.”
A cheer went up, Misty’s voice among it.The company made some of her favorite workout leggings, and she was excited about the idea of spending the World Winter Games clad in their clothes.Any day now, she’d hear if she would.
Three sharp claps cut through the room to bring everyone’s attention back.“Interviews are winding down over the next few days, but we’re still keeping an eye on everyone and taking note of who we think would be the best fit for the team in terms of athletic ability as well as emotional readiness.In other words, it won’t be time to slack off until you’re packing to go home.”
A buzz went up around the room as she stepped down.“Don’t get me wrong, I miss my dog every day,” Tallulah said.
Eva rolled her eyes as she passed their table.“I suppose one rich bitch deserves another.”
A slight flinch was the only hint that Tallulah had heard her.“But she’s in good hands, I can see her online, and I’m not about to turn this down.”
“Me either,” Angela said.“My daughter’s not even three yet, but she needs to see that girls can do anything.”
“I grew up with that message, and look at me now,” Tish said.“But seriously, I’m all in.That’s why substitute teachers were invented, and I’ve been training for something like this my whole life.”
“I can vouch for that,” Misty said.“And I’m all the way in too.”
It was true.The beauty of working freelance was that she could work on her own schedule, arrange to have everything done before it was time for the Games, and pick up work again after she got home.And it wasn’t like she had a boyfriend to distract her and take her head out of the game.
She wasn’t quite rid of the impulse to tell Spencer how things had gone on her days at the combine or to know what he was up to at the gym.His socials were still the kind of thing she’d expect from any fitness influencer and didn’t seem to have anything to do with him.She wanted to reach back out but had all but shut the door on that with their argument.Not to mention, he hadn’t given any indication that he was interested in still talking to her.
