“And in the interest of being ready for anything, I’d also like to introduce our alternate squad.Ladies, will you join us?”
As she spoke, she opened a door so six more women could join the meeting.Misty hadn’t spent much time with four of the women in the group, but recognized Vanessa’s muscular form and Tallulah’s carefully made-up face immediately.
Eva’s eyes widened.“What isshedoing here?”
That could have referred to anyone, but Eva had made it clear who she meant over the past few weeks.Ms.Coolidge barely batted an eyelash, though.“While we very much hope it won’t come down to this, we do need to have replacements ready in case of injury, illness, or otherwise inability to compete.”
“You might be looking at one now.”Eva looked more impassioned than Misty had ever seen her, even after they’d finished sledding.To give Tallulah credit, her perfectly made-up face stayed impassive.
The team leaders frowned, but Tish spoke first.“I have to ask.Did Tallulah get a spot you wanted on a team in college?Sleep with your boyfriend?Or girlfriend—I don’t know what either of you are into.”
“Girls, at least for Tallulah,” Misty stage whispered, but Tish was on too much of a tear to acknowledge her.
“What the hell happened that you would give up a spot on a historic team like this just because you twomighthave to be in the same sled?”
Tish gave voice to the questions that had been burning in Misty from the first morning.Eva’s expression didn’t change as she answered.“She sabotaged me.”
“What are you talking about?Did something happen here?”Ms.Coolidge asked.
“I beg your pardon?”Tallulah’s voice was incredulous.
“Again, what the hell happened?”Tish’s question tumbled out on top of the others.
Eva looked oblivious to the drama she had caused.“She startled me into hurting my back, and the injury kept me out of the Collegiate Powerlifting Championships.”
“What, that day in the weight room?It was an accident!”Tallulah blurted out.
“Yeah, well, your little accident startled me into hurting myself, missing a major opportunity, and putting me out two hundred dollars.”Eva moved closer as if to physically challenge her.“I know you’d be embarrassed to spend so little on shoes, but that entrance fee was alotto me, and I couldn’t get it back.”
“I’ll pay you twothousanddollars to cover your fee with interest and put this behind us for the sake of the team.”A sharp note crept into Tallulah’s voice as she took out her new model iPhone.“Which payment method do you prefer?”
As if at the realization that Tallulah was serious, Eva’s eyes widened enough to show flecks of green Misty had never noticed before.Almost immediately, though, they narrowed in anger again.“No!You think you can buy your way out of this and make it all okay?That was the biggest competition of my life, and I lost out on it because of you.”
“The biggest competition of your life at that point.Look where you are now!”The expression on Eva’s face indicated that she wouldn’t let a detail like that deter her.
An awkward silence settled over the group.Misty tried to think of a joke to break the tension but nothing came to mind.
Ms.Coolidge, apparently satisfied that nothing had happened at the combine, beat her to breaking the silence.“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.We built this team based on athletic performance as well as everyone’s ability to work together as a group.If anyone feels that they can’t or won’t do it for any reason whatsoever, there are twenty-some other women who will be happy to take your place.”
Sam spoke next.“Not to mention, I didn’t think anyone would need the reminder, but we’re putting together a team, not casting a reality show.If you want that, I heard that’s how they’re choosing the four-man bobsled team this year.Can we trust that everyone’s going to behave like adults and professionals?”
“You can with me,” Tish said confidently.
“And me,” Misty said.
Marla, Vanessa, Tallulah, and everyone else on the alternate squad echoed her until Eva was the only one who hadn’t spoken.She drew in a breath before speaking.“And me, as long as the rich bitch stays away when we’re not sledding.”
“No problem.”Tallulah shrugged and spoke more calmly than Misty would have after being similarly addressed.“Indeed, if the main and alternate squads will be training and living separately at the Games, we may not even see each other.”
That seemed to be good enough for Tish.“Then say hello to America’s first four-woman bobsled team!”
A round of cheers went up, and the new team tried to throw their arms around everyone else at once.Eva rebuffed anyone who got too close, but the others were more demonstrative.
Hours later, the group went back to the fancy lodge for the farewell dinner, where the atmosphere couldn’t have been more different than the welcoming meal.For one thing, most people had no qualms about having wine with dinner this time — some to celebrate, others to drown their sorrows.For another, instead of crowding around the long banquet table with the others, the official team and alternate squad each had their own small tables near the front of the hall.It couldn’t help calling attention to them, which Misty both welcomed and felt self-conscious about.Everyone who hadn’t made the team huddled around the main table muttering resentfully, which she might have done if she’d been in their situation.
But because she was here, she wanted the world to know what she was going to be a part of.And soon enough it would!Once everyone had calmed down, they’d posed for a picture to go with the official team announcement that would go on social media and to all the news outlets.She’d barely stopped smiling since the team announcement and felt herself grinning around a mouthful of short ribs on truffle mashed potatoes.Her cheeks were starting to hurt, but it was worth it.
Ms.Coolidge clinked a knife against a flute that seemed to be filled with champagne this time.“I would like to propose a toast to all the incredible athletes here, both our new team and everyone else who tried out.This is going to be a historic year, and it couldn’t have happened without all of you.”
