“I’m only going to say this one more time, Connor, so make sure you’re listening.” Not only am I listening, I’m squeezing Sam’s hand so tightly, I’m probably about to cost him a finger or two as well. “You weren’t the drunk asshole flying down that mountain. When that guy cut you off, you had less than a second to react. If you had hit him, one of you likely would have died. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but I know you tried to avoid hitting me. The fact that you had enough control to angle your boardawayfrom my head at the last second saved my life.”
My lip is quivering as I speak in a whisper. “But I still hit you and took away your ability to walk, Sam.”
“Do you think less of me as a person because I have to rely on a wheelchair to get around?” he asks.
“What?! Absolutely not!” I shout.
“Do you think my intelligence took a hit because I lost the ability to walk?”
“Of course not,” I say.
“Neither do I. Connor, I love that Louisa and I have gotten to know you over the last few years, and we’re so glad you’re in our lives, regardless of what brought you here. So please,pleasestop punishing yourself. Get help. Get back on a snowboard and teach these athletes everything you know because you were a damn good snowboarder. You could share information with them that might save their lives one day. Don’t let that drunken idiot take more from you than he already has.”
With tears freely flowing down my face, I make the decision to try getting back on a board.
For Sam.
For me.
For Vox.
Chapter 7
Vox
Ienter the training room where the virtual reality headset is set up, along with a snowboard attached to a swivel and track that will allow us to practice certain skills during the summer months—and days like today when the fog on the mountain makes boarding a hazard. This particular piece of equipment is new for Patterson, and I haven’t been on it yet, so despite my pissy mood from the steam room incident earlier, I’m still excited to take this thing for a spin.
Standing across the room, Connor is in jeans and his Patterson Performance pullover again. It’s no less appealing than it was the first fifty times I saw him in this uniform, and it adds to my disgruntled nature.
“Where’s Renner?” I ask, assuming my training partner would be joining us.
If I’m not mistaken, a slight tinge of pink colors Connor’s cheeks as he says, “I asked Mr. Gentry to come in an hour later. I figured each of you could benefit from a little one-on-one coaching since there’s only one machine.”
It takes every ounce of willpower I have not to voice thedirty comments I want to make about all the things Connor and I could do withone-on-one time.Yeah, I’m annoyed with how things are between us, and no, I still don’t respect him…but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be down for a hate fuck.
Hell, maybe I’d even like the guy after that.
Never mind the fact that I’m pretty sure Connor’s straight…and the wholehe’s-my-coachthing.
Instead, I nod and simply ask, “Where do you want me?”
He points to the board, which is currently locked on a stabilizing platform, so I can easily get into it.
After I clip in, Connor hands me an iPad.
“Scroll through these and pick your mountain.”
As I’m scrolling, he’s tugging on my boots and board. Fuck, he smells good. When I look down, he’s on one knee, messing with my bindings. His proximity to my dick makes it jump.
Thank God I have sweatpants on over my shorts, or it might have just patted him on the head.
“This is the first time I’ve used this thing, so if something doesn’t feel right, let me know right away, okay?” he asks, looking up at me from the floor.And God, do I like how he looks down there.
His statement makes me laugh against my will. “Connor, I’ve never been on this thing either. I won’t know it’s not right until I face-plant on the floor with a torn ACL.”
His face blanches.
“Maybe I shouldn’t put you on here just yet.”
