I realize that my headspace is probably too fucked to attempt this right now, but that’s the same reason I don’t give a shit and am ready to use my anger and frustration over Connor to my advantage. When I’m headed down this mountain, there won’t be room for anything else in my brain except staying alive and keeping my eyes on the prize.
“Yeah! Let’s race!” Tasha says confidently, pulling her goggles down.
“One at a time,” Fuller says.
“Aw, come on, man. Give us a run at Vox,” Trent whines, making me smile. I offer him a fist bump, which he returns.
Being outvoted, Coach Fuller shakes his head because heknowsthis is a bad idea, but agrees anyway.
“Fine. But take care of each other on the way down. I mean it. I want you to create space for each other if things get tight, you hear me?”
I simply nod while Tasha offers, “Loud and clear!” and Trent says, “We hear you.”
“I’ll be watching from behind so I can offer feedback once we’re down,” Fuller says before telling us to get ready.
He counts us off, and then I’m bent low, arms acting as my counterbalance while I think about what Connor’s recently taught me. I shove thoughts of the man himself aside and focus on rolling my hips…with speed this time because I need to get out in front so I can control the fall line.
Whoever claims it usually wins since it’s the steepest and most direct path down the mountain. When you’re on the fall line, gravity does half the work for you. You just have to commit…and make sure you don’t trip, because injury is certain at these speeds, and you’ll roll the entire distance. The fall line is the most dangerous path down a mountain, but if you want to win, it’s the best choice.
I pull ahead of everyone with ease, despite my stupid, stiff-ass bindings. My mind wants to think about riding this with Connor’s board, but as I approach a patch of ice, I lock in, forcing all other thoughts from my mind.
Nothing matters except me and this fucking mountain.
Chapter 20
Connor
My stomach is in my ass as I watch Vox take off downWaterfall. The slope is appropriately named because of its near-vertical fall line, and I can tell, even from down here, Vox is headed straight for it.
Goddammit.
I swear, it’s like he has no self-preservation instincts at all.
Despite all the boarders being in orange, I can easily identify him by the way he moves. My eyes can’t even see anyone else when he’s an option.
Someone’s calling my name, but I can’t tear my eyes away from the slope. Ineedhim to make it down that mountain safely, andfuckhaving him work with Fuller. If that dipshit is going to allow him to run that line with no brakes, he doesn’t deserve to be coaching him.
Suddenly, there’s a presence at my side.
“Helluva rider, isn’t he?” Grey says with admiration in his tone.
“The fuck was Fuller thinking, taking them up there? Hehadto have known Vox would take the fall line!” I shout,unable to rein in my anger. Hopefully, it masks the lust and concern underneath formyrider. And whileyes,I want him to take the fall line on aclosedsnowboard cross race course, doing it on a slopeas steep as Waterfall is basically a suicide mission. Especially with other people on the fucking mountain.
“I don’t think Fuller knows Vox that well,” Grey answers.
I want to say more, but settle on asking, “Where does that slope come out?”
I need to be there when Vox gets down. I can’t watch him do that again, and who knows what other asinine decisions Randolph Fuller will make today. Fuck what I said about needing distance from training with Vox. Clearly, no one else can be trusted with him.
“Over by the Alpine Meadows lift, I think. Why?”
“There’s something I need to do. Have Renner and Angel hit the showers early, will you?” I take off before he can respond. Am I revealing how deeply I’m caught up in the storm that is Vox Montgomery? Probably, but someone has to get through to him before he gets himself killed.
I still haven’t been on a snowboard around the team yet, so I hop on the snowmobile behind me and haul ass for the lift where Vox should be arriving soon.
The relief that flows through me when I see him bent over, laughing with his hands on his knees, is so great, I could pass the fuck out.
But now that I know he’s safe, I’mlivid.
