-RORY-
I’d been to the X Games six times since I’d gone pro so you’d think I’d be used to the media frenzy and drama, especially because I was going for gold medal number eleven. But the crowd today was different, borderline insane. Reporters and TV crews from around the world were packed in the press area, all vying for an opportunity to speak with me.
Since my interview with Paloma had aired two days ago, I’d become somewhat of an overnight sensation, in a good way. But it was all stress I didn’t need right now.
I’d hoped to hear from Hindley after the airing of the show but no such luck. I even tried to call her once but wasn’t surprised when I heard the number was no longer in service. It took every ounce of strength I had in me not to beg Luis for her new phone number. I refused to put him in the middle. He’d become too good of a friend to jeopardize our relationship.
“Holy shit, man, look at all these crazy bastards.” Leif shouted over the roar of the crowd.
I was so thankful he’d come with me, even if it was to promote his own business. Having him near always settled my nerves. Not nearly as much as having Hindley, but it helped.
“So what’s the story, morning glory?”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“You doing The Helly today or what?”
“I don’t know if I’m feeling it.”
“Feeling it? Since when do you have to feel it? Just go out there and do it.”
I smiled as one word came to mind. Tactile. God, I missed Hindley. Every fuckin’ day.
“This crowd is insane,” my fellow competitor and friend, Buzz Dahlke, shouted above the noise as he slapped my back. “You going for it today or what?”
“Going for what?”
“For what?” He laughed, nudging Leif. “The president’s daughter, you moron. The Helly, dumbass. Are you going to do The Helly?”
“Why is everyone so obsessed with my move?”
“Um, because it’s bad ass and if you stick it, you’re all but assured a medal, golden boy.”
“This is just the preliminaries,” I said.
“All the better reason to try it out,” Leif added. “No pressure to get it right.”
“There’s always pressure. I never want to try a trick unless I’m one hundred percent convinced I can stick it.”
“Oh, shit,” Buzz shouted. “Hold me back.”
I didn’t have to ask who. Hell, I didn’t even have to look to know he was talking about Axel.
Since the show had aired, it had come out that Axel was part of the leak as well as my own law firm. Unfortunately, I was tied to Stedwick and Nigh for another nine months, but Luis assured me he was trying to work his legal-eeze to get me out of the contract. Even though it went against all of Luis’s principles, he’d promised to stay with the firm until he got me through this crazy time. I was truly in his debt.
Luis planned to base my contract renegotiation on the premise of defamation of character, although technically, it had helped my public image.
My fans and the world in general were in love with the illiterate, abused underdog from the rough streets of Denver, Colorado. I’d received emails, letters, cards, and Internet posts out the wazoo in support. I’d even had offers from illiteracy groups and educational entities, asking for my backing and support.
I never thought in a million years anyone would ever want me to be the spokesperson who encouraged adults and kids alike to read. There was only one person responsible for my overnight success, and I missed her more than words could ever convey.
Now, here I stood on the platform of the X Games, trying to make a comeback and win my eleventh gold medal. I was more nervous than a whore in church, my hands wringing with sweat. I couldn’t tell if the nerves were for the competition, my desire to kick Axel’s ass, or the thrill of knowing that maybe, just maybe, Hindley would be watching me.
“She’s out of the country.” Luis interrupted my thoughts.
“Who?”
“The girl you just had on your mind.”
“What do you mean, she’s out of the country?”
“Dana took her down to some tropical island to get her mind off of everything. I think she chose a location so remote, they wouldn’t get Internet, television, or phone signal, so Hindley wouldn’t be tempted to watch you.”
Well, fuck. “Are you serious?” I’d hoped that Hindley had seen my interview with Paloma, but if what Luis had said was true, she hadn’t seen a thing. And now she wasn’t even going to see me skate. I was more defeated than ever.
“Yeah, I’m sorry, man.” Luis shrugged, his disappointment just as evident as mine. “I did try to talk to her though.”
“You did?” I sounded like a twelve-year-old schoolgirl. “What did you say?”
“She’s not ready to talk yet.”
“Do you think she’ll ever be?”
He rolled his eyes.
I knew the answer. No. She was well on her way to hating me forever and the thought had my stomach twisted in knots. I had no idea how in the hell I was ever going to compete in this state.
“You’ve got to pull yourself together, man. Seriously,” Leif said, obviously frustrated by my attitude.
I sucked in a deep breath to steady my emotions. Leif was right. If this truly was over with Hindley, I had to get my shit together and carry on, even though I knew in my heart I would never skate the same without her. Hell, I wouldn’t even be able to walk, talk, or breathe the same without her.
I turned to Leif and Buzz who’d been hanging on my every word. They’d been in my corner and supporting me in my fight to win Hindley back from the beginning, just as much as Luis had.
Fuck it. I had to take the first step toward life without Hindley Hagen, no matter how terrifying and painful it was. “I’m gonna do it, man!”
“Fuck, yeah.” Buzz hollered. “Woo-hoo. He’s back.”
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be completely back.”
Leif grinned, slapping me on the back. “We’ll take whatever part of you we can get, man.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out his phone.
“How the fuck did you hear that thing ring over this crowd, man?” Buzz laughed.
“Vibrate,” Leif said, as if Buzz was a moron. “Hello!” he shouted into the phone, shoving his finger in his other ear. “What?” His brows furrowed. “What happened?”
His face washed ashen and my stomach dropped. Was it Jack? Was it Kara? Instinctively, I knew something terrible had happened.
“We’ll be there as soon as we can.” Leif ended the call.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
He stared at me blankly, eyes wide, fear etched across his face.
“Just tell me, Leif.”
“It’s Hindley.”
Fuck.