Chapter 9

The next morning, patches of blue appeared in the sky, but the temperature was teeth-chattering cold. Ry stood at the bottom of the super G course with Taylor, who signed autographs and posed for pictures with fans. Only a few people recognized him, but he didn’t mind. He hadn’t competed in over two years. He also hadn’t shaved this morning. Laziness, not because of an interview he’d read where Brynn called men with facial scruff sexy.

The announcer’s voice blared over speakers, above the cowbells, horns, and cheers. The festive atmosphere was one of Ry’s favorite things about ski races. That longing to be part of the competition remained, but he’d be back soon enough. “Chas showed the boys how it’s done earlier. Now it’s the women’s turn.”

Taylor’s face brightened. “Regina and Ella are giving the next generation of skiers a lesson in the super G. Can’t wait to see how the rest of the women do.”

Especially Brynn. The super G was one of her best events, a speed race, more turns than in a downhill, but faster than a giant slalom.

She’d forgiven him, which had led to a solid night’s sleep. His first since he’d arrived in Sun Valley. Now to get her a win.

“Today should be a good day for everyone,” he said.

The four US alpine squads weren’t the only racers attending. Skiers from all over the country were competing, including prospects who dreamed of one thing—a spot on the national team.

“Might see a few of these faces as teammates next season,” he said.

Nodding, Taylor stared at the scoreboard. “I love watching the younger racers. Makes me remember when we were their age, so eager and hopeful.”

Ry had been off skis long enough he felt like a newbie. So hungry to make something of himself he could taste it. “I feel the same way at the start of every season, but by the end, I’m…”

“Exhausted.” They spoke at the same time and then laughed.

Traveling and living out of a suitcase for months wore a person out, even if you loved racing. Sacrifices had to be made, injuries endured.

“Still the best times ever.” He’d missed being out there these past two seasons. “I wouldn’t change anything.”

“St. Moritz?” Taylor asked.

“Crashing out likely saved my life. I know my liver is grateful,” he joked, not wanting the conversation to become too serious on what should be a fun race day.

“I’m sure your future wife will be happy with the changes you’ve made.”

“Whoa.” He held up his hands as if to ward off her words. “Let’s not go crazy.”

“Why not?” She sounded amused. “You and Brynn are cute together.”

Cute was one thing, but he didn’t have room in his life for a relationship. If he did, dating someone like Brynn might be nice. He shook the thought away.

Ry didn’t have time. Once the competition was over, he was out of here.

“Are you and Chas working for Cupid now?” Ry joked, more for his benefit than Taylor’s.

Her gaze softened. She squeezed his arm. “You’ve been through so much. I’m not just talking about your injuries and what happened after that, but I remember how badly Pippa hurt you.”

His chest squeezed. Only Henry knew Ry had purchased an engagement ring and was planning to propose before she broke up with him. He and Pippa had been spoiled and used to getting what they wanted, which was why her breaking up had wrecked him. “That was a long time ago. I got over her.”

“Did you? Because you haven’t been in a serious relationship since Pippa.” Taylor’s gaze darkened. “I also haven’t noticed you with anyone other than Brynn when you usually have a model or snow bunny on your arm. That’s not like you.”

Taylor had seen him with many women over the years. Some stuck around longer than others, but none of the relationships meant anything. At least not for him.

“It is now,” he answered honestly.

She raised a brow as if she didn’t believe him.

“Whatever you might think, I’ve been over Pippa for years.” She may have destroyed his dreams of getting married and having a family, but she hadn’t touched his goal of competing in Sochi. Her dumping him allowed Ry to be pinpoint focused on skiing. Which was why he knew remaining single was the best path to take until after Beijing. “I’m choosing not to date at the moment because of my recovery.”

He sounded defensive. Okay, he was. But if anyone understood where he was coming from, Taylor would.

She touched his arm with her gloved hand. “Understandable because you want to ski, but Chas and I want you to be happy.”

Her concern touched something inside Ry, but his friends had worried enough about him.

Ry raised his chin. “I’m happy.”

Her brow arched.

“I am.” He enjoyed being in Sun Valley and having fun. This break from PT and the gym was good. Seeing old friends. Making new ones. “But I’ll be happier when I’m skiing again.”

“It won’t be long, and it’ll be the best feeling ever.”

He hadn’t been there after Taylor’s surgery, but he’d never heard her complain about not being able to race because of her knee. “Can’t wait.”

A relaxed smile graced her lips. “Been a wild ride for us.”

“Yes, but you’re living the fairy tale now.” Another skier bobbled on the same part of the course where a skier had crashed out earlier. He glanced at Taylor. “You got the gold, and the guy, and left the rest of us fellows hung out to dry.”

“What can I say?” she joked. “There’s only one Chas.”

“A good thing or none of us would win again.”

She laughed. “Brynn’s coming up.”

This morning, Ry hadn’t wanted to get in her way or distract her so he’d skipped the team meeting. A part of him missed wishing her good luck, but the last thing she needed was anything on her mind but the race.

The crowd cheered.

On the big screen, he watched her ski the upper portion of the course. “Come on, baby.”

Taylor’s brows shot up. “Baby?”

Ry had no idea where that term of endearment had come from. He backtracked. “Figure of speech.”

Brynn flew through the curves. Fast. Not out of control, but on edge. She came out of a turn off-balance.

He ground his teeth. “Hold it together.”

She spun.

Ry’s muscles bunched.

Taylor clutched his arm. “Oh, no.”

Brynn went over a roll, caught air. A pole flew over her head. She landed and fell on her left side. Her skis remained attached to her boots. She slid toward the fence.

Time seemed to slow. Watching, unable to help, made him feel useless. His stomach sank to his feet. His heart, too.

Holding his breath, Ry willed her to stop. A futile wish. He’d been in a similar situation, except he’d been unconscious, unable to do anything. Someone showed him the video once. He couldn’t watch the entire clip because he’d thrown up.

The slope could be unforgiving to skiers, conscious or not. Control didn’t exist. Brynn was at the mountain’s mercy.

She hit a bump and bounced into the air. Somehow, she landed on her skis.

He stared in disbelief. “How in the world did she manage to stand?”

“She saved her ACL and her head. She’ll be bruised. But she must have a guardian angel watching out for her.”

“Or a lucky charm.”

Brynn waved her one pole and continued down the course, much slower than she’d been going before falling.

The crowd cheered.

Taylor let go of him. “Brynn’s skiing down.”

Of course, she was. She had to be hurting, both her body and her pride, but pain wasn’t stopping her. She wanted to salvage her season. He couldn’t be prouder. Even if missing gates would disqualify her.

As Brynn reached the bottom of the course, the crowd cheered louder. The clanging cowbells hurt Ry’s ears.

She continued toward her waiting teammates. Regina and Ella, currently in first and second place, ran out to meet Brynn. She said something to them. The women nodded. Ella took the lone pole, and the two skiers helped Brynn off the course.

“She’s a tough one,” Taylor said.

“Yes, but riding adrenaline.” That could mask injuries. He pulled out his lanyard. “I need to—”

“Go.” Taylor motioned him forward.

Ry didn’t remember his crash or the aftermath, but the immediate attention he’d received on the mountain had saved his life. Brynn would receive top care. She didn’t need him, but an urge drove him toward her. Once he heard she was okay, the sick feeling in his stomach would go away and breathing wouldn’t be such an effort.

He pushed his way through the crowd, saying “excuse me” or “I’m sorry.” He didn’t want to be rude, but he had to get to Brynn.

At the gate, he flashed his lanyard and was allowed through.

People huddled in a circle. Ry recognized the team staff. Local medical personnel were present, too. He wanted to see Brynn, but he stood back so she could get the care she needed.

“Stop fussing.” She sounded more annoyed than in pain, and relief flowed through him. “I’m a little sore. That’s all.”

“You will let them examine you.” Barking orders as usual, Coach Frederick’s voice rose over the others. “Or you can forget your next race.”

Tolliver must be up top at the starting gate, so Frederick was in charge down here.

Coach could be a pain in the butt, but he took care of his team and was doing that for Brynn. Skiing through pain was more the norm than feeling one hundred percent, especially by the season’s end. Every skier had bruises and scars, aches and pains. That was part of skiing. A sport Ry loved, but it was brutal on the body.

And in Brynn’s case, the mind. She needed to make the most of each remaining race, hurting or not. She knew that, and so did the coaches.

EMTs took Brynn to an ambulance. The team doctor followed.

“Guyer!” Frederick yelled.

“I’m going.” Ry didn’t need to be asked. He hated hospitals after all the time he’d been forced to spend in them, but the only place he wanted to be was with Brynn.

Wherever that might be.

♥ ♥ ♥

Brynn had no idea what hospital they’d taken her to, but she didn’t care. All she wanted was to get to the ski resort ASAP. Every second she lay in the stupid bed wearing an ugly, thin gown was a second too long. She needed to show the coaches she was good to go for tomorrow’s slalom and the parallel slalom on Saturday.

Instead, she counted ceiling tiles. She’d done the same thing while waiting for X-rays. Her entire left side throbbed, the sharp pain from before dulled by medication, but nothing had taken away the ache from her hip, her legs, and her left arm.

She’d kept telling the doctors—there had been more than one based on the people in scrubs and white jackets—that nothing was broken. Ice and ibuprofen, elevation, too, and she’d be good as new, able to race tomorrow.

She’d repeated that until her voice had gone hoarse, but no one would listen to her.

Brynn hadn’t hit that hard. Yes, the fall had hurt. Finishing the course had taken every ounce of determination she could muster. By the time she’d reached the bottom, the pain had made her woozy.

But no way had she fractured a bone.

Her knees felt okay, sore but she hadn’t strained an ACL or torn a meniscus. Though she couldn’t deny something was going on with her hip, more than what hurt on Monday.

Worried, she bit her lip.

But she would be fine. She had no choice if she wanted to remain on the team.

Toying with the edge of the blanket, Brynn tried to figure a creative way to tie it toga-style so she could leave the hospital without exposing her backside to everyone. She didn’t want a picture of her to go viral on social media. She had nothing else to wear.

Her race suit was missing, along with the thermals she wore underneath. Her boots, socks, gloves, and pads, too. She didn’t have her phone. Only her stud earrings remained.

Ry peeked his head around the curtain. “Up for some company?”

Brynn’s heart squealed before banging against her rib cage. Or maybe it was the other way around, but she’d never been so happy to see someone in her life. The scruff on his face made him appear more attractive than usual. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

Ry strode to the bed, his jacket tucked under his arm. “They wouldn’t let me in, so I was stuck in the waiting room. At least there was coffee and a TV tuned to a sports channel.”

He didn’t sound upset, but she felt bad. “I’m sorry you missed seeing the other racers.”

“I wanted to be here.” He adjusted her blanket as if that was the most natural thing in the world for him to do. “What happened up there wasn’t your fault.”

She wished she could believe him. “I’m the one who fell.”

“You weren’t the only one.”

“Anyone else end up in the ER?” she asked.

“No.”

“Good.” Brynn didn’t want anyone else to have been injured. “That explains why I’ve had such an obscene number of tests. Must be a slow day here.”

She hadn’t been joking. The monitors had multiplied like fertile bunnies, one appearing after the next. Silver trays on wheels contained scary sterilized tools she didn’t want to touch her body. Tanks stood erect like guards at attention. She hoped no one ever needed to use one.

Brynn forced a smile. “Every single nurse has been in the room at least twice.”

He pushed away the hair hanging over her eyes. “Sounds like you’re in good hands.”

She leaned her face against his palm. So warm and strong. Just what she needed. “I am now.”

For the first time this afternoon, she could let down her guard. Nothing she said or did would be held against her. Tears welled, and she blinked them away.

“Thanks for coming.” She tried sounding strong when all she wanted was a hug. “Please find me something to wear so I can leave.”

Lines creased his forehead. “Not so fast. Hospitals suck. I hate them myself. But we need to know you’re okay.”

She hadn’t followed his injury that closely, but he’d had multiple surgeries and extended hospital stays. He must have bad memories of places like this, yet he’d come anyway. For her.

Brynn’s heart melted. “Ignore the gown and look at me. I’m good.”

“You’re beautiful, but how do you feel?”

Hearing him call her beautiful made her toes wiggle, but she doubted he would let her ignore his question. She would tell him the truth. “Sore.”

“And?”

“Banged up.”

“Being honest?”

In an instant she was on the mountain, catching air, feeling weightless, and then off she went. Out of control, unable to slow down, the fence looming in front of her.

“Brynn?”

“Nothing else.” She blinked as if that would wipe the memory of the fall from her mind. “I’m remembering how my pulse skyrocketed when I thought I was going into the fence.”

Ry laced his fingers with hers. “I’ve been so worried about you.”

“I’ll be fine.” But hearing his concern touched something deep inside her. She’d only had her brothers to care about her. Knowing someone else might made her think everything would be okay.

With his free hand, he combed his fingers through her hair. “I wish I could make it better.”

“You have by being here.” Maybe he was feeling the same confusing thoughts about her as Brynn was about him. She studied him—from his careless, messy hat hair, killer baby blues, and lips she wanted to kiss. “You really have changed.”

“I have.” He squeezed her hand. “The hungover guy you once knew is no more.”

“I like this guy much better.”

“Same here.”

Voices sounded. The curtain parted. Dr. Gretchen Pearl, the ER doctor, entered first. Dr. Daniel Wu, one of the team physicians, followed. Their faces appeared grim.

No. No. No.

The fingers on Brynn’s free hand curled into a fist. She needed to ski tomorrow.

Ry remained at her side, holding her other hand.

She appreciated his support though she hoped she didn’t need it.

Dr. Wu, one of the physicians who rotated in and out of the team during the year, was new, but knowledgeable. “The X-rays are normal, Brynn. No fractures.”

Thank goodness. She released the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “Knew it.”

A smile cracked Dr. Pearl’s face. “I lost track of how many times you said that.”

“Your bones may be fine, but you have significant bruising and a contusion. This is the second fall on your hip this week,” Dr. Wu continued. “You’ll stay overnight for observation. An MRI has been scheduled.”

“No.” The word shot from her mouth like a cannonball.

“Yes,” Ry said, not missing a beat.

She glared at him. “I thought you were on my side.”

“I am.” He didn’t let go of her hand. Instead, he tightened his grip.

“You must think this is excessive,” Dr. Wu said.

Brynn nodded. “Total overkill.”

“I understand, but this is the best course of action for you and your racing,” he continued. “I’ve consulted with the team medical director, and he agrees.”

That wasn’t what she wanted to hear, but if it took staying here tonight so she could race, she would. “Okay.”

That earned her a smile from Ry.

“The swelling should be better in a couple of days,” Dr. Pearl said.

Brynn bolted upright. Grimaced in pain. “The slalom is tomorrow.”

“Not possible.” Dr. Wu pulled back the blanket covering her legs.

Ry flinched.

She didn’t blame him. A mix of purple and black splotches colored her skin. She couldn’t wear ski boots with swollen calves. “What about the parallel slalom on Saturday?”

Dr. Wu studied her bruises. “Doubtful.”

Brynn’s head throbbed. She’d never imagined this happening.

“The giant slalom on Sunday is a possibility,” Ry said. “Right, doc?”

Of course, Ry would understand her anguish. He’d been there himself.

“You may not want to compete,” Dr. Pearl said.

“But if I did?” Brynn didn’t want to let go of the last shot she had at proving herself to the coaching staff. Without that…

“It’s possible.” Dr. Wu covered her feet with the blanket. “Let’s see how you feel and if the swelling has gone down.”

That was better than a no. “I’ll have to console myself for missing the opening ceremony, parade, and concert tonight.”

“I’ll ask Amelia to take pictures for you,” Dr. Wu said.

“Thanks.” Brynn half laughed. “Not that I’ll be missed. The spectators only want to see the A team.”

“Welcome to my world,” Ry joked.

“They’re setting up your room,” Dr. Wu said. “Dr. Pearl will see that you’re settled. I’ll have someone pack a few of your things and return shortly. Until then, perhaps Ry can keep you company.”

He sat on the edge of her bed. “Not going anywhere, doc.”

Good, because Ry made her forget all the bad stuff going on. He’d described himself as fun. Brynn might add the adjective dangerous, but he was what she needed. “Thanks.”

Too bad he’d sworn off women, because a part of her would be up for more than just—she focused on their linked hands—this. A lot more.

Never. Going. To. Happen.

Brynn understood his priority to get on skis and be competing with the team next season. She wouldn’t want to distract him from his goals. But she would make the most of the time with him now. She had a sinking feeling when the championships ended on Sunday afternoon, all she would have left were memories of the team and of Ry.