Page 63 of The Groupie

Rylee

When I wake up in Zak’s bed, I’m alone, and a zap of fear races through me. Bolting upright, I see him across the room, packing for another road trip, his bare back to me. I watch his muscles ripple, and when he turns, he smiles when he sees me watching him.

I try to ignore the pang in my gut that feels too much like I’m being left behind like I don’t want to be left behind. So what if he’s leaving? He’s no one to me. I can’t miss someone unless I care about them, and I refuse to care about Zak fucking Tomas.

I refuse to want him, and I especially refuse to need him.

“Get dressed, Buttercup. I’ll give you a ride home. Unless you have somewhere else to be.”

“I do. But not ’til later. I’ll be sitting in a whirlpool at the Garden’s training facilities later this morning while you’re on a plane flying somewhere, courtesy of my sister getting permission for me.” I watch his mouth open in surprise.

“Why didn’t you tell me that you—”

“You’ve been busy, and like I said before, you’ve done enough good deeds. I don’t want to owe you any more than I already do.”

I watch him pull a sweatshirt over his head, the way it slides down his abdomen, hiding each indent until his skin disappears.

“Quit saying that. There’s no scorecard between us.” He closes in on me, and my heart palpitates in confusion. Excitement rises as his arms come around me, enveloping me completely with their raw strength the way they always do. At the same time, fear that this fling is getting out of control gives rise to panic in equal measure.

He drops me off at my house at seven a.m., and the place is asleep. He leans in for a kiss, but I stop him. “No. Kissing goodbye is a couple’s thing. Not us.”

The trouble that clouds his eyes nearly unravels my resolve, but I tighten my grip on the precarious hold I have on my emotions and push the door open. I run to the house, and my ankle tweaks once on the steps, but it holds up. When I get inside, I allow myself to breathe again.

I’m on my second cup of coffee, waiting for Mamma and Suzie to get up when my phone pings. It’s Tanya. My agent. Shit. I forgot to fire her. I’ve been so preoccupied with Mamma and the stupid nice jerk I’m having only a fling with.

Taking one more sip of coffee to clear my sex-clouded head, I pick up my phone.

“Tanya.”

“Hey, Rylee, sorry to call you so early, but I have bad news.”

Of course, she does. Maybe Jett’s already let her know about my switch. Maybe he sent her some paperwork or something to sign?

“Give it to me.”

“GNU wants to cancel the promotion. They found out about how serious your injury is—”

“What? How did they find out?”

“Chuck told them. They don’t want to air it since it’s obvious you’re injured now, and they want to distance themselves.”

I take a few breaths to calm my pounding heart. This is okay. I have Jett. Thanks to Zak.

Do not think about Zak right now. Or ever.

“That’s fine. No worries, Tanya.” I manage to keep my voice normal, not a spec of sarcasm.

“I’m glad you’re taking the news so well.”

“I hope you take my news well.”

“What news is that?”

“You’re fired, Tanya.”

As I end the call, I hear a screech. I need to call Jett to make sure everything is official and have him send whatever paperwork needs to be sent. I dial him up, and he answers on the second ring even though it’s only seven-thirty in the morning.

I explain about firing Tanya just now and the problem with GNU promotion.

“I’m worried about GNU telling some Olympic team officials besides my coach, Chuck. If they find out about the ankle, they could insist on more rigorous requirements for me to stay on the team. I don’t really know how it works, but I do know there’s a whole line of snowboarders behind me, waiting for their shot, and if there’s even a whiff that I’m not a hundred percent, I could be replaced.”

“We need to solve the Olympic team problem,” Jett says with finality. “And we can’t solve it by hiding it.”

“What do you mean?” I’m curious and wary.

“I have an idea.”

Now, I’m scared because I’d bet my left ankle that his idea involves the big sexy jerk, Zak.