I make sure to not take any risks for the triple combination; no need to tempt fate any more after the previous risky maneuver. We sail through the two oxers and the vertical without issues, before we speed up in the tight turn for the last simple vertical before they call the time.
Unlike when I completed the final, I look at the score table, unable to believe my eyes. I can’t contain my joy when I see I have no drops and am faster by eight seconds then everyone else.
I make my way to the exit. Elation is running through my veins as I lean down to pet Whisky’s neck.
I can’t hold my excitement in once I make it out of the arena. As my eyes fall on Kade’s tall frame, the same feeling of homecoming overcomes me I felt when he kissed me. For the first time in my life, it seems like everything is falling into place. Looking at him gives me the feeling I can overcome anything.
I walk up to him, reveling in the love and pride shining in his eyes. I can hear Dakota cheering next to him, but I can’t take my eyes off him.
I dismount and throw the reins to Bob, who’s beaming from ear to ear, before I jump into Kade’s waiting arms. I know there is still a lot we have to talk about, issues to discuss, and work on our communication skills, but all of that fades when his arms fold around me and he dips me backwards, kissing me.
He pulls back enough to whisper, “You did it.”
I smile, happiness on every level filling me. “I did it.”
He pecks me on the nose before he stands me up, pride shining from his eyes. “I knew you could win this.”
“I haven’t won yet,” I say, just as a loud, disappointed ‘ahh’ sound from the spectators makes it to where we’re standing, waiting for, Nick, the last rider to compete. And that’s when I see it on the screen, he dropped a bar at the combination.
I look at Dakota, who’s returning my gaze, her eyes brimming with tears while I’m sure mine are filled with disbelief. She pulls me away from Kade before she hugs me, and unable to contain her excitement starts shaking me from side to side, while whisper-shouting, “You did it. You won fucking gold.”
I blink, the tears I’ve been fighting start falling down my cheeks. It’s a weird combination, smiling while crying, I don’t think I’ve ever cried from happiness. “I can’t believe it…”
“Believe it, you’re amazing. About time the world knows it too.”
I’m about to answer when a steward walks up to us. “Miss Oakley, we’ll need you ready in five minutes for the ceremony.”
I nod and watch him walk away, probably to tell the other two who won medals the same. It still feels surreal as I watch the flurry of activity around me. I hear people yell “Congratulations, Oakley” as they walk past, and all I can do is smile at them, unable to find words to thank them.
“It’s time,” I hear yelled in my direction, and when I look at the steward, he’s staring at me as if to say I need to hurry up.
I climb onto Whisky with Kade’s help, still trying to wrap my brain around what is happening.
I brush my tears away as we’re led into the arena with me up front, I try to take it all in. Note every detail so I can recall them later. The surreal feeling of what’s happening is still prevalent. I dismount and hand the reins to one of the volunteers, smiling at her in apology, knowing she’ll have fun trying to handle Whisky and simultaneously give the spectators some entertainment.
I walk up to the three-tiered rostrum, nervous energy running through me as I realize all eyes are on me. I’m usually able to block this out when I’m competing, but this is different.
The rest of the ceremony passes by in the blink of an eye. Getting handed the gold medal, the national anthem being played, the cheers from the crowd, the pictures being taken with the other athletes who all congratulate me on my win.
Once it’s over, all I want is to go find Kade. Now that I know it’s all been an evil scheme my mother cooked up, we have a lot to talk about, but above everything else, I need to be near him. I’ve missed him so much the past three months.
Instead, I’m shuffled from interview to interview, answering the same questions, dodging anything about my mother or the accident, focusing on today. I don’t think I’ve ever been this good at evading questions.
Despite everything, I soak up every bit of this experience since tomorrow is not guaranteed. And with my life, there’s always something just waiting around the corner to mess with my happiness, except this time, I’ll do my damndest to not let that happen.
I’m done being my mother’s puppet in her evil schemes to whatever sick and twisted end. It’s time to start fighting for myself.
Chapter Thirty
It’s late when I make it to Kade’s hotel room. Between all the interviews, the after-competition checklist we all have to go through, and obligations to the national team, it took me longer than anticipated before I could leave.
He offered to wait for me, but I told him I’d meet him once everything was done. Bob and Dakota helped with Whisky before they took off doing whatever they had planned. I’m sure Dakota is on the phone to Mav as we speak, telling him everything that’s happened today, something I’m having a hard time coming to grips with.
Too much happened, giving me not enough time to process everything.
I knock on his door, nervous for some reason. We
