She turned on her heels to walk away, but Robbie grabbed her wrist. She heard Luke suck in his teeth behind her, and she wrenched herself out of Robbie’s grip, holding out her hand behind her to stop Luke from coming over. She needed to do this herself. Look him right in the eye.
‘Don’t you ever touch me again. I’m leaving now. It’s over Robbie, it was before Canada.’
Robbie’s face fell a little more, and she knew she’d finally hit home. He wasn’t a monster, he was just addicted to the buzz. She was addicted herself at one time, to the feel of the snow beneath her feet, the adrenalin when she rushed down the mountain. It had been all she’d cared about for so long.
‘I …’ Even Robbie was stuck for words. The party atmosphere was one of stunned silence, but Rebecca could see that Hans and Holly were both smiling, and when she looked to Mina, she gave Rebecca a thumbs-up, brushing a tear from her face like a proud mama. Christ, she’d even taken Mina down. ‘I don’t know how we got here,’ Robbie muttered. It was the first honest thing he’d said.
‘We are where we’re meant to be Robbie, moving on.’ She looked over her shoulder at Luke, who looked like he was about to burst into tears himself. His eyes were blazing with emotion, and she smiled at him, lifting up her hand.
‘Luke, take me home.’
*
‘You were amazing,’ Luke marvelled as they lay in her bed, hours later. The lights were dim, one bedside lamp showing off the shadow of her collarbone as he looked down at her. He was propped up on one elbow, their lower limbs wrapped around each other in a complex love knot.
‘You weren’t so bad yourself,’ she grinned sleepily. God, she’s gorgeous. Robbie’s right, I’m not good enough for her. I’ll never stop trying though. ‘I think we broke the headboard at one point.’
He kissed her, and she touched her hand to his cheek.
‘Not that,’ he said, reluctantly pulling away. ‘Tonight, with him. You put him in his place. I think you made him understand.’
She didn’t say anything, just looked up to the ceiling.
‘Yeah, but he’ll soon have the last laugh, won’t he? I’m dreading competition day now. I’ll come for you and Hans, of course, but I might skip watching after you. I can watch the rest on the TV in the café. Holly can come down for the day, keep me company.’
She turned on her side and started to open the bedside drawer. Luke couldn’t do anything but hold his breath. He’d done it. Just like he said he would. He’d gone and messed everything right up.
Reaching in, she pulled out some papers. The competition entries her mother had sent her. She thumbed through them, frowning and thumbing through them again, a bit faster now. She sat up, looking into the drawer.
‘It’s not there.’
She turned to look at him, the covers pulled around her, papers spread out on the bed in front of her now, discarded.
‘What’s not there?’ Luke played dumb as long as he could. Maybe she’d give up looking. Maybe they could get through this night before reality hit. All the while he cursed himself to the heavens.
‘The Alpine Challenge Entry form. I …’
Rebecca was staring at him now, her confusion and trust breaking his heart. He’d done it. He’d gone and fucked everything up.
‘After we spoke to Dad, when we came back from the mountain that night. I saw the form filled out.’
He waited and forced himself to watch the moment when the cogs all stopped whirring and she realised what he’d done.
‘Luke, tell me you didn’t hand it in.’ She pulled the sheets around her tighter, closing her body off from him. ‘Please, tell me you didn’t enter me in the competition.’ Bingo. Survey says, you are going to get royally dumped, you idiot.
‘I’m so sorry. We’d been having such a good time, and when you were skiing, I don’t know – I just thought you could get back on the horse.’
‘Horse!’ she shouted, her voice cracking as she struggled to place which emotion was surging through her with the greatest potency. She angrily brushed a tear away, pulling the covers off the bed and heading towards the bedroom door. Naked, Luke jumped up from the bed and blocked the door.
‘Move! It’s not a horse, Luke. It’s a massive competition, on television, with everyone watching me and remembering the last time I jumped!’ She tried to get around him, but he held her tight.
‘But you told Robbie!’
‘I lied to shut him up!’ she shouted back. ‘Why would you do this?’
Wrapped in the quilt, she couldn’t do anything but kick out at him. She got him with a couple of elbow digs, but he didn’t move. He didn’t want her to leave. If she left the room, that would be it. He had to make her see.
‘I’m sorry, please! Please.’ He lifted his arms, letting her go but not moving from the door. She walked backwards, sitting on the edge of a bed like a sad burrito. He slid down the door and spread his legs out in front of him. ‘I wasn’t thinking about Robbie, I wasn’t thinking at all, I suppose. I just thought it might give you a push.’
‘This isn’t about Robbie.’ She didn’t take her eyes off the floor. ‘I don’t need a push Luke, I’m done.’
‘But why the entry forms though? I know you haven’t competed, but—’
‘You don’t get it, do you?’
‘I
