Page 9 of The Fall

She hops up so quickly that water spills out of the portable ice bath tub that I brought from home.

The water splashing everywhere startles me, and I look up just in time to see Savannah’s nipples staring right at me through her bathing suit. I quickly look away because the last thing I need is for her to claim I’m being inappropriate. That’ll get me thrown out of here real fast.

Max tosses her a towel, and she quickly wraps herself up in it.

“I think it’s your turn, Coach,” she snaps through chattering teeth. I hate the way she says “Coach” like she’s mocking me. Like I’m not good enough to be a coach. Hell, maybe I’m not. But I’m one determined motherfucker, and now my goal is to prove her wrong. I’ve always worked better with goals, whether it be a competition, weight training, or even test scores when I was in school. My new goal is to get Savannah DuPont to the Olympics. She can hate me all she wants, but I’m seeing this through.

“I’m not sure that’s necessary, Savannah.”

“Why’s that?”

“I don’t skate anymore. No reason for my muscles to recover.” I busy myself with draining the tub, but I can feel her watching me, which sets me on edge. I know what her next question is going to be without her even having to ask it. It’s what everyone wants to know.

“And why aren’t you skating anymore?” she asks.

“Because I retired.”

“Obviously, but why did you retire? You were at the top of your game. You easily had another Olympic season in you.”

“Didn’t realize you followed my career so closely.”

Max laughs, but Savannah doesn’t think it’s funny. I just want this conversation to be over. Everyone wants to know why I retired. It was a huge surprise when I announced it at the end of last season. The truth is, I’d been thinking about it for a while, and when my mom received some bad news about her health, I knew it was time for me to step back.

“Shut up. It’s not like anyone could ignore you. It was always Logan this and Logan that.”

“Well, maybe I retired to give everyone else a chance, then.”

She huffs. “Yeah, I doubt that. You don’t seem like that kind of guy.”

“And what kind of guy is that exactly?”

She doesn’t hesitate at all. “One who gives a shit about other people.”

Now, I’ve never been super friendly, but it wasn’t because I wasn’t nice or thought I was better than everyone else. I’ve been skating since I could walk. I never went to a true school with other kids my age. I was homeschooled, and the only kids I was around were my competition at the rink. Most of them were nice to my face but had no problem talking shit behind my back.

It was almost impossible to make friends, so I stopped trying. I kept to myself. That led to people thinking I was an asshole. I just couldn’t win. It seems that’s still the case now, even as an adult.

“Gee, thanks,” I answer.

“You know what I mean.”

“I’m not sure that I do, but it doesn’t matter. We’re done for the day. You guys can go.” I keep my tone calm and collected because I don’t want her to know that her words affected me. I’m not even sure why they did. I shouldn’t care what she thinks of me, especially because I know she actively hates me. I’m never going to win her over. All I can do is hope that she trusts me enough to let me help her succeed.

“Logan, I⁠—”

I cut her off. I don’t want to hear whatever she plans on saying next. “Practice is over.”

“Fine,” she grumbles as she walks back inside the rink with her towel wrapped tightly around her shoulders. Max follows her while I finish cleaning up the area. It’s been a long day between practices, watching their training, and meeting with one of the choreographers to start running through ideas for this season’s program. I’m ready to go home.

Savannah and Max are gone by the time I head back to the rink, grab my bag, and head home. It’s a short drive from the rink to my aunt Anya’s house, where my mom and I are living now. My aunt was more than willing to give us space in her house. Since she works from home, she’d be around if Mom needed anything while I was working. It was a big reason why my mom wanted to move to Colorado. The other reason is the University of Colorado’s cancer treatment facility.

When Mom found out her cancer was back, her doctor suggested this place. I wasn’t going to let her go through it all alone again, so I dropped everything, literally, and we moved to Colorado.

Anya’s house is nothing huge, but it has plenty of space for the three of us. She’s divorced, and her children are grown and living on their own. I think she likes having us in the house with her. She makes big dinners every night and makes sure we always have clean sheets and towels. She’s gone above and beyond, and I doubt I’d ever be able to repay her.

Mom was upstairs with Anya, while I got the finished basement, even though I told her I’d be fine in a guest room. She insisted I have my own space, and I didn’t want to argue. Especially since I know it makes my mom feel better that I basically have a little apartment. No matter how many times I tell her she’s wrong, she blames herself for my retirement.

It’s only been a few months since I officially made the decision, but I don’t regret it. Mom has stood by me through everything, and now it’s my turn to return the favor.