Page 82 of Mountain Trial

Kat shook her head angrily.

“But the chair doesn’t matter, Luc. You told me before, when we met. It’s just your legs that don’t work. You didn’t seem to want pity then, so what’s changed?”

Luc looked at her patiently. He wasn’t getting riled up, which worried her even more. “What changed is, before it was just me. So it was okay. But I love you, Kat. More than I ever thought it was possible to love someone. That’s why I’m not about to saddle you with someone like me.”

“And you think that’s a decision you get to make yourself?” she asked coldly.

Luc took her hand between his two larger ones and squeezed gently.

“I thought … I thought I could do most things that matter. But now I see there are things I’ll never be able to do. I won’t be able to protect you from someone like Bull. I’ll never be able to give you children. I’d be asking you to give up―”

Something clenched inside her at the level of sadness in his voice. She took a deep breath before replying. “We shouldn’t have this conversation now, Luc. Let’s go to sleep. Together. Tomorrow, everything will seem different.”

He shook his head sadly, pressing her hand with an intensity that felt … final.

“Things might seem different tomorrow, Kat. That’s why we have to do this now. I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave. I’ll call you a taxi.”

“Leave? No!” she cried out, pushing herself into his arms. He sat there stoically, unresponsive to her touch. Finally, he pushed her away with his arms.

“This is my place, Kat, and I’m asking you to leave. If you don’t want to leave, I’ll go spend the night in a hotel.”

At his cold words, Kat’s heart broke into a thousand pieces. Every fear she’d ever had, every reason she’d ever come up with for not giving anyone her heart, came back to her. She wanted to throw up.

“Don’t do this, please, Luc.”

“I’m sorry, Kat, but it’s the best thing, really. For both of us.”

“You’re breaking up with me?” she asked, bewildered.

We survived.

This is not how this night was supposed to end.

We should be curling up in bed together.

“Don’t be dramatic, Kat. I’m giving us some space, that’s all.”

Kat took a deep breath―then another one―proud of her self-control. As she put on her coat and shoes and left his place, closing the door gentle behind her, she wondered if, years from now, she’d be glad she didn’t slap him for that last taunt.

Chapter 30

Luc

Luc had never felt more alone―knowing he’d done the right thing was small comfort as he settled in for another lonely, sleepless night.

He knew he should leave Chamonix, go back to Switzerland, or perhaps somewhere new altogether, but didn’t have the courage to do so yet. As perverse as it sounded, he wanted to stay in this apartment, where he and Kat had spent time together.

He’d been lying to her, of course. He wasn’t giving them space. He was giving her space―space to discover that she didn’t want to be saddled with a cripple who couldn’t help her when she was attacked.

Coach Legrand had been calling him almost every day, until he’d finally agreed to meet him in a bar in town for a beer. It seemed only fair that he’d listen to the man―after all, it was only because of his quick action that he and Kat were alive right now. Luc owed him.

It seemed the Victory Games had sparked new interest in mixed abled and adaptive competitions, and several sponsors were interested in meeting with Luc. But Luc felt too old to become any brand’s diversity bet.

“That’s what you’re worried about?” Coach Legrand asked, looking at him over the top of the enormous beer he’d ordered. “You’re helping to put the sport on the map, boy, that’s what you’re doing. And that’s why they want to sponsor you. It’s as simple as that.”

Luc shrugged and took a sip of his own beer, barely tasting it.

“Young people have been writing to the brand,” Coach Legrand continued. “And not just disabled people, either. Everyone loves what you did, and I’m offering you a way to keep doing it. You can inspire people to do more, Luc. Just tell me you’ll think about it.”