When it was over, she shook her head slowly, her eyes finally lifting to Noah’s again. “I think you’ve got something there. I could see boarding enthusiasts paying big bucks to have you take them on an excursion where they got to do that. I mean, I know the tricks you were doing are too advanced for other people, but just the experience alone would be a draw.”
The knot in his stomach unwound, and excitement infused his heart. “Yeah?”
She grinned. “Yeah. And I think it’s both critical and intelligent that you’re looking ahead, because no matter how talented or how successful, we all have to leave our sport of choice behind someday—at least professionally. Knowing where you’re going can make the time you have left in the sport of your dreams that much better.”
She snatched the computer back. “So, let me research this thing in your ankle so I’ll know you’ll be okay doing all those insane tricks you love.”
“Good Lord,” Julia murmured in front of the mirror in her bedroom of the suite Drake had booked for her and Noah. This dress fit her perfectly. “He hit a bull’s-eye.”
“What?” Drake asked, coming back on the line after putting her on hold to take another call.
“Nothing.” The dress was sleek, sassy, and sexy, while still classy enough to be considered tasteful. He’d been right about the cut exposing her arms and shoulders, about the way it clung to her body, chest to thighs, the way it stopped short to show off her legs. She forced her mind back to the conversation. “What were you saying about the specialist?”
“I left him a voice mail, told him what this was about and that you’d be calling him, but, Julia, why does this concern you so much?”
She walked to the vanity and put her makeup away while holding her phone between her shoulder and her ear. “Because the orthopedist was sketchy with his answers. And the way this specialist flew out from Philadelphia on his own dime to try out a brand-new bone cement on an X Games athlete who’s hitting the slopes again in a few months screams I gotta get this case on my list of clients because the notoriety will bring fame and clients and more cash. I’ve seen it so often in my profession with these high-level athletes, many people don’t even see it as unethical anymore.”
“What difference does it make if he was doing it to pad his client list with Noah’s name as long as it works?”
“That’s the key—as long as it works. I promise you, that guy didn’t have Noah’s best interests in mind when he flew out to do the surgery. Failure of this cement is no issue for him. He simply omits Noah from his track record, and no one is the wiser. And I’ve spent hours online and on the phone with colleagues and still don’t know much more about this damn cement than I did when I left the doctor’s office this morning. And the fact that Noah’s own orthopedist couldn’t give me answers about the surgery is a huge red flag.”
“But Noah’s doing great. He’s strong, free of pain, performing for Rafe. What’s really bothering you?”
She closed her eyes and carefully pressed her fingers to her eyelids so she didn’t smear her mascara. “I want to make sure this cement isn’t going to fail under extreme stress, the kind Noah will put it under during the Games. I want to make sure the screw holding his ankle together isn’t going to pull out when he tries these insane tricks fifty feet in the air. I’m not just concerned about the Games, Drake. I’m concerned about his future.”
He exhaled. “Okay, I get it.” He hesitated. “Just…”
“Just what?”
“Just make sure you’re not projecting your past fears onto Noah’s future, okay?”
Anger spiked, and Julia gritted her teeth. “Our situations are completely different. And after four years working with hundreds of athletes, I’m offended that would even enter your mind.”
“Noah’s different, Julia.” Drake’s voice grew soft but remained serious. “And not just to me. I can see he’s different to you too. You don’t have to admit it to anyone, but you do need to realize it for yourself. You need to be able to step back and view Noah’s situation for what it is, not what you fear it might become. Have you told him about your background yet?”
She winced at the thought. “No.”
“He’ll find out tonight. Why aren’t you telling him so he hears it from you first?”
“Because depending on whom he spends time with and what they talk about, there is a decent chance that he might only get part of the dirt. No point in giving him more than he needs.”
“That has serious backfire potential.”
“Then keep your fingers crossed for me. Hey, Noah’s ready,” she lied. “I have to go.”
They said good-bye, and Julia disconnected, then closed her eyes and rested her forehead in her hand. Should she just tell Noah the whole story of her past now? She really didn’t see the point. And if she wasn’t hanging on his arm tonight, his conversations might not even include her. Much.
She heaved a breath, straightened her spine, and rolled her shoulders. She couldn’t face scooping out the dirt right before the event. And to what end? It would be just as shocking coming from her as it would be coming from someone else. And dumping her baggage on him after she’d blocked any kind of personal relationship between them felt like sending mixed messages.
She had to let go of it, the same way she’d let go of her anger over the incident that started the whole mess. She couldn’t control what people said or did or believed.
She picked up her phone and texted one of the few acquaintances who’d supported her over the years, a fellow swimmer from Julia’s Olympic team, now married to an NFL star who also knew Phillips and his douche-y ways.
Are we still on?
While she waited for confirmation that Annabelle would be at the event, Julia double-checked the pins holding her hair in a messy but pretty bun. She had to admit, she definitely looked her best tonight. From experience, she knew the other women at this event would be fifteens on a scale of one to ten, Annabelle included. But Julia was okay with that, and resigned to shifting her relationship with Noah in whatever direction made him comfortable. She was his coach, not his girlfriend, not his lover.
His heavy knock at the door made her jump. Made her heart vault to her throat. Julia closed her eyes and breathed out. “Jesus Christ.”