Page 100 of Crashing into Love

“Yeah,” Selma said breathlessly. “You have to go. What are you doing down here? I thought you’d be up there by now.”

“I’m going now,” she replied, pulling out of the hug. “I’ll see you when I get back down here.”

“I’ll be waiting and cheering you on,” Selma replied with a smile.

Drew squinted her eyes because she wanted to kiss Selma so much, but now wasn’t the time, so she headed up the mountain, put on her bib, and did her breathing exercises until it was time to take her spot at the start. Andy was to her left, and there were four other boarders to her right. Drew leaned forward, put her board in the right position, and held on until it was time to take off.

At the start, there were two berms, followed by a slight downhill, then one more berm before she could really pick up speed. She hit them, went downhill, and landed on the top of the third. When she moved down it and prepared to pick up speed on the next downhill, though, she felt something and quickly toppled over.

She rolled over and over and over again down that hill she’d been preparing to use as the true beginning of the course, and then stopped, landing on her back, staring up at the sky. She had no idea what had happened, but she seemed to be okay; nothing hurt. So, she got herself up and, with a quick glance around, she figured out what had occurred. With only two boarders moving on to the next heat, Drew saw three boarders on the ground with her. Someone had caused a massive crash and a pileup by clipping a board or otherwise knocking over two-thirds of the racers. Drew had, unfortunately, been one of them.

She took off from where she was, knowing she had no chance to make up enough time and beat at least one of the riders that had managed to avoid the crash, but Drew was no quitter, and if she wasn’t hurt, she’d finish the race. By the time she made it down, the two who had come in first and second already had their goggles off. Drew made her way over to Selma and removed her own.

“Well, fuck,” Selma said.

“Yeah,” Drew replied. “Did you see it?”

“Erin took out herself, you, Nina, and Marissa. She lost her balance on the board at the top of the berm, and her arm swung out and hit you in the back. Babe, I’m so sorry. Are you okay? Are you hurt at all?” Selma’s arms went to Drew’s and ran up and down them.

“Shit. Sorry, Drew,” Andy said, walking over to them. “I saw it happen. You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. You made it through?”

“Came in second. Barely avoided the whole thing, but yeah.”

“Congrats.”

“Thanks. I’ll give you two a minute now,” Andy said, smiling at both of them before she walked off, board in hand.

“Are you really okay?” Selma checked once she was gone.

“I’m okay physically, yeah, but no, I’m not fine. Fuck… Why didn’t I just choose half-pipe? At least, if I fall there, it’s my own damn fault. Fuck,” she repeated. “I’m done. I just got here, had about fifteen seconds up there, and I’m done.”

“I’m sorry, babe,” Selma said.

Drew met her eyes and saw that Selma really was sorry for her, and she knew that she’d feel the same way if their positions had been reversed. She also knew that tonight, she would be back in their room with her girlfriend, and she would be holding Selma, touching her, being touched by her, and she couldn’t help but smile.

“Why are you smiling right now?”

“Because you’re here.”

“Where else would I be? I don’t race again for about an hour.”

“No, I mean… I’m happy that you’re here in general. I’m just… I’m happy, Selma. You make me happy. Normally, I’d be so pissed off, and I’d have my head down watching the video and screaming in my head because I’m out, and it wasn’t my fault, but I’m not because you’re here.”

“You’re not worried that we maybe stayed up too late or that you didn’t get enough preparation time or anything because of me?”

“No,” she replied. “I felt good today. I would’ve won that race. I had my timing down, I knew the turns, and the jumps. My board felt good on my feet. I would’ve won. I didn’t because of someone else, but there’s nothing I can do about that now. So, I’m going to be a supportive girlfriend and cheer you on the rest of the way. Bring home the gold, Driscoll.” She leaned in and softly added, “I want to see you wearing that, and only that.”

CHAPTER 30

Selma gripped her board as she flew in the air and landed out ahead of the rider who had been in first place just a second before she hit the finish line. She turned her board to stop herself, making snow go flying as she raised her arms in the air. She was through the semifinals and had made it to the final along with five other boarders. Selma looked over and saw her girlfriend, Drew Oakes, standing there with a huge smile on her face. She unclipped from her board and hurried over to her, hugging her hard, unable to believe she’d pulled it off.

“I was so far behind,” she said as she caught her breath. “She cut me off.”

“I know. I saw it. She kind of deserved the fall she had after she did that, and I’m glad she didn’t take you out with her.”

“God, me too.” Selma pulled out of the hug. “I am exhausted.”

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