Page 58 of Where We Belong

She lifts her brows, taking a drag.

“This girl right here?” I say, pointing toward the house. “She’s probably one of the best people I’ve ever met.”

Cynthia still doesn’t say a word.

“She works her ass off day in and day out to achieve something most people couldn’t even dream of doing, and yet she dropped everything to come here the minute she was called. She didn't even think twice about it. She would do anything for her family, and you don't even have the decency to show up for the holidays.”

“I don’t—”

“I’m not finished,” I interrupt with a hand in the air, then inhale deeply. I need to breathe, or else I’ll blow up.

She looks at me, boredom written in her gaze, but I don’t care. I have something to say, and I’ll say it even if it falls on deaf ears.

Hands in my pockets, I take a step in her direction and say, “I won’t pretend I know all about your history because I don’t. But what I do know is that Lexie doesn’t deserve the way you and your son treat her.” I shake my head. “Josie doesn’t either.”

“Who do you think you are?” she spits, but there’s no intensity in her words.

“Someone who cares about her.”

Cynthia doesn’t respond, and I think that’s my cue to leave. But just before I can reach my rental car, I turn back to the rail-thin woman still watching me and say, “You have gold on your hands. It’s time you treat her that way.”

Chapter 20

Lexie

Timeoffhasneverdone me any good.

It’s something that doesn’t make much sense, but it’s always been that way for me. It’s one of the only things that made me happy not to have typical family vacations over the summer as a kid. Of course, the actual breaks are good, but the return to normal? It’s actual hell. While I was in Phoenix, I was able to practice only a fraction of the time I should’ve, and for the three weeks since I’ve been back, I’ve tried recuperating from that short break, to no avail.

Seventy-two, seventy-three, seventy-four,...

My core is on fire as I try to finish my fourth set of crunches, feeling like I might pass out from either pain or exhaustion at any moment. The gym is quiet, save for the low music I put on an hour ago. I needed a little extra motivation, so Beyoncé it was.

I should probably go to bed, but with the first competition of the Cup a short two weeks away, I don’t want to take a luxury that might cost me a win. Especially not one I need more than ever.

Ninety-eight, ninety-nine, a hundred.

I let my back drop to the ground and breathe rapidly, the fur-like surface of the mat tickling my bare arms. I’ll need to up my game if I want any chance at a podium in New York. Practice nonstop until then, probably.

“Is it me, or are you getting slower?”

I jump at the sound of the deep voice coming from a dark corner of the gym, followed by the squeak of the wheels on the cleaning cart.

“Is it me or are you just getting creepier?” I say, stretching my back from side to side. “Doing the cleaning at 2:30 a.m. is a new low for you.”

Finn finally comes out of the shadow, his usual smirk in tow. “What can I say? The company’s better at night.”

“Oh my god, do you have to be this cheesy?”

“I don’thaveto, no. So that must mean it’s the truth.”

“Sure.” He probably got swamped at the farm today and had to come here much later than usual. Even though the peak season has passed, maybe he had accounting to do.

Ever since we came back from Phoenix—him a week earlier than me—things have been different between us. He’s seen a part of my life I’d have rather kept hidden, but now that it’s done, I’m glad for it. It almost feels like we went to war together, and we came out on the other side with something that only belongs to the two of us. Something I couldn’t have put into words if he hadn’t been there.

“How long do you plan on being the gym’s maid anyway?” I ask as I move into a plank, my stomach burning the second I get into position.

“Show off much?” he says before joining me in his own plank. I grin at the floor. With the amount of times he’s done this with me, he’s gotten much better—not that I’ll ever admit that to him. “And I don’t know. As long as Mom needs the help, I guess.”

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