Page 30 of Your Pace or Mine
Darius stayed quiet as his father pinched the bridge of his nose. “You don’t need a scholarship, Selena.”
“I just want to do something for myself, for once.”
Darius understood that. As much as he hated that she hadn’t told him, that burning need to carve your own path was one he was intimately familiar with. The weight of the Hewitt legacy was a heavy one. Of course, to their father, nothing they didwould ever be good enough unless it was the precise path he’d laid out for them.
Selena’s ability to silence their father made Darius feel like the nearly nine-year age difference between them was completely reversed. She held her ground despite their father’s face growing tenser and tenser until he lowered his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. Darius could see a single vein throbbing in his forehead.
Oxford didn’t have the course she wanted, and she had a full ride, so she didn’t need his support either way.
End of story.
The downside of the distraction meant that by the time he did get around to Darius’s ‘issues,’ the Duke was already pretty much at the end of his rope for parental patience—not that it was a particularly long rope that one. He bypassed any niceties and went straight into questioning Darius about the Olympics.
“What have you heard about the next round of selections?” he asked.
Darius winced. “Nothing much, I suppose we’ll see what happens after the London marathon. It may shake things up,” he replied. “Though it would take a miracle at this point for my name to be on that list.”
“And why is that?” his father asked. “I was given to understand you were in top form this year.”
Darius nodded. “That isn’t the only consideration, I’m sure you’ve seen the papers.”
His father set down his fork and looked straight at Darius. “I could speak to the committee.”
Darius hardened his resolve. “No, this is a setback, but I’m dealing with it.”
“And what are you doing todeal with it? Do you want to speak with my press team? Have you looked at different altitude camps for London?”
Darius took a breath. “I won’t be racing London.”
“What do you mean you won’t race London?” his father chuckled. “It’s the last chance to show you’re the best before final selection.”
“I don’t need another win to sway them, I’ll be pacing it. Times aren’t the issue.”
Darius felt the full weight of his father’s stare, the one that had the House of Lords kowtowing to him in debates. “Then what, pray tell, is the issue?”
God, he felt like he was about ten years old again. Was he really going to say the new coach didn’t like him? “You’ll have seen the rumours circulating about my…attitude. Coach Anders has the ear of the committee, and they’re employing discretionary selection this year. Anders has made it very clear that based on our family’s political record, his vision for the team does not include a Hewitt.”
His father seemed to whither in on himself. “Eric Anders. Of course,” he sighed.
Darius looked at him quizzically, the defeated look unusual on his father’s face.
“And you think pacing the marathon will somehow help you?” his father asked.
“I need to show the rest of the committee I’m not the type of person Anders and the press have implied,” Darius answered.
“So, it’s a public relations move, focusing on the rest of the committee,” his father nodded. “I can see how that may work,” he admitted. “Though I still think a win would serve you best.”
Darius was shocked; it was damn near close to endorsement for his plan, well, Ellison’s plan. Darius knew he’d surprised everyone, including himself, when he’d announced it at his training group, but now, well, it felt right.
“EricbloodyAnders,“ his father muttered as he pushed himself back from the table, tossing his napkin down next tohis half-eaten meal. “Excuse me,” he said. He left the room in silence. Selena and Darius looked at each other, uncertain as to what had just transpired.
Alone with Selena, Darius allowed himself to relax.
“So, America? Really?”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, I was so nervous about Dad,” Selena rushed out.
“It’s fine, Lena. Just, are you sure?”
