Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 93699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
I’ve called you fourteen days in a row and I know you’re reading my messages…
I have a fight at the lot behind The Underground this Saturday. You should come see me.
I shake my head as I reread the latest messages from Travis. My past four boyfriends were nowhere near as persistent as him, and if he were related to a lesser opponent, I would’ve picked up the first night he called.
“So, you came in second place this morning?” My stepmother, Elaine, waltzes into my bedroom, stopping in front of my recent St. Clair trophy. “People hardly ever think the person in second is as good as the first.”
“So, what does that mean for you since you’re my dad’s second wife?”
“What did you just say?”
“I said, second place is pretty damn good when you’re not competing in a field you’re used to,” I say. “It’s actually quite phenomenal when you’ve broken tons of other records.”
“I don’t think that’s what you said at all.”
“It wasn’t.”
Silence.
We glare at each other, creating a brand-new stalemate.
I hate this woman slightly more than I hate Harlow, and she’s driven a wedge between me and my father that’s far beyond repair. At this point, I don’t even know who he is anymore, and I’m done trying to figure it out.
“Oh, Tati.” Stepmother Dearest lets out a sigh, breaking down first. “This came in the mail for you today.”
She tosses a glossy copy of Skater’s World onto my bed.
I’m on the cover?
I smile at the picture of me holding a pose in Salt Lake City. My bright golden costume is frozen mid-flutter, and there’s a smile on my face.
The headline floats high in a thick, white font.
Golden Girl: Tatiana Brave Puts the World on Notice
I run my fingers across the words in utter awe.
“I don’t see what you’re smiling about,” Elaine says. “You look fat in that photo and your curls aren’t properly coiffed. They should’ve picked a better angle.”
Please go fuck yourself. Please go fuck yourself…
“Thank you so much for pointing that out.” I barely manage. “I appreciate it.”
“You’re very welcome.” She has the audacity to smile. “Anyway, just so you know, I won’t be able to take you to the airport for your competition next weekend.”
There’s no point in asking why.
“Your father is driving me to a company retreat in Montana and Harlow is spending that time with her friends.”
I nod, unsure of where she’s going with this information.
“Your father told me that you passed your driving exam with flying colors and I have nothing to worry about.” She places a set of keys on the dresser. “Make me feel comfortable about letting you drive my bonus car by completing all the errands on the fridge. As long as you don’t get a scratch on it, I’ll let you have the keys while everyone is away.”
For a split second, she looks genuinely concerned—like maybe, just maybe, she cares about me.
“I need to keep my car in pristine condition in case Harlow ever needs it.” She shatters the notion with ease. “She’s someone who knows better than to come in second place.”
“I can’t thank you enough for this, Elaine.” I swallow the words I’m really thinking since I can’t afford to ruin my chance at driving the car.
“Don’t make me regret it.”
I wait until she leaves my room, then I flip through the pages of Skate World until I reach my feature.
It’s my first time being selected for a singles’ edition of the cover, and I desperately wish that I had someone to celebrate the moment with me.
I resist the urge to read the full article and make a mental note to pick up more copies at the grocery store.
“Here.” Harlow steps inside the room, setting a huge vase of red roses atop my dresser. “I guess the magazine editors sent these to you, too. You’re welcome.”
“Thanks?”
She walks over to my closet and rummages through my mother’s accessory trunk. Then she takes a bracelet without asking.
I’m in too good of a mood to say anything to her about it.
Opening the card that’s attached to the roses, I realize that the delivery is not from the magazine editors at all…
Dear Tatiana,
Congratulations on landing the singles’ cover of Skate World for the first time. (Don’t ask me how I know that.)
Is your phone broken?
Did your boyfriend tell you not to talk to me?
I’m tempted to start sending you snail mail…
Sincerely,
Your Fellow Gym-mate Who Hasn’t Seen You in Two Weeks
Grabbing my phone, I check the time and type in the address for The Underground.
Before I know it, I’m grabbing the car keys and sliding behind the wheel.
ACT FOUR & A HALF
BACK THEN
TRAVIS
A hundred miles away from Reno
I’m a fucking sap.
I wrap another layer of cheap tape around my fingers, wondering why the hell I used any money to send flowers to Tatiana when she’d spent the past two weeks acting like I didn’t exist.