“And no rockstar will ever come close to that.”
“Liar.”
Her entire face lit up, and even though I knew she was lying, I’d take it.
31
THAYER
“You good?” Giselle asked from the bathroom doorway the next morning.
I sat on the edge of the bed, wringing my hands. Nervous didn’t even come close to describing how I’d been feeling since I woke up. “I will be.”
She walked over and tunneled her hands into my hair. “You’ve got this.”
My eyes lifted to hers. “How do you know?”
“Because I know you. And I know how hard you’ve worked to be one of the world’s best snowboarders.”
My brows shot up. “You’re laying it on a little thick, don’t you think?”
“I’m serious. This is your time, Thayer. Go show them what you can do.”
I pulled her onto my lap so she was straddling me and wrapped my arms around her. “I’m so fucking scared I’m going to make a fool of myself out there.”
“Then don’t.”
I scoffed. “Oh, it’s that easy?”
“For you? Yes.”
She definitely had more faith in me than I did.
“Don’t forget who you’re doing this for,” she said.
“I’m not still doing it to piss you off, if that’s what you’re getting at.”
She shook her head. “I’m not.”
My lips twisted as I considered what she was saying. “I’m doing it for me.”
She nodded. “And?”
My throat tightened once I realized what—who—she meant.
“She’d be so proud of you for getting back out there.”
I knew she would.
“And I’m so proud of you, too,” she admitted.
I had waited so long to have Giselle there with me, looking at me the way she currently was with so much admiration in her eyes. It was crazy to have her doing it now—right before I was about to get out there on a huge stage. I’d be foolish to think I could actually get everything I’d always wished for in a single day. “I love you,” I blurted, unable to stop myself.
She stilled, her eyes widening.
“Don’t feel like you have to?—”
“Say it again,” she said.