Page 110 of Rise After Fall

Two Years Later

“Milan, huh?” Morris asks.

I texted him the big news this morning before boarding my plane home. I drop my bag and make my way across the lobby of the hotel and into his arms.

“Yep. Hailie made the US Ski Team. I’m so proud of her!”

He tugs me in closer. “Me, too, but I’m not looking forward to you leaving.”

I lift my eyes to his. “I did make a commitment, and some guy told me that I should chase my dreams, no matter what anyone else says or does,” I whisper.

“He sounds like a jackass.”

I laugh. “He can be.”

“So, what are we talkin’? A month? Two?” he asks.

“Three. We’ll travel to Europe ahead of the games and get in as much time on the slopes as we can. Then, we’ll head to Milan and the Olympic Village the week before the games start,” I explain.

“Three months. Well, I reckon if Garrett can spend half the year on the road and still be that damn in love, I can handle three months on my own. As long as there’s plenty of phone sex.”

“I think that could be arranged. We can even have video sex,” I tease.

“Video? Are you telling me I could have been watching you orgasm instead of just listening all this time?”

I split my time between Balsam Ridge and Colorado nowadays. Though Morris and I make sure not to spend more than a few weeks apart. He now runs the ski school on Misty Mountain and is in training to take on a much larger role in Langford’s company, and my new career as a private ski coach has taken off.

In the two years since the news broke, a total of eight US Ski Team professionals have come forward with accusations and charges against Tobias. In my naivete, I thought his inappropriate actions had been singular to me. That I was somehow special and he wanted more from me.

The other survivors and I have formed a bond and started an organization to help protect the young athletes coming up in the sport, and we also offer an elite coaching program for those showing exceptional talent in Alpine skiing.

“Do you know how proud I am of you too?” he asks.

I just want to provide a safe place for talented young boys and girls with big dreams to learn and develop without having to lose or give up any part of themselves in the process.

“Miss Phillips?”

Morris lets me go, and we turn to find a gentleman with a camera crew approaching us.

“Word travels fast,” Morris mutters.

“Yes?”

“Larry Hill withAlpinist. Do you have a moment?”

I look back at Morris, and he shrugs.

“Sure, but just a moment.”

“One of your students has just been selected for the 2026 Winter Olympics. She is a young prodigy much like you were at her age. This is exciting news for the skiing world. Can you give us a short statement on what this means to you?”

I smile. “First of all, she’s way better than I ever was and it means the world to me. I’m very proud of Hailie. She is a natural talent, but she also puts in the work. I’m looking forward to watching her take a podium in Milan.”

“Do you feel like this is a full-circle moment for you as well?”

“This isn’t about me. It’s all about Hailie.”

He grins.