Page 89 of Rise After Fall

We all go our separate ways and jump headfirst into the holiday weekend madness.

I have to fight to get my head in the game and give the students my full attention, pushing the thoughts of Zoey and what that asshole did to her to the back of my mind.

As the day goes on and I catch glimpses of her racing down the mountain with a client, seeing the joy it brings her, the rage inside me grows.

Especially when I bump into her parents in line for the chairlifts with Tobias. He and her father laughing.

He didn’t just groom Zoey. The monster groomed her whole damn family.

“Morris,” her mom exclaims.

“Hi, Mrs. Phillips.”

“Would you please call me Christine?” she says.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“We were just discussing dinner plans. We’d love to take Langford and your parents out as a thank-you for their hospitality. Won’t you join us?” she invites.

I cut my eyes to Tobias. “Is he coming?” I ask.

Her brows furrow. “Who, Tobias?”

“Yeah,” I answer.

“I’m sure he will.”

“Then, I’m going to have to politely decline,” I bite out.

I begin to walk away, and Christine grabs my arm and leads me away, out of their earshot.

“Why?”

“Because I don’t like that man and I don’t want to spend the evening breaking bread with him again, and you shouldn’t make Zoey either,” I say.

“Make Zoey? I don’t understand.”

“Look, Mrs. Phillips, I know you don’t know me well, but I care about Zoey. Very much. So, I’m not going to beat around the bush. You know something isn’t right. You’ve probably known it for a long time, but you keep ignoring that voice inside. Ask her why she fell. Why she quit training. And don’t take any of her sidestepping bullshit as an explanation any longer. She’s your daughter. Read between the lines if you have to. And for the love of God, don’t force her to be in that man’s company ever again.”

She releases her grip on me, and I can see the moment she removes the blinders she’s been wearing and things start to click into place.

“Oh God,” she mutters, and her hand comes up to cover her mouth.

I walk off, leaving her standing there.

Zoey is going to hate me for what I just did, but it’s time that her parents know what the hell she’s been through, and I’ll just have to suffer the consequences.

Zoey

I’m bidding my last student of the day good-bye when my parents and Tobias approach.

“Hi, sweetheart. You looked great out there today. Teaching seems to suit you,” Mom says.

“You did look like you were having fun,” Dad agrees as he hugs me.

“Thanks.”

“Are you free for dinner?” Mom asks.