Page 9 of Off the Edge

It had always sounded like somewhere mythical. Somehow, I was standing in the middle of it, duffle bag at my side and skate bag in my hand, clutched too tightly as though someone might take it from me.

“You good?” Casey hitched his bag over his shoulder, grinning. The cold had already nipped at his face, making his cheeks and nose pink.

“Yeah, yeah, just . . . taking it all in.”

He slapped a hand on my shoulder and steered me on. “C’mon, let’s get checked in. Did you get your Village map? There’s a whole lot to explore.”

I had a map in my bag, but for now, I stomped along behind Casey and Zoe, trying not to stare like a tourist. Somewhere, in one of these smart apartment buildings, Ren was probably unpacking. Or he might still be on a flight over. Either way, we were going to be spending the next few weeks only a few minutes’ walk from each other.

Nerves fluttered again, tightening my insides. Whatever happened at the Games, the next few weeks would change my life.

I couldn’t have known by how much.

FIVE

REN

My father had brought me to Sapporo to train when I was small. He’d won medals at the previous Winter Olympics here, decades ago. I’d seen the old photos of him with the Japanese Olympic team in the family album, Sapporo glittering like a winter wonderland in the background.

Little had changed. The city of almost two million people treated winter like something to be organized. The streets were immaculate, despite the drifts piled along the roadside, and the city continued to flow with a quiet efficiency I appreciated.

When our coach had pulled in, it became clear the Olympic Village accommodation had been upgraded, with many new buildings alongside the originals. Team GB disembarked from the coach, and we made our way along snow-packed pathways. The generous-sized apartment was clean, efficient, and unremarkable, with a view of the dark and deeply flowing Toyohira River. The river and the flags were the only real slices of color in an otherwise monochrome view from my window.

I unpacked, putting everything in its place, then stowed my suitcases and showered. While drying off, my phone pinged.

Navarro:

u arrived yet?

Just settling in.

I replied, standing in the main room with just a towel around my waist.

how was your flight?

Good.

The dots bounced. I put my phone down and dried my hair, and returned to a new message.

there’s a lot of snow

The clue is in the name Winter Olympics.

Hahahaha. that’s what Zoe said. is Japanese snow tho

I sat on the edge of the bed.

Why is that different?

Colder harder cleaner

Was he still talking about the snow?

How is Zoe?

good . . . how’s Tamsyn?

Efficient. Demanding. Very talented.