“Yeah. He said, See all those kids? They think they’re here to win. But nobody told them that it doesn’t matter whether you win or lose. It’s about doing the tricks over and over until they become as natural to you as walking. That doesn’t happen in your first year or even your second or third. So, take winning off the table. We’re not here to bring home medals. We’re here to get you experience. Quit thinking about winning and focus on getting the tricks right. The rest’ll come naturally.”

“That’s a really great thing to say.”

“It was perfect. From that moment on, I focused on the tricks.”

“And the next season you began winning?”

“No. I didn’t win right away. It was gradual. I started placing and, eventually, I took home the medals. But my dad never rewarded me for winning. He commented on my style and my technique.” He went quiet, letting his feelings for his dad fill him up.

He missed having his dad around for advice. For companionship. He’d taken for granted that his dad would always be around…he wished he hadn’t done that.

Wished he’d been able to hug him before he’d left that morning. To tell him how much he loved him.

He’d never get that chance, and that was tough to live with.

As hard as he tried to suppress it, sorrow spilled over, blurring his vision and making it hard to swallow. He gave it a moment to subside. “Everyone thinks I was devastated about the Olympics itself.” His voice came out a little rough, so he waited for the hard knot in his throat to stop hurting.

And he fucking liked that Rosie sat there quietly, all still and peaceful, giving him the room he needed to pull himself together. “But it wasn’t that. I just wanted to give him something back. I was a kid. It’s not like I had anything to give him.” He grabbed a napkin and swiped across his mouth. “He was there for us, came to all our competitions, took us freeriding on the sickest mountains in the world. I mean, he taught us how to be men. How to live with honor and integrity.” Fuck, what was happening to him? His skin was so damn hot he wanted to tear his shirt off. “In any event, I wanted the medal so he could see it in the trophy case and know that everything he’d given up for us had paid off.”

“I obviously didn’t know your dad, but from the way you describe him, it sounds like the best gift you could give him is to become a good man. The medals were just to keep you focused and driven. He didn’t care if you won them or not.”