“I hope you don’t mind, but I ordered in.” James is every inch the gracious host as I take a seat. He reminds me so much of the way he was when I first arrived, practically falling over himself to make sure I have everything I want. It isn’t like I didn’t already know that was merely a lie to mask his true personality, but seeing it now drives the point home. Nothing about this was ever real. Meanwhile, my mother is having the time of her life at a spa, sipping drinks on a beach when she isn’t getting massages and facials and whatever else people do at places like that.

At least the food looks good, even if I don’t have much of an appetite. Something tells me he won’t like it if I don’t eat, though, so I make a point of taking some roast chicken, potatoes and vegetables. Nix uncorks a bottle of white wine and rounds the table to pour some in my glass. Our eyes meet for a single moment, and he pauses like he’s waiting for me to pick up the glass. I don’t. I won’t. He clicks his tongue, turning away before shaking his head like he can’t believe me. Vice versa. I can’t believe him, either.

All through this, Colt hasn’t said a word, pushing food around on his plate. Not exactly a comfortable situation on the whole. Not that I expect it to be any better.

“So Leni. I’ve been wondering.” James gestures toward me with his fork. “Now that you aren’t in gymnastics anymore, has it left a hole in your life?”

“A hole?” It’s almost a normal question. I’m surprised.

“You know what I mean. You spent so much of your life laser-focused on one thing, and now it’s gone.”

“It was a lot to adjust to,” I admit in a soft voice, picking at the chicken while I speak. It’s good. What a shame I don’t feel like eating it.

“I imagine it was quite a blow, your injury.”

“Yes, it was. And it was a lot for Mom to handle, too.” I don’t know why I feel like I should bring her up. Maybe as a reminder of his wife, the woman he married, the woman whose daughter he’s now holding captive.

He doesn’t seem to notice, or else he doesn’t care. “Do you miss it? Gymnastics, I mean.”

All of a sudden, yes, I do. I miss it very much. With all my heart. Not because I miss competing but because I very much miss having some semblance of normalcy in my life. Even if training the way I did was anything but normal.