He started off big, sliding sideways to catch quick speed. The run seemed to whiz by yet crawl at the same time. The announcers called out his every move, but their voices drowned in Julia’s own thoughts as Noah skidded up one of the walls covered in sponsor logos, then sprang off the top edge, flipping twice before landing in front of the rails.
“Fucking A,” Finn screamed. “When the hell did he decide to do that?”
Julia didn’t answer. She was watching Noah slide sideways down the metal rail, then take off over a smooth downhill course, building speed for the biggest of his three huge jumps.
Down, down, down, he hit the lowest point, then shot up the steep slope and hit the air. Julia sucked a breath and held it. Flashbulbs lit the audience like sparkling confetti while Noah grabbed his board and flipped end over end over end over end. The crowd roared their applause before he ever hit the ground, and when he ended the move in a smooth glide toward the next jump, they exploded with excitement.
“Nailed it!” Finn screamed in Julia’s ear, but she barely heard over the crowd.
She took a moment to breathe, then sucked more air as Noah lifted off his second jump. And as he turned and twisted in crazy acrobatic moves midair, Julia suddenly had the sensation of this one damn run lasting for-freaking-ever.
But eventually, he touched down, and Julia breathed. The crowd’s eruption sounded as loud as a freight train just feet away.
“Holy shit!” Finn yelled, wrapped her in his arms, shaking her until her teeth chattered. “No one’s ever done that!”
Julia didn’t know what “that” was. The insane names they came up with for these equally insane tricks still escaped her. But if Finn was happy, Julia was happy. And if Noah was still upright and boarding, Julia was thrilled.
Noah hit another set of metal bars, jumping between them midride, a move that riled the crowd. Then he crossed the run and took another wall-ride across more sponsor logos. Then straight onto the last ramp.
Julia didn’t know if he’d really built up as much speed as it seemed or if her brain warped reality, but he spun just before he lifted off the ramp and twirled in a chaotic knot of moves she couldn’t track. Moves that seemed out of control in comparison to his others. Then he was rocketing toward the ground.
And in those split seconds, Julia couldn’t fathom how he could land safely at that speed. Couldn’t begin to imagine the force his ankle would take when he hit. Couldn’t bear the pressure in her chest.
And when he neared the ground, she turned her head but couldn’t stop watching. Had to follow to the end. Had to be there the way she’d promised.
Noah hit.
Wobbled.
And recovered.
Straightening, he leaned back on his board as he rode a victory circle, arms thrust into the air.
Finn grabbed Julia, lifted her off the ground, and jumped again and again. “He did it! He did it!”
Julia just worked to get her breath back. Tears streamed down her face. Sobs of relief and joy rocked her body.
Finn dropped her to her feet, grabbed her hand, and plowed through the crowd to the finish platform where riders waited for their scores. The crowd was so loud, her ears rang. Everything sounded muffled. She followed in Finn’s wake until he stopped abruptly, dropped her hand, and jumped into a full-body hug with Noah.
Julia felt weak and dizzy and so completely overwhelmed. But when Finn stepped back, Noah pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard and deep, and Julia melted, giving herself over to the complete and utter joy of the man she loved.
“…scores…” Finn was saying, prying them apart by the shoulders. “Dude, get up there.”
Julia stepped back, giving Noah room to pass, but he grabbed her hand and dragged her with him.
“No, Noah—”
He ignored her, pulling her up the steps, and then she was standing on the platform with him, his arms around her, waiting for his scores. Now their scores. Noah had been the last contestant, so his score determined whether he discovered he’d won another gold on the spot.
They waited only seconds, but in the hot spotlight, Julia swore it took days for the scores to come up.
The numbers seemed to waver in her vision, and before she could decipher whether or not he’d won, Noah bent and picked her up, twirling her around the stage, then letting her drop just far enough to plant his mouth over hers and kiss her hard.
As he lowered her to her feet, Julia caught her breath and said at his ear, “Congratulations, baby.”
Noah set her down, let her go, then dropped to one knee.
She frowned at him in worry and confusion. “What…?”