NEVER BE THE SAME
CHAPTER THREE
Kate acts as if nothing happened.
On one hand, Rick is glad for her focus on the tournament; it wouldn't do Alexis any favors if Kate wasn't fully present in her coaching. But he'd be lying to himself if he didn't admit that it stings a bit. He wonders if she'd laid awake as he had, replaying every moment of their brief dinner, wondering what he could've said or done to make the night end differently.
After they tour the convention center, where the tournament is being held, Alexis and Kate retreat to the competitor area for some last minute practice, and Rick parks himself on a front bleacher, notebook in hand. He's been tasked with recording Alexis's potential opponents in the bracket-style tournament and send the videos to Kate throughout the day. Kate has instructed him on who to focus on, and the first contestants salute to start their bout, he lifts his phone to record.
He sees Kate and Alexis when the tournament breaks for lunch, but only long enough to give his daughter a quick hug and wish her luck.
By the time Alexis appears for her match, he's a nervous wreck. Logically, he knows that if she doesn't advance, it's okay. She's young, she's only been fencing for a year, she has a long future ahead of her if she wants it. And she isn't one to give up something at the first sign of failure.
But, dammit, he wants her to win everything. He also wants her to keep taking lessons, so he can continue to see Kate whether or not they pursue anything.
When he spots Kate on the far side of the floor, his fingers itch to touch her. The memory of last night, of her nose against his, the almost palpable desire sparkling between them, haunts and distracts him so much that he almost misses the en garde from the referee.
Kate had assured him that she could acquire video from the bout, so he's able to focus on his daughter as her father and fan, instead of a competitor.
His heart pounds with every parry, every thrust, every attack, and it takes everything in him not to jump to his feet and cheer any time she wins a point. When Alexis scores her winning point, he does leap from his seat, whistling and hollering, and he grins when his daughter beams with joy.
He has to sit through one more match, as Alexis will face the winner, but he can hardly concentrate, barely manages to hold his phone steady as he films. As soon as it's over, though, he shoves his phone in his pocket and heads towards the lobby.
"Dad!"
Alexis slams into him, her arms gripping the back of his shirt, and he grins.
"Congratulations, pumpkin," he laughs, wrapping his arms around her back. He drops a quick kiss to the top of her head and steps back. "I'm proud of you. You did great." He meets Kate's gaze and his heartbeat quickens at the soft look in her eyes.
"She really was wonderful," Kate agrees, approaching them and tucking her hands in her back pockets. "And thanks for the videos. We have lots to study tonight."
Alexis looks back and forth between the two adults. "Can we get something to eat first? I'm starving." Her stomach rumbles almost on cue, and Rick chuckles.
"Of course. Kate?" he offers. When she hesitates, he lifts his brows. "My treat."
Kate grins. "If you insist."
They eat quickly, as both Kate and Alexis want to discuss Alexis's match the next day, and the two of them retreat to Kate's room to continue their conversation as Rick pays the bill.
Rick heads back to his room and attempts to finish his almost-complete draft, but after just a few minutes, he shuts his laptop and pushes it away in frustration. He can't seem to string together a complete sentence; his mind keeps wandering back to Kate.
Knowing Alexis, she'll return to the room early to get plenty of rest, and he wonders if Kate would retire for the night as well, or if she'd accept an invitation for a nightcap in the hotel bar.
He doesn't have to wait long; he hears the beep of the keypad, and he looks up from the book he was attempting to read and smiles his greeting.
"All ready for tomorrow?" he asks Alexis, pushing himself off the bed.
Alexis shrugs and goes straight to the bathroom. "Yeah, and I'm really tired." She pokes her head out of the bathroom, toothbrush in her mouth. "Do you mind if I go to bed?"
"Not at all." Rick grabs his book, phone, and room key. "I'll go down to the lobby."
Unfortunately, even a change of scenery doesn't help his ability to concentrate, and he finds himself staring at his phone after just a few minutes, willing it to notify him of a new message.
He wants to ask Kate if she'll join him, but he doesn't want to seem too forward. But if he sits around waiting for a message that may never arrive, he'll drive himself crazy.
After several minutes of indecision, he opens his messages and brings up Kate's name.
Thank you, he finally sends. Dots appear almost immediately, and he waits with baited breath for her reply.
He doesn't have to wait long.
You're welcome. For what?
Being so good with Alexis. She always jumps headfirst into things, but I haven't seen her this pumped about something in a long time.
His breath catches in his throat as the dots appear and disappear several times. Eventually, her reply appears.
She's a great kid. Probably the best I've coached, at least for her age. And a great kid, period.
His chest swells with pride, but another message appears before he can reply.
FWIW, her dad's not so bad, either.
Rick's cheeks burn. God, he could fall hard for this woman.
Thanks. Care for a nightcap in the lobby?
I shouldn't. We have a long day tomorrow. Good night.
He tries not to let the disappointment sit too heavy in his chest at the decline. She's right, though; they're meeting early again, and Alexis could have as many as three matches, depending on whether she wins. And if she wins all three, she'll have one more full day of fencing to determine whether she makes the Olympic team.
He knows the odds are slim, considering her young age and lack of experience, but he'll be damned if he won't be the most supportive fan in the audience.
The fact that the better Alexis does, the more time he spends with Kate, is more than a little bit of a factor, as well.
He sighs and types a short reply before opening his book once again.
Until tomorrow, Kate.
Day two of the tournament passes in a blur. Alexis wins every match, and when the day ends and they go to dinner, she's all but guaranteed a spot on the team, and Rick couldn't be happier.
Alexis is giddy with the prospect of going to Paris, and Rick finds himself mentally planning their trip already. He makes a mental note to find out how many tickets he can get for the events.
Several times throughout dinner, Rick glances at Kate only to see her avert her eyes to her plate, and he finds it more and more difficult not to reach for her, or flirt with her, or just sweep her into his arms and kiss her senseless. Considering her hesitance to pursue anything romantic with him, though, he's certain that it would backfire.
So he settles for a smile and nod when she and Alexis retreat once again to Kate's room, and a polite text wishing her a good night.
He's so excited, he can hardly contain himself.
Alexis breezes through her first two matches, beating two of the top fencers in the country. Although she loses the final, it's to the captain of the national team, and she mounts a furious comeback that falls just short.
Kate has to meet with the selection committee after the tournament concludes, so Rick and Alexis go back to the hotel until she's done. He wants to go for a celebratory meal, or ice cream, or something, but he doesn't want to leave Kate out.
They don't have to wait long; there's a soft rap on the hotel door barely a half-hour after their return.
"Dad," Alexis calls through the closed bathroom door, "Kate's here."
Rick washes his hands quickly before emerging, and he greets Kate with a smile. "Hey. How did it go?"
Kate leans against the closed door, her hands shoved in the pockets of her jeans and her eyes locked firmly on his. "She's an alternate," she announces, her face breaking into a grin. "Which means we're going to Paris."
Alexis yelps and jumps in the air, lunges forward to wrap her arms around Kate in a tight hug.
Rick accepts his daughter's hug with just as much enthusiasm. "Congratulations." He lifts his gaze to Kate, and his heart melts a little at the tender look in her eyes. "So what does that mean, competition-wise? Is she there in case someone gets injured? Do I have to find a ticket broker to be able to attend?"
Kate shakes her head. "The association will provide up to two tickets for each event. So if Martha can come, or Alexis's mom-"
Rick's heart sinks at the mention of Meredith. His ex-wife and mother of his child has shown minimal interest in the activity, if any at all. She would support Alexis - he assumes - but he doesn't see her dropping everything to come. Still, he'd ask.
"I'll ask Mother if she can take a break from her tour," Rick plans. He glances down at Alexis. "And I'll talk to your mom."
Alexis shrugs and steps away. "It's fine if Mom can't come," she insists.
She puts on a brave face, but Rick can hear the slight catch in her voice, the heavy weight of expected disappointment, and his heart breaks a little.
Kate reaches out and rests a comforting hand on Alexis's shoulder. "Your dad and I will be there no matter what," she promises.
Kate shifts her gaze to him, and as their eyes lock, he feels the room fade away into just the two of them. Gone is the hotel room, Alexis, the whole world. It's just him and the woman he might be falling in love with.
The realization hits him like a freight train, but he's brought out of his trance by his daughter tugging his sleeve.
"Can we find dinner?" Alexis asks.
Rick feels his face burn, and he glances at Kate, notices the same flush on her cheeks, almost as if she'd been thinking the same as him.
He drapes his arm over his daughter's shoulders. "Of course. Your choice, my treat," he adds in Kate's direction.
Kate grins. "If you keep picking up the tab, I might never leave," she teases.
Rick's heart almost beats out of his chest at the thought.
"When are you heading back?" Rick asks later, after Alexis retires to bed and he convinces Kate to join him in the hotel bar.
Kate lifts her shoulders in a shrug. "Right after check out, probably." She trails her finger through condensation on the side of her glass. "I want to try and beat some of the traffic."
Rick curls his fingers around his bottle of beer. "Yeah, same. We thought about doing some sightseeing since we're here, but Alexis doesn't want to miss any more school," he explains. He chuckles. "I have no idea where she got her dedication to education," he admits, unable to keep the pride from his voice. "When I was her age, I would've jumped at the opportunity to skip school with my mother's permission."
Kate echoes his chuckle. "I'm a nerd, so I would've done the same as her. A couple years later?" She pauses and cocks her head. "Actually, I take that back. Once I hit sixteen, I was too cool to spend any time with my parents, let alone an educational road trip."
Rick just leans back in his chair, soaking in Kate's words. She doesn't share much about her personal life; aside from telling him about her parents and the recent passing of her aunt, he can't remember any other information about her family.
Her eyes are locked on her drink, and she sighs. "Do you ever wish you could change the past?" she asks after a long silence.
"No."
Judging by the look of surprise on her face, Kate hadn't expected an answer, let alone one with no hesitation. But he takes a chance, and he leans forward, meets her gaze with his.
"I try not to look back," he explains. "Every decision I've ever made, everything that's ever happened to me, has brought me here."
He pauses to take a long swig of beer, swallowing around the sudden lump of emotion in his throat.
"I had a girlfriend leave me in college," he explains. "If I'd followed her to London, I wouldn't have met Meredith, or had Alexis." He pauses again, his mind swirling with conflict.
Time to take a leap of faith.
"And I wouldn't have met you."
Kate stares at him for a long moment, and although he wants nothing more than to pull her from her chair and kiss her until they can't breathe, he doesn't move.
Finally, after what feels like forever, she takes a deep breath and pushes herself back from the table. "Will you walk me to my room?"