PROLOGUE
*Aston's POV*
How could I have been so stupid?
Sitting on the cool tile floor, my head leant back against the hard cement wall, I couldn't help but let the thought continually run through my head.
Why did I always have to ruin things?
I could hear her sobs through the door as the doctor checked her out. Something was seriously wrong if this tough girl was crying, what had I done?
It seemed like ages that I sat outside the Athletic Trainer's room. The boys had left with the kids we'd brought to the indoor track ages ago, but I felt so responsible for everything that had happened that I insisted on staying. She had to know that I didn't mean for her to get hurt. Right?
It must have been a solid hour before the door in front of me slowly opened and a brown-haired girl with tears streaking down her face came hobbling out on crutches, a huge air cast around her ankle.
I shot up from my spot on the ground to help her, but she shook her head as she looked at me, refusing my assistance.
"Listen, I didn't..." I started.
"Save it," she bit out. "I just want to forget any of this ever happened. That I ever met you..."
"But..." I stuttered, "At least let me help you home."
"No thanks," she replied, slowly making her way down the hall to the locker room to collect her things.
"Please, it's the least I can do," I begged, following her into the ladies locker room even though I wasn't supposed to be in there. I watched as she threw her things in her sports bag, ignoring me. "Please," I said again as she zipped it up.
"Aston," she said, slinging her sports bag over her shoulder, "Just stay away from me, you've done enough damage."
I couldn't help but feel my chest tighten as she struggled out of the locker room past me, and back down the hall towards the car park. This was all my fault, I knew there was no way she was ever going to forgive me. She was right, I had done enough damage, but all I wanted to do now was make it right, show her that I really cared. But she was too strong-willed, independent, shut-off from the rest of the world. It was never going to happen after what I'd done to her.
How could I let a silly crush ruin someone's Olympic dreams?