Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 64727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Celine was waiting for me in the lobby. She motioned for me to follow her to the exit and into the pouring rain.
I pulled my jacket over both of us. “Run!”
We slid into a booth at Bear Depot, half-soaked. And hungry, too. I ordered a burger, fries, and a diet soda much to Celine’s dismay.
“A burger? What’s that all about?” she asked, tucking the laminated menu into the sleeve at the end of the table.
“I have a little extra money in my budget this week, so I’m eating my feelings.”
“Gus is still overbuying to get in your good graces, huh?”
Confession: That was the only piece of information I’d shared with Celine regarding the change in dynamics between Gus and me. I would probably share the sexier bits at some point, but not yet. I didn’t want the lecture. I didn’t want to be reminded that sleeping with my roommate was a bad idea. A terrible idea. I knew it, but I didn’t want to stop any time soon.
“A little bit, but don’t get too excited. It’s a burger, not filet mignon,” I replied, finger-combing my damp hair.
“In that case, let’s order a side of onion rings too.”
We clinked our water glasses and settled in to chat. Celine and I texted constantly and saw each other at the rink every day, but face-to-face powwows didn’t happen often enough.
Let’s not forget that Smithton had been Celine’s home for years. She had friends that had no connection to me or ice skating, and I respected that. She was a busy gal with an active social life and I was…well, nowhere near as exciting. Usually.
I was reeling from Eli’s proposition and the fact that I was struggling with basic technique made me extra anxious.
Geez, everything made me anxious lately.
“Boris is going to give up on me if I don’t get my head out of my ass. I don’t think I’m doing it on purpose. I just…freeze. All the energy that I’m supposed to coil and use as a springboard goes limp, and I’m lucky to get six inches of air. It’s worrisome and embarrassing,” I lamented.
“You’ve got a mild case of the you-know-whats, honey.”
I gasped. “No!”
“Talk to your therapist and work it out. It’s going to be okay. You’ll get through this.” Celine stole a french fry from my plate and dipped it into ketchup. She waited for my nod of acknowledgment, and changed topics. “Now, come clean and tell me what’s really going on with you and Eli. He was staring at you during practice. I thought that terrible kiss ended your amorous vibes.”
My cheeks flushed automatically. I couldn’t look any guiltier if I tried. “It did. But…he has another idea. Eli just proposed a sort of partnership. Pinky shenanigans only.”
Celine’s perfect brows rose to her hairline as I filled her in. “Oh…my…God.”
“I know. Sleazy, huh? And ridiculous.”
She tossed a fry at me and laughed. “I don’t know. I mean, it’s kind of harmless.”
I huffed. “Is it? To what end? We’re teammates.”
“But we don’t all get chosen to represent Smithton for the championships, do we?”
Cold dread trickled through my veins. “I’m aware.”
“I think he’d prefer to be the highest ranked mens’ singles skater at Smithton. You, my friend, are competition…even with your current woes. There’re only three hundred spots total, and we don’t know how many they’ll choose from our program. Smithton is tiny. We got four spots last year, and two were partners. Tell me you’ve been scouting a new club.”
“You know I haven’t,” I choked out. “I can’t afford anything outside of Pittsburgh. I lost my sponsorship last summer, so…this is it. I have to get on that team.”
Celine set her manicured hand over mine and squeezed. “You will.”
Her sincerity buoyed me, but I wished I could be so sure.
About anything.
CHAPTER 15
RAFE
“Longer strides, wider strides. That’s your advice?” Gus’s deadpan stare was on point. He propped a hand on the boards and tsked.
“Yes. Gliding start drills help too.”
“You know I’m humoring you, right? Hockey players are faster than figure skaters, and that’s a fucking fact. Our blades are designed for acceleration and quick turns.”
My concentration drifted as a young girl in pristine white skates leaped forward and crouched into an elementary sit spin while her coach or mom cheered from the bleachers.
“Huh? Oh. I’m well aware of that, which is why I’m wearing my hockey skates.” I lifted my left foot, gliding ahead of Gus.
“I noticed. Since when do you have hockey skates?”
“Uh…what?” I replayed his question in my head and replied, “Since always.”
“Keep talking.” He circled his wrist meaningfully, a sardonic expression on his handsome face.
You know, Gus really was a good-looking man. Sharp angles and laughing eyes, and so much rugged, uber masculine hotness.
I cleared my throat and shrugged. “We were at a local rink when I was little—maybe four or five years old. Figure skaters and hockey players were sharing the ice and there was this girl in the center of everything, spinning like a top. I was fascinated. I wanted to do that. So I told my dad, and he bought me hockey skates and signed me up for lessons.”