Page 124 of Rinkmates

We move through the choreography seamlessly, like we’ve been doing this for years instead of mere days. I’ve never felt so in tune with another person before, so completely in the moment. And as the final notes fade away, I lower her gently to her feet, our faces mere inches apart.

Her blue eyes sparkle up at me, alive with exhilaration and something else I can’t quite name. “That is…”

“Amazing,” she finishes breathlessly.

“Riley, I think we might actually pull this off.” I tighten my grip on her waist, drawing her closer. “Told you, Lia. You and me? We can do anything.”

She bites her lip, suddenly shy. She looks so cute with these red cheeks. “I want to try something. It may go wrong but don’t freak out, okay?”

Before I can respond, she is off again, building speed with each powerful stroke. I watch, heart in my throat, as she launches herself into the air, spinning so fast she is a blur of blonde hair, black training clothes, and flashing blades.

One rotation, two, three…holy shit.

She does it—a flawless triple axel.

I let out a whoop as she lands, knees bending to absorb the impact. She glides over to me, flushed and triumphant.

“Fucking shit. Liora, that is incredible!”

She shakes her head, ponytail bouncing. “I pre-rotated on the entry. It was sloppy.”

“Looked damn near perfect to me.” I take her hand, tugging her closer. “You should throw it in the routine. Give people something to really talk about.”

“I don’t know…haven’t landed it cleanly in years. Not since…” she trails off, eyes darkening with old ghosts.

“Hey.” I tilt her chin up, forcing her to meet my gaze. “This isn’t Beijing. This is here and now. And you, Liora James, are the most talented skater I have ever seen. You are going to nail that triple axel and blow everyone away. I feel it.”

A slow smile spreads across her face, chasing away those damn shadows I hate so much. We grin at each other, lost in our own little bubble, until the shrill beep of my smart watch bursts it. “Shit,” I glare at my watch as if I’m ready to kill it. “I’m supposed to meet with the team in like twenty minutes.”

Liora gives me a light shove. “Go. Be the hockey star you are. I’ll work on polishing the ending.”

I hesitate, hating to leave. These stolen hours on the ice with her have quickly become the best part of my day. “Can’t wait for tomorrow. Prepare to have your socks knocked off by my dizzying spins.”

“Can’t wait.”

She stretches up on her tiptoes to press a sweet kiss to my lips. But a peck is never enough for me—not when it comes to her—so I gently pull her closer, dipping her slightly as I kiss her deeply and fully, savoring the moment.

Once I’ve managed to say goodbye, her laughter follows me out the door, and I can’t keep the dopey smile off my face the whole drive to the arena.

Damn, I have it bad.

She didn’t say she loves me, too, but I don’t need her words. Her actions tell me she does too.

We will hunt those demons she has.

I want to see that smile on her face daily.

But I don’t,because with May 28 approaching, her smiles seem to be fading day by day.

I know she’s nervous, since there are only eighteen hours left until the show. But the way she constantly touches that tattoo on her wrist makes me worry.

Is she trying to rub it off?

I don’t ask, but I watch closely, ready to catch her if she falls.

She tries to hide it, putting on a brave face in public, but I see the hurt in her eyes in the quiet moments. When we eat, when she gets dressed or when we lie in bed reading, when she stares at her wrist instead of the words on the page.

Sometimes I’ll take her hand and hold onto that tattoo for her, hoping it brings some comfort.

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