Page 136 of Rinkmates

My mother’s gentle voice crackles through the speaker. “Sweetheart, you can’t let fear control your life. Sometimes, youhave to take a chance on love. From what you’ve told me, Riley seems like a wonderful young man who genuinely cares for you. He wouldn’t have done all of that otherwise.”

I sigh, my eyes drifting to the bustling activity backstage. Everyone’s nervous for the big final. “But what about Rory? I can’t just bring someone new into his life without being sure.”

“Yes, just take it slow,” Mom suggests, her tone reassuring. “Get to know Riley better first. You don’t have to rush into introducing him to Rory. Not as a father figure, at least. Maybe just as a friend first? When the time feels right, you’ll know. You’re a smart girl.”

I nod, even though she can’t see me, so I quickly add, “I guess I’m just afraid of opening up again. To trust a man again.”

“That’s understandable, but remember, everyone deserves a chance at happiness. Don’t let your past experiences rob you of a potentially beautiful future. Maybe Riley is the one you’ve been searching for all along. If not, he’s not. Let him go. Get up on your feet again. I’m always here, honey.”

“Thanks, Mom. I needed to hear that. I love you.”

“I love you too. Now, go out there and shine. I’ll be cheering for you on our crappy couch.”

I laugh. “Can’t wait to see you and watch shows on a new couch.”

“I’ll cuddle the crap out of you and Rory soon, but for now, come on. Mingle. Have fun. Enjoy this last show as much as you can.”

“Bye, Mom.”

As I end the call, I lean back against the couch, my mind swirling with possibilities. Ivan catches my eye, and I offer him a small smile. He doesn’t move one fucking muscle. Maybe, just maybe, it really is time to take a leap of faith and see where this journey with Riley leads us.

Back in the dressing room, I prop my phone up on the vanity, determined to catch glimpses of the game. It starts an hour prior to our show. The screen flickers to life, and I see the ice, the players, and the roaring crowd. My heart swells with yearning as I watch Riley glide across the rink, his movements so strong and sexy.

Priya and Aiden join me, their arms laden with plates from the catering table. We huddle together, munching on an assortment of snacks, our eyes glued to the phone screen. Mason struts by, pausing in front of a mirror to admire his own reflection. He flexes his muscles, a smug grin plastered on his face, and we all exchange knowing glances, stifling our laughter.

He walks past us, frowning at the snacks in our hands. I roll my eyes and I realize that Riley helped me with another thing. He made me feel so comfortable in my own skin. I don’t give a damn about anyone thinking I should stick to the veggie sticks. I love my body and my man does too. I blink. My man? Holy—

“I can’t believe I ever found him attractive,” Priya says, snapping me out of my thoughts, cringing. We watch him stride out, winking at a makeup artist as if she should faint just because he acknowledged her. “He’s become such a jerk lately, especially with the finals approaching. And get this, I caught him textingsevendifferent girls at the same time!”

Aiden and I share a look of disbelief before turning to Priya with sympathetic smiles. “Well, thank you for finally coming to your senses. We should find a self-help group for those other seven girls.”

“For sure,” Aiden says, munching away on a muffin, “you deserve so much better.”

“Did Derek text you again?” I ask.

“I thought you’d never ask,” she grins widely. “He did but you know with our schedule it’s not easy to find time to chat. We’ll see, I wanna focus on my school anyway.”

“You better,” I say.

I still remember her face vividly the moment I told her Riley and I were officially dating. She screamed so loud, I thought my ears might burst. Then she said she already knew because she’d read my horoscope. I just love her.

It’s hard to believe that this show turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to me.

I earned enough to pay off my debts, build a future for my child, find real best friends, and meet a man I love. What more could I ask for? There’s nothing else I could possibly want.

As we continue to talk, the conversation shifts to our plans for the future, now that the competition is drawing to a close. Aiden mentions his desire to invest in his career, revealing that all the interviews he gave about coming out as an actor, lined up some promising casting opportunities for him. So many people are reaching out to him. It’s making me believe that our world truly has the potential to be a good place.

Priya’s eyes sparkle with excitement as she shares her dream of opening her own skating school.

“You know, you guys are always welcome to teach at my school whenever you want,” she offers, her voice filled with genuine warmth. “It would be an honor to have you both there.”

I smile. “That sounds wonderful, Priya. Pennsylvania is only two hours away from New York, so I’ll definitely consider it.” I pause, my thoughts turning to the future. “But if I win tonight, I think I’ll take several weeks off to spend time with my mom.”And Rory.“I found a beautiful house in a great neighborhood. Mom and I are going to check it out after the finals. If it’s the right fit, we’ll buy it with the money I earned. Then I just want to make the most of our time together—collecting moments and enjoying life.”

I glance at the phone once more, catching a glimpse of Riley skating toward the net. I hold my breath.Shit. Riley. Go!Andthen—he scores. “Fuck yes!” I scream, people turn to look as all three of us scream and jump, cheering. I just hope he wins. He’ll be soaring.

The thunderous applause of the audience snaps me back. “The show is starting,” I say, and we turn to the TV behind us that shows us exactly what people see on TV.

The hosts take the stage, and Priya takes my hand. She’s shivering slightly and I gently squeeze her. “We can do this,” I say, and she nods.

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