Page 34 of Rinkmates

It’s not like he’s an A-list actor or anything. Well, maybe I should have stalked him on Google before saying yes. I mean, just because I don’t care about hockey doesn’t mean it’s not a big deal to everyone else. Apparently it’s life or death for some people here.

“The music is your starting signal,” a voice tells me.

I’m scanning the stage, but the blinding lights engulf everything in their radiant glow. It’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack made of sunshine. I guess I need to get used to random voices telling me stuff.

I have to write a list of things I have to get used to.

With a deep breath, I step onto the ice, the chill seeping into my bones and I prepare to perform the routine I worked on for the last days. We need to perform a new routine each week and we also have to train someone who isn’t used to figure skating at all and make it all look like we’re used to pair dance. I’m not. I’m a single skater. But I’ll show them that I do this.

I glide into my opening pose.

As the music starts, I let it guide me, every beat syncing with the rhythm of my heart. I chose the song “River Flows in You” by Yiruma and focus on the technical elements first—some mohawks, some paragraph brackets, a lutz jump, each executed with precision. Then, I let the artistic side take over, my body flowing gracefully, interpreting the music with every movement as I go for a single axel and land it cleanly. Oh thank the heavens. I used to land three, but there’s no way I can do it now. A triple axel is one of the most challenging jumps in figure skating. I trained like hell to land it.

As the final note rings out, I strike my ending pose, my chest heaving from exertion. Silence fills the room for a heartbeat, and just as I’m about to turn around and leave, there’s…applause. From Grace.

I blink, then blink again. The light changes and I look to the podium in front of me. There she is, standing and clapping away.

This is the first time I notice the two other jury members. It’s Twain Teller, one of America’s top casting show judges, famous for shows likeThe Voice. Next to him stands dancer Idris Bell, who’s mostly been on dancing shows. The way he looks at me, he doesn’t seem all too critical—he’s clapping with such joy that a small, triumphant smile tugs at my lips.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Priya giving me a thumbs-up, and I can’t stop smiling.

Sometimes life is so strange.

For so long, the only friend I ever had was my mom, and now it feels like I’ve known this girl forever. But it’s been nothing more than a week. Even though I should be nervous because fucking Grace Holland, an actual ice queen, applauded for me, I’m more nervous because Priya’s next.

“Congratulations,” Grace says. “You’re in the show.”

“Hey, great job out there!”a friendly voice makes me jump as I watch Priya fly over the ice in her new orange dress.

I turn to see a tall man with short brown hair extending his hand to me. “Hi, I’m Aiden. Aiden Smith.”

“I’m Liora James,” I reply, taking his hand.

His grip is firm but gentle. And that’s when I recognize him.Oh, I know him!Up close, he’s even more striking than in his Instagram reels—well built, olive skin, with a nice jawline and deep brown eyes. His athletic build suggests countless hours at the gym.

“Your routine was really impressive,” he continues. “I’ve been trying to learn how to skate for this show, and it’s not as easy as you make it look.”

“Trust me,” I say, “it wasn’t always like this. Nerves still get the best of me sometimes, even after all these years, and let’s not mention the countless times I fall.”

Aiden smiles. “I just hope I can keep up with you guys on the ice. Just look at my knees.”

He lifts the hem of his joggers and shows me a ray of purple bruises all over his feet, and I grin. So that’s why they cast them months ago. They need even more initial training, of course.

“Oh damn,” I say and examine the bruises. “Ouch, that looks like you’ve fallen quite a lot.”

“Well, times one hundred and you’ve got the number.”

I laugh and see Priya jumping through the air.

“Oh wow, she’s so good.”

“She is.” I grin proudly and try to see Grace’s face, but I can’t tell how she looks. I start to kneed my fingers as she does her last jump. I know she struggled with this part. She takes the leap, I grip the door frame, and…she makes it.

I sigh in relief.

“She stood it well,” Aiden says.

“Yes,” I say, and I can’t wait to take her in my arms. She was amazing. “Do you know what we’re doing now?” I ask him.

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