Page 162 of Tangled up in You

“Just wait until you get to know me before throwing kind words around,” he said in a self-deprecating manner.

“If Sasha like you, then you’re good people. We trust her instincts, even if it has been ten years,” Archer added, handing him a beer from the alcohol fridge.

“Yeah, about that,” Wyatt said, “I had no idea you guys existed until about thirty minutes ago. Not to put words in her mouth, but I think she was afraid you’d hate her.”

“Fuck no,” Archer said. “Never. You know what...” He placed his beer on the counter then stormed toward the bedroom. Yanking the door open, he stood there for a minute before entering and closing it.

“We’d never hate her,” Cam said. “Worried? Sure. She’s our best friend. Best damn winger we ever had too. Until that day.” He picked at the label on the bottle, not making eye contact with Wyatt.

“She gave me a chance without batting an eye,” he murmured, remembering the day they met.

He’d just broken up with Julian and Margo, his third dance partner, had left him for Jorge Villalobos. Since then, she’d been a star for the US Pairs Figure Skating team. She could have had that with Wyatt, but she didn’t want to put the work in to be the best. She wanted to step into a roll where the partner was already at the peak of their sport.

When Sasha timidly stepped foot on the ice, he knew he found the right partner. Then she opened her mouth and said hi and he’d been a goner. Sasha was everything he wasn’t or ever could be. She made him want to be a better person, damn the consequences. She also had him trying new techniques he mightnot have tried without her at his side. Especially since their coach modified lifts and turns because of Sasha’s knee.

Now, he couldn’t imagine his life without her. They built the perfect foundation off and on the ice. They were best friends. Though it might not be “real” love, they had love for each other. For fuck sakes, they even lived together. If she could put up with him on and off the ice, that said something about her because really, he might not have been able to put up with his pity parties he seemed to have whenever he spotted a partner at an event.

The door to the bedroom opened and Archer carried Sasha out of the room. The small smile on her lips eased something within Wyatt. When he last saw her, she looked so lost and frail. She scared the shit out of him and worried him half to death in the process, too. The last time she looked so pale and fragile was the first couple of time she skated with him, just to get back used to the ice under her feet and in figure skating skates instead of hockey skates. He’d fussed and rang his hands the whole time Jenny talked Sasha down. He swore to himself in those few minutes, he’d do whatever it took to make sure she didn’t have another episode like that. For the last several years, he’d met that promise head on, until today.

“Look who decided to join us in the hot tub boys!” Archer chuckled carrying Sasha toward the balcony door. “Last one in has to buy dinner.”

Wyatt scrambled toward the door, not willing to be the last one out. “What about suits?”

“Strip down to your skivvies, boys,” Archer replied. “It’s time for a little R and R.”

CHAPTER 4

Sasha’s mind whirled as she tried to reconcile what was happening to her. On one hand, she wanted to spend a quiet evening with Wyatt before warmups and the meeting for competitors. On the other, she also wanted to spend time with her friends, if they still considered her such, and reconnect. Instead of doing either, she was hiding in her room, afraid if she stepped outside, she’d run into Trent again.

Or worse, Julian.

She wouldn’t say she was jealous of the skater. But a niggle of something brewed below the surface at the mention of his name. She pushed the feeling aside and closed her eyes. God, what a day. She wished she was back in her bed, turning off her alarm. If granted the redo, she’d also make sure she didn’t run into the guy who ended her career or meet her current partner’s ex in such a horrific manner. Maybe then she wouldn’t have embarrassed herself by puking up her guts.

A soft knock came at the door before it opened, then closed. Awareness skittered across her skin as the person drew near. She knew it wasn’t Wyatt. Their footsteps didn’t match, so it had to be one of the guys. She rolled over, opening her eyes as Archer stopped and knelt beside her. Worry filled his gaze. She couldn’tbelieve he was there. He looked so much older now. Tired too. Gone was the little boy with the tussled auburn locks. Gone was the naive glitter in his eyes whenever he talked about Hockey. Determination lit his topaz gaze.

“Hey,” he whispered, pushing a lock of her hair from her face. The corner of his mouth lifted in his patented smirk. “You grew up on us.”

“So did you,” she murmured, unable to look away. “All of you did.”

“I missed you—we missed you, Rogue.” He brushed his lips across her forehead and her breath hitched. “Thought I’d never see you again.”

“I’m sorry.” Tears blurred her vision. “I should have called. I should have told you the truth. Should have said we moved.”

“None of that,” he replied. “We deserve some of the blame, too. We could have called.”

“I missed you every day,” she murmured, reaching for him as the words tumbled from her. All the pain and regret. All the fear and uncertainty. The sorrow and heartache. He was there, though, taking her hand in his. “I thought, if I told you the truth, he’d hurt you guys, or you wouldn’t believe me.”

Archer snorted. “We saw it happen. We knew. You’re right, though. Even when our parents demanded Trent leave the league, his parents had more influence. So did coach.”

Because of course they did. “I don’t even know what to say about that.”

“Ice dancing, huh?” Archer changed the subject. She was grateful for that. “Do you like it?”

It wasn’t the same. They weren’t there, but she did love being on the ice again. Wyatt’s quiet confidence and pride made every day easier for her. “Different muscles. Music. You know, it’s not bad once you get the hang of it.”

He chuckled softly. “That’s our girl.”

“So,” she said, swallowing hard. “Did you and Janey ever get together?”

---