Page 182 of Tangled up in You

Sasha laughed. “Wait until they win.”

“I bet.”

They watched the rest of the game clinging to each other as each team raced around the ice trying to get the puck or trying to score. Japan had picked up two goals while Archer made another, keeping Japan on the back foot. There was no way they’d lose, still Sasha’s heart pounded. Her stomach knotted. Every instinct screamed to get out there and help, even though she knew she couldn’t.

It was a study in torture being stuck there.

Still, when the last buzzer sounded, Team USA won, five to three. The roar of the crowd consumed her. She also used it to her advantage to get out of the throng of people. They only had a few moments to get to the tunnels to congratulate everyone. Then they had to hustle back to their rink so they could change into their costumes and get ready for the final competition. With any luck, before the night was over, they’d learn if they’d made the Olympic team.

Archer spotted her first, gathering her up in a hug before kissing her. Then she went to Brody, getting the same type of hug and kiss, followed by Cam showering her in attention, then Wyatt.

“You guys did so good,” she said. “I wish we could stay until you get cleaned up, but we have to run.”

“We’ll be there for you too,” Archer said. “Next game isn’t until ten.”

“Talk about late start,” Wyatt muttered. “We’ll see you at the rink.”

Danse Macabre filledthe arena as Sasha counted to three before pushing off with her skate. They started slow, building the energy of the show. When they got to the crescendo, she and Wyatt began their intricate footwork, dancing in a delicate pattern along the length of the ice. By the count of five they reached for each other, spinning low on the ice. The wetness chilled her overly heated skin, infusing her with a love of the ice she’d longed for since her accident.

As they came out of the spin, Wyatt lifted her into an artistic pose, almost as if she prayed, cradled to his body. They transitioned into each maneuver with grace and agility. The full extension of their arms, paired with the way they floated through the fanciness of the waltz, left her breathless in a good way. The longer they stayed out there, the better they got, not that they had fumbled the beginning, more like, instead of being tired, mainly since they skated earlier, she seemed stronger.

Almost as if she could go all night.

They twizzled side-by-side, going into sit spins before coming back together. The quiet confidence on Wyatt’s face, infused her with a self-assurance she soaked up. Pride welled within the part of her still stuck in a hospital bed watching hockey. Her life may not look the same now, but damn it, she was proud of herself.

The music came to a climatic end, and they snapped into place, showing the skulls painted onto each of their faces. The cheers started immediately. Her muscles burned. Her heart hammered as her breath sawed from her chest. Tears welled in her eyes. If there was one thing, she never thought she’d get back to, it was winning. Sure, they’d done well in other competitions, but this felt bigger.

More important for them.

Sasha and Wyatt bowed. She couldn’t look at him yet. She had to get through the next ten seconds before she could fallapart. She glanced up in the arena and spotted Archer, Cam, and Brody jumping up and down, cheering for them like a bunch of lug-head frat boys. Even as the lump of emotions lodged in her throat, growing bigger by the second, Sasha laughed, waving to everyone before exiting the ice.

Was it stupid to say she didn’t care about their score, now?Extremely. A tenth of a point or a whole point could make or break some skaters’ careers. For her, it was the difference between first and second. Both felt just as good.

However, gold was her favorite color.

Glancing up when she got to the boards, the tears in Jenny’s eyes and the satisfaction beaming in Evgeni’s gaze burst the dam she’d desperately tried to hold back. Jenny tugged her into a hug the second she opened the door for Sasha to exit and held her tight. “You did it, precious girl. You conquered your beast.”

A sob tore from her chest. Sasha sobbed like a baby, not caring who saw her. Ten years of pain and agony. Ten years of never thinking she’d ever get back to competitive status. Of being so freaked out by the ice, she couldn’t step foot out there. “Thank you for being my coach. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

“Pfft,” Jenny huffed. “You did this with Wyatt. You could retire tomorrow, and you’ll forever be the partner who believed in him.”

She cut her gaze to Wyatt, who’d received a hug from Evgeni, and chuckled. “We’re going to the Olympics first.”

They gathered in the kiss/cry area, waiting patiently for the results from their final skate. Sasha held Wyatt’s hand. They’d added a couple of extra elements to their show, only because they were confident in their performance and Sasha hoped it paid off.

“The scores for Wyatt Lane and Ariel Rhodes are as follows...”

Again, the roar of the crowd was deafening. When she looked up at the screen, Sasha pinched herself. How? How was any of this possible? People like her never got a second chance. Sure, the arrogant side of her brain kept telling her she’d win, but that cocky bullshit wasn’t real life. No, she always kept her expectations measured and composed. Wyatt grabbed onto her, giving her a little shake while smiling at her. It was as if she had an out-of-body experience. Nothing was tangible. She was floating. Excited and in shock.

No way.

No way!

“The total combine score of 233.45 is a new American Record,” the announcer said, doubling the screams from the crowd.

Sasha’s world spun. She couldn’t breathe. She was both excited and stupefied. Sasha didn’t know if she wanted to puke or bounce around until she couldn’t stand anymore. She and Wyatt were a shoo-in for the team now!Watch out Italy. Here we come!

Once they exited the kiss and cry area, the media bombarded them with questions, asking them all kinds of questions, most of which she wasn’t sure in her current state she could answer properly. However, when her gaze met Archer’s, it was as if everything came back into focus. Her men buoyed her. Held her up when she needed it most.

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