Page 105 of Born of Ice

I chuckle and dial Stella. I might be all happy and nonchalant on the outside right now but with each beep my nerves spike up. Yesterday when Exton suggested we forget the rest of the world and just spend the day with each other, I heaved a relieved sigh.He knew I needed that just like I know he did, because my Exton may be all tough on the outside but he’s still fighting his own demons on the inside.

But today is a new day and it’s time to face it.

Everything is about to change. Again. And I’m not sure if I’m ready for that or if I want that, but there’s no going back because my trainer picks up.

“Electra? Everything okay?” Stella asks, concern lacing her tone. She stopped by in here and there over the past weeks, but mostly she’s stayed away, and we never call each other just to chat.

I clear my throat and can physically feel her going on full alert on the other side of the phone. “Yes, I’m okay. Very okay. I-I…” I lift my eyes up to Exton and he reaches for me right away, silently giving me courage to keep going despite his reluctance to call Stella in the first place.

“I did it. I got up,” I say with a whoosh of air, and I’m met with loud silence for a good minute.

“I’ll be there in twenty,” is all she says before hanging up and what I assume is rushing out the door.

True to her words, Stella is knocking on our door twenty minutes later. Exton opens the door as I wait on the couch but I still when I see her. My always composed, stern, tough trainer is in tears as she runs toward me, stopping just a step away, watching me as if she is seeing me for the first time.

Without saying anything, I push up to standing. Exton right there by my side to lend me a hand if I get wobbly again—but I stand, and Stella crumbles. Her whole body shaking with tears like I’ve never seen before because I really haven’t!

Stella doesn’t do emotions.

“My little star,” she whispers as her hands wrap around me, pulling me into a bone crushing hug. “I knew it! I knew it! I knew you could do it! You are my star! I knew it!” She keeps repeatingagain and again and I feel my own tears streaking down my face and hugging her closer.

This woman is more than a trainer, she is the one who took me in after Mom died. She gave me a whole new life back then and now again. She sent Exton my way. She kept believing in me. She was the one who never gave up even when everyone else did.

“Thank you,” I whisper back. “Thank you, Stella.”

“Shush.” She pats the back of my head. “You are like a daughter to me. No, screw ‘like’—you are my daughter, and I’d do anything for you, Electra.”

We stay like that for a few minutes until she must notice Exton behind me and that steel exterior is back. “You can go now, prickly pear. You did what you had to. I’ll call your coach.” She gives him an acknowledging nod and in Stella language that might as well be the biggest praise.

Exton snorts. “Yeah, not gonna happen.” He steps up, putting his hand over me and kissing my cheek like the protective lunatic he is. But I guess I should thank him he didn’t decide to bite me or something along the lines to claim his territory in front of Stella.

Her eyes are wide and surprised as it is.

“What have you done?” I’m not sure which one of us she’s asking but we both answer at the same time.

“Fell in love.” Our eyes lock right away and I’m sure both of us are wearing matching love-sick smiles.

I brace myself, knowing Stella is about to rip me a new one for starting a relationship like she did when I told her about Erik and I…but all she says is, “Fine.”

My head snaps her way as my jaw drops to the ground. “Fine?Fine?”

“Yeah.” She shrugs. “Now, go get ready. I already called Doctor Miles, he’s waiting for you.”

“Stella,” I halt her. “Back up. You won’t give me the whole speech about how I shouldn’t be falling in love and getting tangled up with unworthy men?”

“Why would I?” She looks at me like I’m the idiot here and maybe I am because I’m so utterly lost right now.

“You did it when I told you I was dating Erik.”

“That’s because that imbecile wasn’t for you. He never loved anyone but himself. This one”—she nods toward just as jaw-slacked Exton—“worships the ground you walk on—or rode on before now.”

“Just admit it, you love me.” Exton breaks through his stupor, wiggling his eyebrows, and Stella just rolls her eyes at him.

“Like a cute, cuddly pup.”

“Hey! I am not cute or cuddly.”

“Fine. Like an untrained, shaggy pup with anger and bladder control issues, better? But can we not make this about you right now? My little star is about to get back on the ice.”

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