Page 3 of Born of Ice

I burst out laughing at her monotone delivery, and she grumbles some more into the phone.

“Fine, I won’t drink anymore. I promise. Well, after this one glass.”

“How did I get stuck with such a pain in my ass?”

“Har-har, you love me.”

“Yeah, yeah.” She waves me off. “Do your best on Friday, Electra! No routine is easy, don’t get distracted by this love thing. I’ll be watching.”

“You always are.”

We say our goodbyes, and just as I round the corner two familiar voices coming from the office stop me in my tracks.

“A proposal?” Jasper, our manager whisper-yells loud enough for me to hear over the music. “Are you sure about that?”

“Yeah,” comes from Erik. “Can you get what I asked for ready by Friday?”

“Where is the rush? You’ve been together for four years already. Surely it can wait some more.”

“The rush is that I want to make Elle my wife,” he says sternly, and I gasp, my hand slapping against my mouth to muffle the sound.

Oh my god!Did I understand that right?

They say something else, but I only catch Jasper murmuring, “Yeah, I’ll get Ice Sports, and all the rest of the channels notified. Don’t worry. And then there is silence for a few seconds before he continues. “Well, I’ll be damned. She will love it.” There is a clapping sound and I’m assuming Jasper clapped Erik’s shoulder for whatever reason.

“I know she will. Just make sure you get what I asked for.”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t worry, you lovesick fool. You’re right, this will be good publicity before the Olympics. We can get some nice sponsorship deals for you two.”

I hear their feet moving and clutching my racing heart I bolt from my spot.

Erik is going to propose to me. This is really happening. Oh my god!

I slip into the powder room, locking myself in there to calm down and wipe the happy tears from my eyes. Am I really getting one of my wishes answered that fast?

I smile at my reflection in the mirror. My light blue eyes shine with happy tears and I take a few deep breaths to will those away, fix my low-cut bangs and pull my fingers through the rest of my dark brown locks that got quite tangled during dancing to take my mind off of what I just heard.

My God, I’m getting married.

Friday can’t come fast enough.

2

Trust me?

Electra

“And the final skaterspresented tonight are our very own, Electra Monroe and Erik Shishkov, representing Boston, Massachusetts,” the announcer’s voice booms through the speaker as the spotlight lights turn to the entrance of the ice where we are standing hand in hand, waving to the crowd surrounding us.

I inhale it all.

The scent of the refrigeration system, sweat, tears, hopes and dreams filling my nose.

It smells like home.

Hollers and hoots along with whistles and mad clapping explode around us, and I smile, waving at them as my light pink bedazzled costume sparkles in the spotlight. With one last look into Erik’s dark brown eyes, I smile, and we take to the ice. That satisfying slash of ice underneath my blades is like a lullaby to my ears.

Despite the undeniable chill in the air, I feel that easy warmth spreading through my bones and blood because this is where I come alive.

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