Page 100 of Oh, Flutz!

“A present, dumbass. Open it.”

Shit. “But I didn’t…” I trail off, face starting to burn. “I didn’t get you anything.”Couldn’t consider anyone else for five minutes, could you, Katya?

But Bryan just smiles. “Sure you did. You brought me here, didn’t you? This is the first Christmas I’ve actually enjoyed in years.”

“Oh. Well…” I clear my throat, suddenly flustered, and start tearing at the wrapping paper. A chain falls out and into my lap.

“So, I know it’s kinda stupid,” Bryan begins, “but I know you hate that you can’t represent your own country at the Games if we go. It doesn’t make up for it, or anything, but you can at least have this. And it has one for us, too.”

I stare at the necklace in my hand. It has three tiny charms on it—one with the Olympic rings, one of the Russian flag, and one of the American flag.

“Do you like it?” Bryan asks nervously. “It’s okay if you don’t. Sorry, it was a stupid—”

I shut him up by wrapping my arms around him tight enough that he makes anoofnoise. “I love it,” I say, suddenly trying not to burst into tears, my chest tied up in knots. “Thank you.”

“Oh,” he says, clearly confused by my reaction. “Okay.”

“Katya, there’s someone here for you,” Mama calls from the end of the hall, and I spring off of him, trying to act casual even though I’m sure my face is burning.What is wrong with me?

“Hold on!” I yell back. Then I glance back at Bryan, who’s looking at me strangely, and clear my throat.

“Can you, um—”

“Right,” he says, a little too quickly, and takes it back from my palm. I turn away from him, picking up my hair, and he loops the chain around it, fastening it in place. His fingers brush the back of my neck, and suddenly I feel dizzier than the last time I used the spinner harness in the off-ice room.

I whip back to face him, and I’m too close to him, practically nose-to-nose. All I can see are his eyes, so wide and blue it would explain why I suddenly feel like I’m drowning.

“I should see what she wants,” I blurt out, then rush out before he can reply. I barrel down the stairs, then turn the corner and stop short.

What. The. Fuck.

“I…” I have to exercise a great deal of self-control so that my eyes don’t pop out of my head. “Irina?”

Irina Sokolovskaya offers me a tight-lipped smile. “Privyet, Katya. Merry Christmas.”

I glance over at my mother, who mouths,I have no idea.

The universe has to be playing a joke on me. This is too weird. Have I stepped into another dimension? I turn back to Irina, who looks exactly how I remember, remembering to at least attempt a smile. “You, too. It’s good to see you. How have you been?”

“Ah, I’ve been alright. And you? Lots of changes in your life lately, so I’ve heard,” she adds, waving for me to sit down.

“That’s an understatement.” I sit, hoping it isn’t too obvious how awkward this is, and that I don’t look as nervous as I suddenly feel.

Seeing Irina is like being thirteen again—in awe, and more than a little intimidated. She was the first of Tatyana’s girls to hit the scene, and she was so consistent, people couldn’t believe it. She floored everyone when she showed up. She was superhuman. She was supposed to win.

We all thought she was going to win.

“How is New York? Do you like it there?” Irina asks, and I nod.

“It was a big adjustment, but, yes, I do. Lian Chen has been a wonderful coach, and my partner and I have finally figured out how to work together and win.”

Irina quirks an eyebrow. “Finally?”

I smile. “It was a, um, rough start.”

“I’m not surprised that you’ve excelled in pairs, Katya. You have always been spectacular. Always handled hurdles with grace.”

I blink.Wow. “Thank you.”

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