Page 37 of Oh, Flutz!

“That's it, I'm done.”

I sigh. “Bryan, you can’t just quit.”

“Of course I can.” My partner raises his eyebrows at me, pointing to his skates as he exaggeratedly steps off the ice. “See?”

We’ve been working on quadruple toe loops for the last two and a half hours, without much to show for it. Bryan can land one once in a while, but he keeps panicking and popping them any time we try to add steps going into it. We’ve done them over and over for days, trying to figure out how he can land them consistently—and I know he’s angry at himself, no matter how much he likes to laugh it off.

I eye him as he leans over, sandy hair falling into his face as he slings his guards on. “You’re never going to get it if you keep being lazy about it, you know.”

He scoffs. “Lazy?”

Okay, that might be a bit harsh. He might still suck at quads, but if I’ve learned anything about my partner in the two months I’ve been training with him—time flies when you’re training constantly—it’s that he works his ass off. Surprisingly enough.

I roll my eyes. “Fine, not lazy. But we’re not going to be able to put it into the program if you don’t get it down soon.”

Bryan grins, blue eyes teasing as he looks up at me through his stupidly overgrown bangs and those golden lashes of his. “I’m just pulling your leg, Katya. I know.”

“Pulling my—what does that even mean?”

He rolls his eyes, reaching past me for his other guard. “You really do come from another planet. I was right about you being an alien.”

I snatch his guard before he can take it, and smack him on the arm.

“Hey!”

“Come on. Time for more jumps.”

“Okay, mom,” he jokes. “Come on. I was just messing with you.”

Of course he was. He seems to find it hilarious when I get annoyed, which must be why he’s so good at it. “You need a haircut,” I inform him, and he just grins bigger.

“Come on, sunshine, you know it’s a look.”

“It’s not. You can’tlookat anything with all that hair in your face. At least gel it back or something.”

“I, unlike some people I know, don’t enjoy looking like my hair is glued to my skull.”

“Now you’re being mean.”

“Me? Never.You?Always.”

“Yeah, yeah…” I push him against the wall and force his arm back, prying off his guard myself and tossing it aside.

“What are you—”

I take him by the shoulders, turn him around, and push him back towards the door. “Get back to work!”

Before he can protest further, we’re interrupted by a familiar voice. “What is going on in here?”

“Nothing, because he’s about to get back on the ice. Right, Bryan?” I ask sweetly, and my partner groans.

“No!”

“Yes!”

“Oh my god!” Lian yells, throwing her hands up. “Jeez. It’s like dealing with kindergarteners.”

We both deflate, pouting in silence.

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