Page 48 of My Best Bet

And then you don’t take up very much space at all.

One day, I imagine, it’ll be like I was never even here. Like I was never able to do any of this at all.

The Night We Metby Lord Heron echoed over the rink speakers next, adding to the haunted feeling the fog over the ice already created.

When I was young, I loved upbeat songs. I loved skating fast and having fun dancing around to the music. Now I loved the slower, emotional ballads that made me extend and forced me to embrace a little grace.

Now that I was warmed up, I pushed into a little made-up program. I felt the lyrics deep in my soul as I entered a spiral sequence.

I threw a couple jumps and enjoyed the powerful check-out feeling. I still had it. Even if just for a little while longer. I could still do this. Just for pure enjoyment. Just for me.

By the time the song finished and silence settled around me, I was actually crying, which was kind of embarrassing. I laughed as I wiped my eyes with my gloves.

And then the sound of clapping echoed in the dark, empty rink.

I whipped around to see only one person up in the stands.

Straining my eyes to see through the fog, I could just barely make him out. But from the way he stood and carried himself, I knew it was him.

Looking down at me, he gave me a tight nod.

Swallowing hard, I nodded back at him.

Right then, it felt like we understood each other again, even if just for a moment.

And it felt like maybe this would be okay.

Maybe we could once again live as parallel lines, peacefully sharing this place.

I should’ve known he wouldn’t let me off the hook that easily.

10.Colt - Birthday Party Invites

The next week we kicked off the regular season with a road trip. We played two games in South Carolina, one win, one loss, and we were ending the trip with a final game in Nashville tomorrow night.

JP and I shared a room, but like clockwork, Kappy banged on our door ‘til we let him in. He strode across the room and plopped at the table, then whipped out a deck of cards. “What’s the bet tonight, boys?” he asked, right as I was getting a FaceTime call from my mom.

Lucy was still staying at my mom’s overnight, but Charlotte’s mother was taking her to and from skating. Charlotte’s mom offered to let Lucy sleepover, and Lucy wanted to, but I wasn’t ready to trust anyone else yet, especially not while I wasn't in the state. I compromised by telling Lucy she could invite her friends over for a playdate when I got back.

When I answered, Lucy’s face filled my screen.

“Did you see the video?!” she asked with excited eyes.

“Yeah, baby, I did,” I told her. “That was amazing.” While on the team plane earlier today, Charlotte’s mom sent me a video of Lucy landing a perfect salchow.

“Did you show Kappy and JP my salchow?” Her eyes darted to the sides of the screen, like she’d be able to see them behind me.

I pulled up the video and proudly showed them.

“Lucy Conover, future gold medalist!” Kappy yelled out.

JP clapped for her. “Lu’s got the moves!”

She let out a squeal of excitement and twirled around with the phone, making me kind of dizzy, but I loved seeing her so happy.

“Where’s Grandma?” I asked her.

Lucy’s eyes shifted down, making her look guilty. “She’s outside playing with her plants. I said I had to go to the bafroom, but I just wanted to call you.”

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