Page 44 of Shining Through

“Was Anton angry about me?”

“No. But we had a lot of work to do, and not much time.”

“If it needed work, I couldn’t tell. It’s like you were born for this sport.”

“It’s funny you say that, since it started as punishment for punching Dima Balankov during hockey practice.”

“Why did you do that?”

He shrugged and sipped his drink. “Because he made a stupid comment about my father dating a teen-age model. But I never liked hockey much. My dad put me in because I was a good athlete, and he thought it would make me tough. Mostly, it made me mad. So after this, he and my coach decided that going into figure skating class with girls would straighten me out.”

“And it turned out you loved it?”

“Not at first. I wanted to defy him by taking something he’d used to hurt me and making it mine. By doing that, I won.” He sipped his drink. “Except I was still fighting him. I’ve always been fighting him.”

“That’s why you sabotaged yourself.” She sipped her drink. “I know it’s hard to break from him, but if you did, maybe you wouldn’t feel the need to fight anymore.”

In a strange way, it made sense. Still, it wasn’t realistic. At least not now. “If I make the team for Grenoble and prove to the Federation I’m worth the investment, maybe.”

“You’re making good so far.”

“You inspired me.” He gazed into her eyes and smiled.

“I did? How?”

“In Delaware, when I was waiting to go before the judge, I saw you on TV. It felt like as long as I kept watching you, everything would be okay. You were beautiful, yes, but more than that, I saw your strength, your courage. I didn’t know you then, but now that I do, you inspire me even more.”

She stared, her lovely red lips parted. “I thought all the things I’d told you about my life had scared you off.”

He put his hand over hers. “I know you’ve been hurt. I know you learned to expect the worst. I want to show you I’m different and that happy endings aren’t bullshit. You and I could have one.”

“I’m complicated.”

“I’m up to the challenge. Let’s start with Brett Stafford.”

She smiled a tight smile. “That’s hard to talk about.”

“Brett is gay.”

He’d guessed the truth, she confirmed he was right. “His dad’s a minister, and Brett’s afraid of his family’s reaction. His dad might even lose his job if the truth got out. And now, Brett’s met someone who has his own reasons to keep his sexuality a secret.”

“So you must keep the secrets of two people, including one you didn’t ask for.”

“Brett’s a private person, just like me. I totally understand not wanting the world to know your business.”

“But it’s hard because you have to consider how everything you do affects someone else.”

She looked down at her hands. “Story of my life.”

“It’s like ice dance. Every movement affects your partner, and the same thing in reverse. Could that be what you loved about it?”

She smiled. “I’d never thought of it that way, but maybe you’re right. I skate alone, but it doesn’t mean I want to live that way.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“THEN DON’T. JUST BECAUSE YOUwere hurt in the past, doesn’t mean the future can’t be happy.

“I don’t know if I believe that. Do you?” Her golden hair fell in waves over one eye, and she stared into her martini, red lips pouting like a 1940’s movie star.

---