Page 13 of Wilder

Lexi felt a bit sorry for Amberlyn. It was never easy to face the lens of the camera after a skate when your mistakes were many and very noticeable.

Mik had had a few as well. He had looked more winded than he usually did following a performance. Maybe he wasn’t working out enough to keep his stamina and strength at the level where they should be.

Lexi closed out the video before the scores were posted.

It didn’t matter. None of it mattered to her anymore. It wasn’t her responsibility to keep Mik motivated to stay strong. And it certainly wasn’t her responsibility to help Amberlyn.

She wasn’t a partner. She wasn’t a coach. She was nothing.

Trying to shake off the melancholy that wanted to blanket her, Lexi opened her eBook app and, while she finished her meal, she read. Occasionally, she glanced at the table where Kayleigh sat with Wilder.

At one point, they both got up. Kayleigh held out her arms to the man. Wilder bent down and lifted Kayleigh off her feet, making her slap his shoulders. Laughing, Wilder set her down, then pressed a kiss to her forehead.

When she strode away, Wilder sat back down in the booth. Lexi quickly averted her gaze so that he didn’t discover her staring.

The whole interchange was weird, but honestly, it was none of her business. Lexi doubted that Alexander would really be that interested in the personal life of his employees. And why would she cause trouble in someone else’s life when she had enough in her own?

The next morning, after a workout at the apartment, Lexi arrived at the rink by seven. Her day was going to be long and busy, but she was ready for it. Looking forward to it, in fact. Anything was better than sitting in her apartment all alone.

She called her mom again, but they didn’t chat too long because her mom was going out for the evening with Leland and needed to get ready. In the quiet of the empty rink, she spent her time once again going through all her jumps and spins.

Deciding not to skate any of the old routines, Lexi put on a song that she’d begun to create some choreography for. Not that she needed a choreographed piece of music. It was more of a mental need. A creative outlet for her. Much like the skating costumes she designed in her sketchbook that would never become reality.

As nine o’clock neared, Lexi went into her office to change into her fitted workout pants and jacket. When she skated on her own, she often just wore leggings and a sweatshirt. But if she was going to be showing the girls any jumps or spins, she wanted them to be able to see her body lines clearly.

She’d just returned to where she’d left her skates when the door to the rink opened. Turning, she spotted Kayleigh and Hudson coming toward her hand-in-hand.

“Good morning, Alexandra,” Kayleigh said with a smile. “Thank you so much for being willing to coach my nieces. They’re very excited.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“How are you finding Serenity and the resort?” Hudson asked, his gaze intent on her.

“It’s nice. This is especially spectacular,” she said with a wave of her hand at the rink.

“Yep. Still not sure what Alexander was thinking, but once that man sets his mind on something, there’s no stopping him.”

“It might take a bit to find its footing,” Kayleigh said. “But I’m hoping that we’ll get to where it’s an integral part of the resort, just like the slopes are.”

Hudson chuckled. “I think your dreams might be a little lofty, darling. Personally, I think Alexander had it built to give Candace and Sabrina something to do while he and the boys are off skiing.”

“You’re probably right.”

When the door swung open again, they all turned toward it. This time, a whole group of people walked in. A couple of girls—one with dark hair, the other blonde—followed by a woman with dark hair like Kayleigh’s. A tall man came behind her carrying a car seat.

Bringing up the rear was a familiar face. Wilder stepped into the rink, letting the door close behind him.

Lexi looked over at Kayleigh and Hudson, trying to puzzle out the situation, but she didn’t have long to do that as Kayleigh motioned for the girls to join them.

The wide eyes and excited expression on the oldest girl’s face hinted at her knowing who Lexi was. Did she know everything that had gone down?

“This is my sister, Charli, her husband, Blake, and their girls.” Kayleigh rested her hand on the shoulder of the tallest girl. “Layla, Amelia, and baby Shiloh. Also, this is my brother, Wilder, who tagged along for whatever reason.”

“Boredom?” Wilder suggested, a teasing smile on his face.

“Are you going to skate with us, Uncle Wilder?” Layla asked.

“I don’t know. I’ll probably just watch.” He lowered a large bag that he had slung over his shoulder. “But first, you need your skates.”

---