Page 121 of Wilder

When she finished her salad, she got up and put the dishes outside the door. She really wished that she was heading home the next day, but they still had to get through the Gala.

Her phone’s screen lit up with a message, and she wasn’t surprised to see that Wilder had messaged her back.

Wilder:I can’t believe that they wouldn’t give you a spot. You have a proven track record, and you also proved tonight that you still have the ability to put a top performance on the ice. We’ll be praying that it works out for you to be on the team.

It seemed like Wilder thought that God would be interested in her future in skating. So maybe she could pray about it as well.

Thank you.

Wilder:You’re welcome! Praying for you is an honor and a privilege. Be sure and let us know when you hear.

I will.

She wished she could video chat with him. It felt like forever since she’d seen his face, even though she’d seen him at church a week ago. But they hadn’t talked. She’d arrived right before the service started and left as soon as it ended. It had been an attempt to keep some distance between them.

Still, he had become so important to her, and she didn’t know how to accept a friendship with someone she loved.

Did he know how she felt? Did he care?

She’d done her best to hide her growing feelings from him, despite the fact that she’d opened up more to him than pretty much anyone else she’d ever met. The last thing she’d wanted was for him to feel like he had to let her down easy. There had been no indication that staying in Serenity was even an option for him.

No, it was best to keep her distance for as long as it took to get over Wilder.

Still, two days later, she texted him when they received news that they were part of the US figure skating team going to the Olympics. His enthusiastic response gave her warm and fuzzy feelings that showed that she wasn’t making a whole lot of progress getting over him.

The morning was dark and cold as she headed to the rink the day after they arrived back from Nationals. She opened the door, frowning when she noticed the lights over the ice were on.

When she stepped inside, her gaze went to the ice where there was a bunch of balloons. Holding them was Wilder. He also had a bouquet of roses and a big sign that saidCongratulations, Lexi! We love you!

But it was seeing Wilder again that took her breath away. She had missed him more than she’d realized.

“What’s all this?” she asked as she reached the boards.

“Are you kidding me?” Wilder lifted the flowers and balloons into the air. “It’s not every day someone gets to go to the Olympics. That deserves to be celebrated! I know that you’regoing to be focused on that, so the girls and I decided we’d just give you a little celebration before you got down to work.”

Lexi wanted to weep with the futility of her feelings as she went to where he stood. He was so amazing. So full of life and fun. So ready to celebrate others. So genuine in his actions and words. He’d lit up her life with his easygoing, carefree approach to life.

And it would be all of those things that would take him away from her in April.

“Thank you,” she said, taking the flowers he held out to her. It took every ounce of the emotional control she’d learned over the years to keep all of that sadness from showing. “This is all so amazing.”

Wilder beamed, his smile wide, his eyes sparkling. “You deserve it. You’ve worked hard, and I know you’re going to keep working hard. I’m not here to distract you from that. We just wanted to let you know that we’re in your corner, cheering for you. No matter the outcome at the Olympics, we know that you’re great.”

The emotion that rushed through her hit the wall she was trying to keep in place. But despite the cracks, it held. She needed it to hold.

When the door to the rink opened, their attention shifted to Mik as he walked in the door. He scowled when his gaze landed on them. Jerking his knit cap off, he stalked over to where they stood.

“We need to practice,” he muttered, dropping his bag on the bench. “With no distractions.”

“I’ll leave,” Wilder said. “When I’m finished talking to Lexi.”

Mik’s scowl deepened, but he busied himself with his bag.

“Let’s take this to your office,” Wilder said.

“It’s not really my office anymore,” Lexi told him. “But I can put everything there while I’m practicing.”

In the office, Wilder put the vase of flowers on the desk, then tied the balloons around the narrowest part of the vase. He set the sign on the chair.

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