Page 13 of Waltzing on Ice

Finn

We are at Worlds and the energy in the arena is electric, the kind of buzz that always gets my blood pumping. This is what we’ve worked for. The moment to prove we belong here, to show the world why Daisy Whittaker and Finn Sullivan are a force to be reckoned with.

We skate perfectly for the first two-thirds of our program. The music swells, and we move together like we’re untouchable. Every glide, every turn is seamless, like our bodies were made to do this together. My hand finds the curve of her back, guiding her effortlessly into the spin sequence, and for a moment, it feels like we’re invincible.

Daisy’s body is warm against mine, her breath syncing with mine as we push through each movement. The chemistry between us ignites under the bright lights, a fire that I can’t deny anymore. Every time my hands find her waist, my grip tightens just a little more than necessary, and I swear I feel her shiver.

Then we reach the final lift and Daisy hesitates.

It’s less than a second, just a flicker of doubt, but it’s enough. Enough to throw the timing off, enough to make me adjust at the last possible moment. I catch her, but the lift isn’t effortless like it should be. It’sforced. The moment is tainted.

The audience doesn’t know. The crowd erupts in applause as we hold the final pose, but I can feel it in the tightness of herbody, in the way she won’t meet my eyes even as we take our bows. She knows, too.

We finish strong, but I know, I know the hesitation cost us.

The second we’re off the ice and out of view, I whirl on her. “What the hell was that?”

She’s already pulling away from me, avoiding my eyes. “I—It just happened.”

“It just happened?” I repeat, disbelief and frustration curling around every word. “Daisy, we’ve done that lift a hundred damn times. You don’t hesitate on that lift.”

She swallows hard, eyes flashing. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Finn.”

I laugh, but it’s hollow. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe the truth? Maybe an explanation for why you suddenly can’t trust me to hold you?”

Her lips part, but no words come out. And that’s the answer right there.

I shake my head, exhaling sharply. “You don’t trust me, do you? Not on the ice, not off it.”

She flinches, just slightly, but I catch it. And fuck, it hurts more than it should.

“Finn—” she starts, but I cut her off.

“You can’t have it both ways, Daisy,” I say, voice low and rough. “You can’t let me in one second and push me away the next. You either trust me or you don’t.”

Her throat bobs, but she doesn’t answer.

“You looked at me out there like you didn’t know if I’d catch you,” I press, my voice turning hoarse. “After everything how the fuck can you still doubt me?”

Her breath stutters. “Finn, it’s not that simple.”

I let out a humorless laugh. “Itisthat simple, Daisy. You just don’t want to admit it.”

She opens her mouth, but before she can say anything, one of the officials comes by to direct us toward the press area. She takes the out immediately, turning away from me like she’s grateful for the interruption.

That’s when I realize, she’s not going to trust me just because I tell her to. She has to decide on her own.

I nod, jaw clenching. “Got it.”

Chapter Twelve

Daisy

The silver medal feels like lead around my neck.

I should be proud. I should be happy. Winning silver at Worlds is an incredible accomplishment. But as I stand on the podium, forcing a smile for the cameras, all I can think about is how it’s not gold, how it’s not enough.

And I know why.

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