Page 60 of Jesse and the Ice Princess
"Like I said, he's perfectly nice. We had a good time, but I told him there wouldn't be a second date."
"Good."
"Good? That's not something a friend should say."
"It's what this friend says." He snatched her seltzer, feeling like he could breathe again. "I'm sorry." His smile dropped.
"For what?"
"For turning on the Pens." He shook his head like he was disappointed in himself.
She turned to open the fridge to get a new drink since he'd stolen hers. When she straightened and faced him again, she sighed. "Some things, Jesse, are just unforgivable."
* * *
"Charlie! Charlie!"Jesse cheered from his spot on the couch. In front of him, Charlotte stood on one leg with the other stretched out behind her.
Beside her, Roman tried to do the same. Where she was still, he wobbled. Where she looked graceful, he looked goofy.
His leg shook beneath him before he pitched forward, his hands hitting the ground before his knees.
Charlotte laughed, not moving from her pose. "Too hard for you?"
It all started with a comment. Roman said anyone who knew how to skate could pull off the basic figure skating moves.
Charlotte lowered her leg before using it to propel herself into a spin, her sock sliding against the wood floor.
The move looked effortless, the flight of a graceful bird. Even Roman's eyes widened from his position on the floor.
She laughed as she came to a stop, pure light emanating from her expression. He hadn't seen her look so effortless in the training session he attended. She'd still been beautiful, but there was a tension in her body. Not here. Not now.
"You really love it, don't you?" He'd doubted her love for the sport, wondering if she was truly meant for it or if she continued because of her mom.
She nodded. "I do. I really do. It’s just the competition circuit I’m not crazy about."
"If you could have both—hockey and figure skating—if there was a way... would you do it? If you could play that game against Venice with us, would you be there?"
His question seemed to surprise her. "That's not possible, Jesse."
"But if it was." He leaned forward, wanting her to see what he saw. She could do anything. And if she wanted it, he'd... well, he'd do anything to help her get it.
"Don't ask me that, Jesse. Please."
"I just want an answer."
She only stared at him for a moment, her eyes glistening.
"Jess," Roman warned.
Jesse ignored him. "Charlie."
"Yes." Her voice was so quiet he barely heard her. "If I didn't have to choose..." She closed her eyes. "I love hockey." She opened them and looked from Roman to Jesse. "But I'm not willing to give up everything I have for it."
Maybe she didn't have to. But he didn't say that. Instead he turned the TV volume back on as the final period started. The game no longer held his attention as Charlotte sat beside him, all smiles gone from her face.
With a single sentence, he'd stolen them.
And now, he had to find a way to give them back.
