Page 39 of Revolve
“Isn’t that Reed? The one who forced you off the ice last week?” I ask.
He glances at them. “Probably making sure I’m not violating my suspension.” The strain in his voice is almost imperceptible, but I hate that I notice it. I skate ahead of him again, but he catches up easily.
“Trying to escape me?”
I would never admit that I doubt that I could outskate him. “Something like that.”
“Then you probably shouldn’t have begged me to be your partner, Romanova.”
“There was no begging involved. I’d probably be a whole lot nicerto you if I did beg. But you don’t have the upper hand here, Dylan. You need me just as much as I need you.”
“Say that again,” he says. “The needing me part. But slower this time, and put a little emphasis onneed.”
I roll my eyes. “Again, I never begged.”
“Now that you mention it, I think I’d like that. A lot.”
“You think I care about what you want?”
“Need,” he corrects. “And I think you should care a whole lot.”
“Why? Are you planning on dropping me? Been there, done that, Donovan,” I joke, but it comes out hoarse.
“What?” He rears his head just slightly, not finding it funny at all. His relaxed demeanor puffs away. “You seriously think that I’d drop you? After all you’ve been through, you think there’d be a second that I’d ever let you touch the ground before I could catch you?”
I’ve never joked about falling before. This was the first time I’d let my trauma trickle into a conversation so easily. But even saying it felt a little too soon. I’m sure it always will.
“Sierra,” he prompts.
“No, I don’t.”NowI don’t. He’s so serious about this, I can’t mistake his sincerity for anything else. It hadn’t occurred to me until now how much I let the fall with Justin begin to wedge itself into our skating relationship.
“Good, because I won’t.”
Lidia’s whistle sounds again. “That’s enough warm-up. It’s time for mats.”
I groan.
THE ROOM ISthe size of the dorms in Iona House that nobody wants. Turns out Lidia’s “technology is evil” stance messed up the bookings for the training rooms. We walk past the occupied room that doubles as the yoga studio, already being used by other students.
So now we’re stuck in a room so small that if we added another person, we’d suffocate. It’s extra hot too because of the boiler tank in the corner. There is one window that Lidia asked Dylan to reach, but it’s jammed. I’m not even sure if we’re allowed to be in here, but with everything in this building booked, we have no choice.
The crash mats are a flashback to how many times I’ve landed on them face-first. I’ve done this with Justin countless times, but they were decidedly unmemorable. Today it feels intense. Or I assume it’s going to be since my partner is Dylan fucking Donovan.
A bead of sweat trickles down my back as Lidia tries to get the old tabletop fan to work. Dylan tugs off his hoodie, and the white tank he has underneath lifts to expose a flash of smooth skin, but I look away immediately. I’m desperate to remove my own half-zip, but I’ve only got on a sports bra underneath, and knowing Dylan’s hands are going to be all over my abdomen, I’d rather not have my scars on display.
“Stand closer together,” Lidia commands, giving up on the appliance. “Closer, Sierra.”
I try to stay composed even though I know Dylan’s grinning his head off right now.
“Okay, basic lifts today. Let’s start with a shoulder lift.” I stand in front with my back to him, and he loops his arm around my waist, placing his hand firmly on my abdomen to pick me up and suspend my body weight entirely on his shoulder. “Now spin before you let her back on her feet and face each other.”
Dylan’s hand covers my entire torso, and he lifts me like I weigh nothing. I hadn’t expected it to feel this different, but it does. He doesn’t strain or need to adjust his hold, he just does it, like it’s easy. Like I’m easy.
“Again. Smoother this time,” Lidia says when I’m on my feet. And we do it again, and again, and again. It’s on the ninth lift that Dylan starts to breathe a little harder, but he doesn’t complain.
“Engage your core. Turn on your green light.
“Let your touch guide you into each movement. Again—this time in sync.
