Page 134 of Irresistibly Wild

My scores appear onscreen mid-thought, and my on-ice suspicions are confirmed.

The best I can get today is silver.

* * *

Travis calls laterthat night to congratulate me.

Then again, maybe he’s calling to wish me well for the business program I’ll start in two weeks or to ask if I’ve received the massive rose bouquet on my nightstand.

I can’t bring myself to answer the phone at this moment, though.

Penelope is staying in the room across the hall, and she’s been screaming, “Fuck Tatiana Brave! USA! USA!”

I desperately want to confide in Travis about the pain I’m feeling, the fear of being destined to always be second best.

Alas, I never talk to him about his sister, and I don’t want to start now. But I can’t pretend this part of my life doesn’t exist tonight.

Not tonight.

ACT TEN & A HALF

BACK THEN

TATIANA

Ottawa, Canada

A couple months later

Ineed someone to bottle this moment and store it someplace safe and secure. The next time I doubt myself, I want to uncap it and inject the contents into my veins.

Then I want to overdose.

“And with that ladies and gentlemen,” the announcer yells into the mic, “the first ever tie for first-place in Skate Canada’s history, Tatiana Brave and Penelope Carter!”

The crowd applauds while Penelope and I take our place atop the podium. Waving in unison, we smile and take a bow.

“I don’t know why the judges didn’t catch that misstep in your second triple lutz,” Penelope whispers.

“Maybe they decided to overlook it like that slight wobble n your triple salchow.”

“You caught that?”

“I did.”

“Hmmm. How in the world did Ashleigh Lyons get third place, though?” she asks. “She fell twice and her program was more awful than usual.”

“I don’t know, but I’m getting pretty tired of that same routine every season.”

“Right? She just switches the music and copies and pastes the moves in a different order.”

“I’m starting to think the judges give her sympathy points in hopes that she’ll hang up her skates and put us all out of our misery.”

Her eyes meet mine, and we both laugh.

Then we remember who we’re talking to and roll our eyes, faking smiles for the cameras again.

When the ceremony ends, I share a few words with Miss Price and search for my dad.

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