Hearts On Ice

by Janae Keyes

  We had to figure something out. I had to be there for Lia’s performance to cheer her on in her crowning glory. My girl was a champion and I wanted to see her win gold.

  “We’ll figure something out.”

  Before long, I was cuddled with Lia in my tiny twin bed. The guys had gone out to celebrate and wouldn’t be back until around 4 in the morning. Until then, I could have Lia close to me.

  She sat curled on my lap with the program for the ice skating final. We’d figured something out. If the game ended with not much overtime, I could make it to the figure skating final in time to see Lia perform.

  This Olympics was so unlike my last. In Sochi, I spent every possible moment partying. I’d hooked up with the girls that fell all over me and I was barely present. Last time I was in was a haze of partying and sex.

  Now, I had my girl and my sanity. Now, I could see clearly and play better than ever. Parties had become a thing of the past, and the only one to get a ride on big Zeus would be Lia.

  I pressed my nose into her hair, taking in her sweet scent. She only wore my personal Sharks jersey and panties with her hair all over the place. I imagined many nights like this one when we returned to the States. I’d keep her close and we’d grow old that way, spending every night cuddled together and enjoying one another’s company.

  “Nothing would have prepared me for this,” I mumbled into her messy hair.

  “For what?” Lia questioned as she moved her head back to peer at me through her seductively thick eyelashes.

  “For being happy, clean, and so in love that it hurts in the best way,” I told her honestly to her grin. “I was never happy really. I pretended pretty fucking well. Everyone thought I had it all and that I was on top of the world. I was nothing…nothing until I had you.”

  “I’d always wanted love, but I would never admit to it. My career was too precious and nothing ever worked out anyway. You were the last guy on earth I’d expect to fall for, but I did and I’m happy I did. When my injury first happened I thought it was the worst thing, but it turns out it was the best thing to happen in my life. I would have never met you and I wouldn’t be here completely in love and content with my decision to retire.”

  “I suppose we never know where life will take us,” I concluded, my lips pressing to her neck.

  “Never,” she whispered. “Never.”

  The time had finally come. The finals were about to start, and I was ready to send Russia packing and winning the gold for Team USA. Taking my position on the ice, I glanced into the stands where I spotted Lia, the only person I needed to cheer for me.

  She looked like perfection as she cheered along with Kamber. They were catching as much of the game as they could before rushing over for Lia to perform. Tonight, she and I showed what we were made of. We were individual athletes in our sports, representing our country and the Willows Center.

  “Let’s do this!” I cheered to my guys. We’d been training for this moment. We would either be gold medalists or second on the podium. America didn’t take fucking second.

  The adrenaline was like nothing I’d ever remembered feeling before. It was a much better high than any drug I’d ever taken. This pumped through my blood like living fire and gave me the motivation I needed to feel invincible.

  I was right in the attack against the Russians all over the ice. I knew one of my guys was near, but my vision was blocked by the literal red army advancing toward me. There wasn’t time to think properly, and I was a goner if I didn’t make a blind pass. Shooting the puck toward where I thought one of my guys was, I took the chance.

  I took a quick glance at the clock. I needed Jones out of the penalty box because he was my right hand that I depended on. The other guys were great, but during the games up until this point, Jones and I seemed to be perfectly in sync.

  At half time I took a swig of water to cool my insides. We were down two points to the Russians, and it wasn’t looking good, but we still had time. I wasn’t about to give up. I heard someone call my name. I turned and saw my girl. Her hair was pulled into a high ponytail for her performance and she looked like heaven.

  “Come here, baby,” I said to her as she took a few steps down to get as close as she could to me. I reached up and pulled her into a deep kiss…a good luck kiss.

  “You’re doing great,” Lia said against my mouth. “Mom and I have to leave soon.”

  “I know, but don’t worry. I’m going to make it.”

  “You better make it, Max Madden.”

  I loved whenever she scolded me. Lia wasn’t the delicate princess the world had made her out to be. She was a queen who ruled with an iron fist.

  That kiss was apparently all I needed because when we returned to the ice for the second half, I scored a goal right away. The Russians looked shocked at my power move and they would be shocked for the rest of the game. My spirit was renewed and I was ready to win it all.

  29

  Lia

  The energy was amazing. I watched Max and the guys do what they did best. They were the best of the best and they showed exactly why they were chosen. They possessed power and dominance when they were on the ice, teaching the Russian team a few lessons.

  “Let’s go, USA!” I shouted as they were now in the lead 3 to 2.

  “Lia, we have to go,” my mom reminded.

  I groaned, but it was time for me to do what I did best and show that I was one of the best of the best. I gave the hockey rink a final look, the game full on and Max doing his thing. I smiled to myself before we left.

  Luckily, the figure skating rink was right next door. Mom and I entered to quickly find Bev and Nadia waiting for us. My nerves were on fire but I lived for those moments. It was honestly one of my favorite parts of competing.

  My free skating program was highly anticipated by everyone as my rumored quad Axel would be making a return.

  I’d placed third in the qualifying rounds and now, I had to boost myself into first place.

  Watching the current skater made me nervous. Mei Chen of China was my strongest competition. Her program was almost flawless. She skated with such grace that blew me away. She’d placed first in the World Championships and in most gambling rings, she was the choice for gold. I tried to not bite my nails as Mei left the ice to thunderous applause.

  A skater from Bosnia and Herzegovina was right before me. I went over my program in my head. I’d memorized every bit of it even down to moments where I took breaths. I thought back to that last kiss I shared with Max. I believed win or lose, I still had won in my own way because I still had Max and our future together.

  My time had arrived. I went to take the ice. My short program had been flawlessly choreographed by Nadia to “Effortless” by Sabina Ddumba. I had selected that song and presented it to her after I’d heard it at random on a music app. It described my relationship with Max perfectly. Our love was effortless.

  I skated to the best of my ability to the beautiful and fast paced song. My heart went into every move. I landed all of my required elements and a few more. Every jump was on point and each spin was perfectly executed. I wasn’t leaving anything left to chance. Nothing was sloppy or pulled together without a missing seam.

  First Place! I knew I had it in me. No one could question what I had done. And in my free skating program they would be brought to their knees as I showed why I was an expert, and why I deserved to be first on the world’s stage.

  “That’s my girl!” Mom cheered as she threw her arms around me.

  It all came crashing down on me at once. This was my final Olympics. I’d done three good tours. I’d shown the world a teenage girl who could dominate, and that girl became a woman before their eyes. Now, that woman was in love and ready to go into the next chapter of her life.

  First, I needed a vacation. Max and I had already booked a three-week getaway to Aruba for just the two of us in a private beach house. I anticipated cocktails, walks on the beach, relaxing with the sound of waves, and my screa
ms of passion piercing each night. Max claimed he’d have me pregnant by the end of the three weeks. Knowing him, he was going to take the challenge head-on and I wouldn’t stop him. As soon as we leave South Korea, my birth control was going in the trash.

  The free skating programs began. I watched my competition on the ice. Some were only good while others were absolutely phenomenal. They didn’t call it the gold medal round for nothing.

  “USA’s hockey team won,” Mom whispered in my ear.

  I wanted to jump up and down and scream my joy for Max and the guys. They deserved their win and everything that came with it.

  As my turn drew near, my nerves became shot. My final performance meant so much to me. I simply couldn’t get any element wrong, especially the quad Axel. It wasn’t the time for another disaster or injury.

  My name was announced. It was time. With a deep breath, I started toward the ice. Then I heard another voice call my name.

  There in all of his hockey gear was Max with a grin on his face. I went to him, his strong arms enveloping me and pulling me in tight. A kiss planted on my lips gave me the courage I needed.

  “Remember your first time back on the ice?” he asked and I nodded. “I told you then that you were a bad bitch. I’m telling you again. You’re a bad bitch. You’ve got this, baby girl.” I knew he meant it and he believed in me sometimes more than I believed in myself, but I was the same with him.

  “Max, babe, I love you so much,” I cried, tears falling from my eyes before I gave him a final kiss.

  Taking my place on the ice, I looked toward Max who waved.

  “This is for you,” I mouthed to him before the music began.

  The beginning, guitar chords poured through the stadium and I moved rhythmically to the beat. I channeled the contents of my heart onto the ice. My brain didn’t think. I had cleared it all away and allowed my instincts to take over. Yes, there was choreography, but I didn’t need to remember every step as my body already knew them and moved to its own accord.

  Seeing Max on the sideline caused my stomach to clench. Then butterflies started fluttering. I loved that he could still have that effect on me after everything we had been through. He was my absolute everything. I would love him through any challenge, and I knew he’d love me.

  With each thought of him, tears trickled down my cheeks. I’d never been so emotional while skating, but knowing I’d have him in my life forever, and that he held the key to my heart, and he’d fight for me at any given chance brought out my emotions.

  I’d never been so thankful. I’d never felt so free all because of love. We’d never let go. We were bound for our future of challenges, but I wouldn’t ever face a challenge without Max.

  Bringing all the power I could to my performance, I took off into my quad and landed it exactly how I’d done in rehearsals. The audience went wild and I heard the cheers of one person in particular—Max.

  The moment I finished my performance, I didn’t stay on the ice, but I went straight to him and allowed him to pull me close. His whispers of love and devotion filled me as the audience cheered. He was all I needed.

  And with that, the gold was mine. Shock filled me as Max held me firmly. My team, the people who put the most effort into not just my performances, but my everything from my recovery to my comeback, deserved all the glory.

  I stood proudly on the podium, my gold medal on my chest as I held my hand over my heart to “The Star Spangled Banner.” Team USA tonight had shown the world we were unstoppable.

  As the song ended, I grinned for the cameras and then I saw someone I didn’t expect approaching. Max had changed from his gear into his Team USA sweatsuit. He was the sex symbol of the games and all mine.

  He gave me his hand and helped me down from the podium before taking my hands into his, his steel gray eyes peering into mine and love spilling from them.

  “Lia, my life is forever changed because of you. I’d reached my wits end and was ready to throw it away. I’d never been happy, and it wasn’t something I ever expected until your light came into my life. I can’t go another day without knowing exactly what your answer is. I asked you before and I’ve had this ring forever waiting to put on your finger.” Max dropped to one knee and gasps seemed to echo all around us. “I’m fixed now. You said I had to fix myself, but honestly, you fixed me. I love you with every fiber of me. You give me breath and my entire fucking life. Will you marry me?”

  I wiped the tears that spilled from my eyes and nodded as the words wouldn’t escape my mouth, but at once they did. “Yes!” I screamed as he slipped the large diamond ring onto my finger. I didn’t need the diamond ring. I only needed Max until my dying breath. He stood and I jumped into his arms.

  There were two hearts that stood on the ice and two hearts that had intertwined into one. Our two hearts had entered a place of healing in separate mindsets. They had beaten odds and they’d achieved what had once seemed impossible. Love had made it all possible for those two hearts on ice.

  Thank You!

  I wanted to extend thanks to all who have bought and read my book. Please leave a review HERE.

  The best way to thank an author is to review.

  BREAKING NEWS

  Olympic Figure Skater Lia Crestwood-Madden and her husband, Hockey Player, Max Madden have welcomed their first child.

  A representative for the couple released a statement this morning that yesterday the Madden family welcomed a baby girl. Born just after 8PM, a healthy Rebekah Krystine Madden entered the world.

  After the statement was made, a picture was posted on Max Madden’s Instagram account of two tiny feet with the caption, “My life will never be the same. This little girl will move mountains. Lia and I already love her with every bit of ourselves. We’re beyond #blessed.”

  Mother and child are doing well and are expected to be released from the hospital tomorrow.

  A Note From The Author

  WOW! From start to finish, this book has taken over every bit of my being. I was merely watching the Figure Skating European Championships with my husband and this novel hit from the moment I saw Vanessa James and Morgan Cipres skate together. The words flowed, and this book came to life, Lia and Max came to life.

  First, I want to extend an over the top and beyond grateful thank you to Jessica Watkins. Thank you for taking a chance on this relatively unknown author. I will never forget my 29th Birthday and waking up to an email that you wanted to extend an offer to me. I couldn’t be more appreciative for the chance to show a wider audience who I am and what my words mean to me.

  Second, I want to thank my husband and daughter who put up with me. My husband might not fully understand what writing means to me and there are times where he is over my hectic promotional schedule, but at the end of the day, he supports my crazy dreams. My daughter is only two years old, and though she drives me absolutely nuts, I do all of it for her. I want to show her what living her dreams looks like. It is hard work, headaches, and that moment at the end of the day where you want to give up, but find you have a new good review or get a random Facebook message from a reader.

  I can’t NOT thank my Vegas Fight Club girls, you know who you are, and the first rule, we don’t talk about Vegas Fight Club. Seriously, my tentacle girls are my rock through thick and thin. There is never a day where we aren’t sending each other encouraging words and marketing the fuck out of one another. I love you all so much!

  Khardine Gray, my ice skating expert and author extraordinaire. You’re lovely, and I cannot wait for us to hang out again. Thanks for your assistance with all things skating and helping me make Max and Lia’s experience as realistic as I could.

  There is a whole host of other people, my biggest fan, my mom, of course. My loyal readers that send Facebook messages regularly and those who are members of my group Under Lock & Keyes. My fabulous PA Tasha Hooks, you’re amazing and just the help I needed to make my hectic life a bit less hectic. There’s my girl Shannon Youngblood, and so many more p
eople that I know, I will forget. Know you all have made this come true for me.

  About the Author

  Janae was born and raised in the California Bay Area. She grew up a very creative only child and has been writing for as long as she can remember.

  Janae accidentally met her now husband online, and a whirlwind romance began because of their mutual love of Harry Potter. After dating long distance, Janae picked up her life in California and moved halfway around the world to Belgium to be with him, all in the life of a hopeless romantic.

  Janae is currently living in a suburb of Brussels, Belgium with her husband and daughter.

  For More From Janae

  www.JanaeKeyes.com

  janae@janaekeyes.com

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