I can see her contemplating it and the second she gives in. “Okay.”
I grin.
“But, if you fall on any of the jumps, then it’s an automatic disqualification.”
“I won’t fall.”
“So sure of yourself. This should be entertaining.” She skates away from me, steps off the ice, and leans against the wall. “Want music?”
“Yeah, turn it up.” That way she can’t hear the swear words I’ll likely be muttering as I do jumps and leaps I haven’t attempted in years. Now that this is happening, my nerves kick in. I’ve watched her skate a lot. Little glances while we’re practicing and a couple of times we’ve gone early together and she’s let me be her personal cheering section.
I’m perfectly capable of skating her routine. Not well, mind you, but I’m ninety-five percent sure I can stay on my feet. You don’t grow up with parents who teach figure skating and not think to yourself, hey I’m gonna try that shit. Or, I didn’t anyway. Sometimes out of boredom and sometimes trying to impress girls. It didn’t work then, at least on the impressing girls part, but I’m hoping to change that today.
Her routine starts staring down at the ice and then a whip of the head as the music starts. I glance over at a smug-looking Sienna when the music begins and then it’s go-time. She’s graceful, which I’m not, and her program includes a lot of waving arms and fancy footwork that I’m sure look ridiculous with my choppy movements, but I can only focus on remembering the choreography and not acing it. And staying upright. I almost bite it on the first jump, catching myself in the nick of time.
The next jump is the one I’m worried about and it’s coming up fast. I say a silent prayer to anyone who might be listening, then give it my best. I chuckle as I magically land it. I throw my hands overhead and then go into the spin.
After that, it’s cake. The only thing I can’t manage is grabbing my skate behind my head, but I hold one foot up, imitating it the best I can and then fist-bump to the roaring applause I’m expecting.
When I glance back at Sienna, she’s not alone.
My buddies, dressed in their workout gear, watch with expressions ranging from amusement to confusion.
“What the fuck was that?” Jordan asks, brows raised.
“That shit’s going viral,” Maverick says, holding his phone up, probably recording me.
I ignore all of them and focus on Sienna. Her expression gives nothing away as she skates out to me.
“You jacked up the choreography and your jumps are shit, but that was damn impressive.”
That thrill of success shoots through me. “My parents own a skating camp, remember?”
“Mhmmm.” She’s still staring at me through a narrowed gaze. “How do you know my routine so well?”
“The same reason I’m sure this isn’t a rebound.”
“You’re delusional?” A hint of a smile appears, and I know I’ve won her over. This isn’t over. Not by a long shot.
“Yeah, probably that too.” I grip her waist hard enough she can’t skate away from me like she’s so prone to do. “You’re under my skin.”
She doesn’t comment, but relents by leaning into me.
“Rauthruss, ready to watch some hockey or are you switching sports?” Heath calls.
“Coming,” I yell, not looking away from Sienna. “Now, what time are you coming over later?” I wink, drop a kiss to her mouth, and skate backward away from her slowly, waiting for an answer.
“Seven. I have to finish slides for a presentation next week and take a nap.”
“Awesome.” A grin tugs up the corners of my mouth. I’m cheesing hard and I’m never going to live this down from the guys, but I don’t even care.
18
Sienna
Thursday evening, I go to Rhett’s apartment. It’s a busy week for the both of us trying to manage classes, practice, and spending every free second together. Tonight is the last night we’ll be able to hang for a few days.
Tomorrow I head off to Phoenix for a competition and before I get back, he leaves for regionals.
“I have news,” I say while we work on school stuff. He’s sprawled out on his side studying management policies and I’m sitting in the middle of the bed with my laptop rereading the acceptance email I just sent. “I accepted the job with Dalton.”
“Really? Congrats! So you’ll be in Appleton?”
“Yeah.” It doesn’t feel real. I’m not as excited as I thought I’d be, but I know it’s a good job and it’s the best starting salary that I’ve been offered, by far.
“Awesome. We’ll only be a few hours apart.”
Five. Yes, I already checked.
His bedroom door is open and Maverick steps in. “Sardines?”
I make a face of disgust. Yuck. “No thank you.”
“Not the food, the game,” Rhett clarifies. “It’s like hide and seek but you have to squeeze into the space once you find people.”
“Oh yeah. I’ve played.”
“We do it on campus and it’s awe-some,” Mav singsongs the last word.
“We don’t have to play,” Rhett says, but his knee bounces and he’s already got one foot on the floor.
“It’s fine. I could use some fresh air anyway.”
On the walk to campus, Dakota slips her arm through mine and tugs me toward her.
“We’re stealing her,” she says.
“Get your own.” Rhett tries to yank me back, but Dakota’s quicker and she’s strong, too.
She whips me away, leaving Rhett gawking after us. “No. This isn’t happening. You guys have forced me to hang out with you and your boyfriends and girlfriends. Hell, I even had to pair up with those two—” He points to Adam and Reagan. “I finally brought a girl and I want to hide with her.”
“Correction. He wants to make out with her in the dark,” Heath says.
“That too.” Rhett gives me puppy dog eyes.
“You kept her in your room all evening, and now it’s our turn.” Dakota smiles smugly at him. “Boys against girls. Go hide. We’ll even give you a few extra minutes.” She’s biting back that smile now and mutters, “You’re going to need it.”
The guys perk up at that.
“We get to hide?” Rhett asks.
“Unless you’re worried?” Dakota challenges.
Mav scoffs. Rhett rubs his hands together. They start off, already scheming where to hide.
“Remember the rules,” Ginny calls after them. “No going inside or on top of buildings.”
They don’t answer, but she laughs and shakes her head. “What are the odds that someone gets hurt?”
“Adam will guarantee that doesn’t happen,” Reagan says. “He’s done nothing but stress over it all week.”
“Sounds like my brother.” She tilts her head and her hand goes to the end of one blonde braid. “You know, he’s a pretty decent human sometimes.”
“How long until we go find them?” I ask. They’ve wandered off far enough I can no longer hear them talking.
“We usually wait around five minutes,” Reagan says. She’s nice, beautiful too. She has these dimples that I can’t stop staring at.
“I have no intention of finding them.” Dakota lowers herself to the ground and sits with her legs crossed.
“What?” Ginny’s laughter tinkles out into the night, but she sits beside her friend.
Reagan shrugs, and we join them, sitting on the grass in the middle of campus.
Dakota pulls out her phone and starts some music before answering. “It was the only way I could get you three away from your men. They’ve been very clingy this week.”
Reagan sticks out her lower lip and leans her head on Dakota’s shoulder.
“It’s true,” Ginny says. “Heath sat in the bathroom today while I shaved my legs because he wanted to—” She raises her hands and makes quotes. “Spend more time together.”
“Anything not to think about the game,” Dakota says.
“Not Adam. It’s a
ll he’s thinking about,” Reagan says. “He watched game film all night long. All night. When I woke up for classes this morning, his laptop was sitting on his stomach and he was passed out.”
Dakota snorts. “They are all acting so crazy. The only one that seems normal this week is Maverick. He’s his same ridiculous self.”
Reagan looks to me. “How’s Rhett handling it?”
“Oh…” I glance around the circle. “He seems fine. I don’t think I know him well enough to know the difference yet.”
“He’s the most competitive one out of all of them,” Ginny says. “So it doesn’t surprise me that he’s handling the pressure well.”
“And he’s distracted by this one.” Dakota nudges my foot with hers. “I’ve never seen him smile so much.”
“What?” I can feel my face getting warm. “No. That can’t be right.”
Ginny nods. “It’s true.”
“I mean, things are great and we’re spending a lot of time together, but it’s still new.”
“I’m happy for him,” Reagan says. “After the way Carrie treated him, he deserves someone amazing like you.”
“Why? How did Carrie treat him? Aside from calling Rhett constantly, I don’t know much about her.”
None of them speaks at first.
“We don’t really know anything about her either,” Reagan says. “She only visited a couple of times and she didn’t make any attempt to get to know us. It was more of the way he was with her. Rhett spent ninety-nine percent of his time on the phone with her, he always had to check in even if we were out doing things. I’ve never done the long-distance thing so maybe that’s normal.”
“He was a really good boyfriend,” Ginny speaks up for him with a reassuring smile like she’s trying to convince me.
“You don’t need to sell me on him. He’s great.” Trying to take the heat off me and Rhett, I look to the single one of the group, Dakota. “So, Ginny and Heath, Reagan and Adam, and you and Maverick?”
“No.” Dakota’s red hair catches the moonlight as she shakes her head. “I’m forever single.”
“Why forever?”
Reagan leans forward and holds a hand up to her face, then whispers loud enough for everyone to hear, “This one is super picky.”
Dakota smacks her arm playfully. “They’re called standards.”
Reagan laughs and sits back. “What about you? Have you dated a lot of people before Rhett?”
“No, not really. A couple of guys, but nothing serious.”
“Why not?” Ginny asks with a disbelieving arch to her brow.
“What she means is, you’re hot and amazing. How are you possibly still unattached?” Dakota asks. “Fear of commitment? Long lost love?”
I giggle. “No, neither.”
They’re all looking at me waiting for me to elaborate.
“I guess between the heart thing scaring people off and skating taking up so much of my time, it just hasn’t happened. I’m not a big drinker so I usually leave the party before people start pairing off and going home together.”
“You were waiting for Rhett.” When Ginny smiles at me like she’s doing right now, I feel about a hundred years older than her and super jaded. My default would be to make some sarcastic comment, but instead I smile back at her. Maybe I was.
Ginny’s phone lights up in her hand, breaking the moment.
“Heath?” Reagan asks.
“Yeah, he told me where they are and said to hurry up.”
“Clingy,” Dakota says with a snort.
“Adorable.” Ginny sticks up for her man.
The four of us stand to go find the guys. Even if we didn’t know where they were hiding, they’re loud. I can tell they’re trying to whisper but the deep baritone of Maverick’s laugh is impossible to mistake.
When we reach them, all of them except Heath grumbles.
“I knew this spot was too easy,” Rhett says. He’s pretty cute all competitive and frustrated.
“Well, that was fun.” Heath jumps to his feet and walks to Ginny, takes her hand, and drops a kiss to her mouth. “We’re out of here. Ginny has an eight o’clock class tomorrow.”
“Oh right, blame Ginny,” Maverick calls after him, but Heath and Ginny are already headed back.
“He told you where we were, didn’t he?” Rhett asks me once we’ve all started walking to the apartment.
Lips pressed together, I glance at him, deciding if I should tell.
“I knew it!”
“I didn’t say anything!”
“You didn’t have to. I can read your face like a book, angel.”
“Oh yeah?” I lift a brow. “What am I thinking now?”
His eyes darken and do a sweep of my entire body. “That we need to hurry the fuck back.”
* * *
Later, we’re getting ready to sleep when I notice Rhett turn off his phone.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“What’s that?” He places it face down on his nightstand and gets under the blanket.
I motion toward his phone.
“No, it’s fine. It isn’t fair to you.”
I turn, sitting on his bed, to face him. “What does she want?”
“Do you really want to talk about this?” he asks with a sheepish grin. “I promise, it’s over. We broke up over a month ago. I’ve only talked to her to ask her to stop calling.”
“It’s been like this every day for a month?”
“Not every day, but pretty close.”
“If you say that it’s over, I believe you, but help me understand. You must have some idea what she wants.”
“Me, I guess.” He sets a hand on my knee, thumb absently stroking my bare skin as he speaks. “We dated for a long time.”
“How long is a long time?”
“Six years.”
“Six years?!”
He nods. “We grew up together in Minnesota. I’ve known her since kindergarten, and we started dating in high school. She went to college in Nebraska and I came here. We stayed together, but it was hard. We built lives separately and over the years we had less and less in common. Things deteriorated slowly. We hardly ever got to visit each other.”
“Wow. So all of college you’ve been dating someone halfway across the country?” Now the only sleeping with one person makes so much more sense.
“I should have ended things sooner. Honestly, the last few months, maybe longer, were pretty awful. But we were friends before and I wanted it to work because I cared about her. I’m always going to care about her, but I don’t want to be with her.” He leans forward and presses a kiss to my lips. “I want to be with you, angel.”
“I don’t know what to say.” And I really don’t.
“Carrie is struggling to accept something I already have, but she will. I mean, I know I’m pretty bomb, but she’ll find someone new.”
* * *
The next afternoon, I join Rhett and his friends at the dining hall for lunch.
“Is it on TV?” Rhett asks about the competition tomorrow. We leave this afternoon to make the two hour drive to Phoenix.
“No. Sometimes people will stream it online, just depends.”
“Bummer we can’t come,” Mav says, propping an elbow on the table.
The guys are heading to Icarus State for regionals. After a week of hanging out nonstop, I’m going to miss the crap out of Rhett this weekend. I’ll get back just as he’s leaving.
His hand finds my leg under the table and squeezes. I think he feels the same.
“Do you have time to come over and hang before our practice?” His thumb strokes my bare thigh and tingles spread through my body.
“No, I have to meet with my doctor before we leave.”
“Everything okay?” His blue eyes search mine.
“Yeah, it’s just a precaution before every competition.” I check my watch. “Speaking of, I should get going.”
He stands with me and pulls me against his chest. “Good
luck this weekend.”
“You too.” I glance at his friends. They’re watching with big grins on their faces. Laughing, I press my lips to his. “I’ll text you later. Bye guys! Take care of him.”
19
Rhett
“Did you find it?” Adam asks, taking a seat next to me in the living room.
“No, nothing.” I’ve been searching for Sienna’s competition all morning. Someone, somewhere has to be streaming it.
“What time does she skate?”
“Two o’clock.”
“Here’s something.” Mav sits up on the couch. “NAU is live.”
I move to sit beside him and look at his screen. “They’re showing their own girls. That makes sense.”
“Maybe they’ll keep it going all day,” Adam says.
I hum in my throat. I doubt they’re going to keep sharing video of the competition all day long.
“Sucks you couldn’t go,” Mav says. “Are you freaking out?”
“Freaking out? Why would I freak out?”
“Yeah, you know, her heart condition.”
“Oh, yeah, she’s fine. She saw the doctor yesterday before she left. Standard thing. No, I just really want to watch. She’s been so great about Carrie and she came to our game.” And I really freaking like her.
Mav drops his phone between his legs. “What do you mean, she’s fine?”
“Just what I said. The doctor cleared her to skate.”
“Rhett, buddy, he might have cleared her, but she’s not fine. Have you seen the video of her fall last year?”
“No. What fall?”
Mav blows out a breath and raises his dark eyebrows. He positions his phone so I can see it again, and this time he pulls up a video of Sienna skating at some competition last season. She’s in a red outfit that sparkles as she moves along the ice.
She has such a smooth, graceful way about her. Even if I weren’t super into her, she’d be hard not to watch.
“Here it is. Here it is,” Mav says, reminding me that we’re watching this for a purpose.
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