by Jaci Burton
"Perfect. You want a massage?"
Amber shook her head. "No, I'm good for now. I'll probably need one tomorrow after I go through the routine a few times."
"Okay."
"Go," Yegor said. "Get out in the village and make friends. We meet tomorrow and practice routine."
"All right." She hugged them both, then took off her skates and started to head out. At the last minute, she changed her mind though, and decided to hang out and watch the next group of skaters. Tia would be out on the ice in this group.
She took up a spot in the front row, so she could get a clear view of the skaters. Not that she'd see much since, like her, they were just warming up. But maybe she could get a feel for their readiness and their form.
Tia, as always, skated lines of grace and beauty, even when she was just warming up. The young girl had a bright future in figure skating. Amber noticed at competitions that the crowds were enthralled with her routines. Who wouldn't be? Her routines were flawless, and her music always spoke to people's hearts.
Amber wished she could hate her for being so good, but how could you hate on someone who felt her routines so passionately at such a young age? It was obvious she loved what she did. Amber had felt the same way when she was Tia's age. She could still remember the awe and wonder of her first games.
And also how lost she'd felt being isolated at the village by herself, without her mother by her side. She'd had her coaches, of course, but even they hadn't been by her side twenty-four hours a day. Amber wondered if Tia felt the same way.
Typically, Amber didn't socialize with her competitors. Making friends with the people you competed with was never a good idea. Her mother had taught her that a long time ago.
But maybe it was time to change that. When Tia came off the ice, Amber smiled and nodded at her. Tia gave her a tenuous smile in return, then headed off with her coaches.
Sasha was in the next group, and it was evident even in warm-ups how much power she possessed. It was her biggest strength and it served her well when she did her jumps. Sasha always had the highest jumps. Amber tried not to compare her own jumps to hers, but it was hard not to. She wanted to be the best, and being the best meant being better than Sasha.
Amber had been so focused watching Sasha that she hadn't noticed Tia standing just off to her left next to the seats. She was also watching the skaters. When Tia looked her way, Amber motioned for her to come over. Tia hesitated at first, then looked around, as if she couldn't believe Amber meant her.
Not surprising, considering Amber's typical unfriendly stance. Heaven only knew what the other skaters thought of her. Or said about her. She tried not to think about that, and instead motioned to Tia again.
Tia walked over.
"Come sit with me, Tia," Amber said.
"You sure?"
"Yes. We'll watch everyone skate."
Tia shrugged. "I guess that'd be okay."
Amber knew exactly what it was like to put up a front as if you didn't care, but deep down inside you wanted friends more than anything. She'd been lonely her entire life. If it wasn't for Lisa forcing her to be her friend, she wouldn't have any, and she'd likely have hightailed it for her room as soon as practice was over today. She had Lisa to thank for dragging her out of her introverted shell.
Amber decided to give Tia time to acclimate. So they watched the skaters in silence for a few minutes. Then Amber asked, "What do you think of our competition this year?"
Tia looked over at her. "I think Sasha is the one to beat. I hope that doesn't hurt your feelings."
Amber laughed. "It doesn't, because I feel the same way. She doesn't make mistakes. Though I think you're pretty formidable, too."
Tia looked surprised. "Me? Really? I'm too new."
"And your lines are beauty in motion. I could watch you all day, Tia."
Tia shifted her gaze away and back onto the ice. "That's . . . really nice. Thanks."
"Just the truth."
Tia went silent for a few minutes and Amber figured she was shy.
"I'm super jealous of you," Tia said.
Amber blinked, then shifted in her seat toward Tia. "Me? Why?"
"Because you have such a confidence on the ice. Even when you're just stepping out onto the ice, your head is held high, you have a smile on your face, and it's like you own every inch of it."
Amber laughed. "Thank you for saying that. I love to skate."
"It shows. You skate beautifully, as if you're a part of the music, as if no one else is even around. I don't know how you do it with all the crowds and the noise and the clapping."
She nodded. "It can be a distraction. You have to tune into the music and forget that all the people are out there during a competition. It takes some practice, but you just have to be one with your music. Actually, while I was watching you I was thinking about how you look when you perform, how your movements are an extension of your music. So if you're nervous, Tia, it doesn't show."
For the first time, Tia smiled. "Really? Thanks. That's good to know. I always think people will be able to see my legs or my hands shaking."
"I've never seen it. And it helps to take a couple really deep breaths right before you go on."
"That's what my coach says."
"He's right."
"So how do you handle being off by yourself?" Tia asked, obviously becoming more at ease. "There are so many people here."
"My advice? Make friends and make a lot of them. Get out of your room and socialize."
"I'm underage so I can't go to the club."
"I was, too, my first time out, but there are activities for you. And groups for everyone who's underage."
She nodded. "Yeah, I haven't done any of that yet. My roommate is seventeen and from Finland. She's trying to coax me out."
"Go with her and do everything you can. Soak it all in. And when some of the other events start, go to them. They're fun to watch and they give you a chance to meet people."
"I'll do that."
"But always go in groups. And don't let the boys hit on you. They just want in your pants."
She laughed. "That's what my mom said."
"She's right. Have fun--but not too much fun, because you don't want to lose focus on the competition."
Tia studied her. "I can't believe you're being so nice to me. We are competitors, you know."
"We're also teammates. I think you're supremely talented and I want you to do well."
"Thanks, Amber."
They ended up exchanging cell phone numbers, because Amber wanted to make sure Tia had a person she trusted to text or call in case she needed someone. They watched the last round of skaters, then Amber headed out.
The ice had felt good, and she'd made a friend among her competitors today.
So far, so good.
SIX
WILL SHOT THE PUCK TO HOGAN, WHO PASSED IT BACK to him. The skate was light and easy. They had no opponents, just their team out there. It was mainly to get a feel for the arena. They didn't even have nets up yet.
The ice felt damn good under his skates. He was itching for a hard skate, a chance to really use his stick and slam the puck hard, to have an opponent to skate against, someone to slam up against the boards.
That would come soon enough, and damn if he wasn't ready as hell for competition to start. But for now, an easy warm up and a skirmish against his own defense would have to do.
He should have known his defense would make him feel ready. As he and Drew Hogan worked their way down the ice, Hogan slid the puck his way. Parker was right there to stop his progress, their sticks colliding in a fight for the puck. Stravinsky joined in and they hustled the puck away from Parker and made their way down the ice. Stravinsky shot it over to Hogan while Will got into position near the nonexistent net, battling sticks with the defensive players. As soon as Hogan shot him the puck, he visualized where the net would be and shoved it in.
"That looks like a score to me," Coach Stein yelled. "Take a water b
reak."
Drew bumped against him as they skated their way over to the bench. "Now that's what I call teamwork."
Will curved a smile. "We look pretty good. I'll be happier when they bring in the nets, so we can slap the puck in there."
"Nets will be out tomorrow. Then we'll get heavy into practice."
"Are you guys as ready for this as I am?" Adrian Parker asked.
Will nodded. "You know it."
"I'm already tired of beating up on our own offense, and this is our first skate. I'm ready to beat up on the other guys."
Will laughed. "Hey, some of those other guys are our own teammates."
Parker grinned. "I know. That's the fun part."
That was one of the interesting parts of these games. His team back home was made up of guys not only from the US, but from Canada and Russia and a few other countries. Here at the games, some of those guys would be playing for their home countries, which meant his own teammates would be competitors, and some of his typical competitors were now his teammates.
Fun stuff.
He would have been able to play with Tyler Anderson, his teammate on the St. Louis Ice, but Tyler's wife, Jenna, had recently given birth to their baby boy, so Tyler had opted out and Drew Hogan from the New York Travelers had been chosen to take Tyler's place.
Will liked Drew. He was a formidable forward, and he'd be a great asset on this team. Actually, the entire team rocked.
He was so ready to get this party started.
SEVEN
AMBER HAD WANDERED THE VILLAGE ALONE ALL AFTERNOON, familiarizing herself with the shops and locations. There was so much to see and do.
She was used to being by herself and found it relaxing to wander where she wanted. It was doubly easy because they were in Vancouver where everyone spoke English. The shopkeepers were all welcoming and she liked chatting with them.
She'd stopped in one of the craft shops to buy yarn. She loved knitting, because she couldn't read during waiting and down times. She was always too distracted, but knitting was something she could do. She bought some beautiful teal yarn that would make a pretty cardigan.
When she got back to the apartment, Lisa was just coming out of the shower.
"Oh, you're back," Lisa said. "I was just about to text you."
Amber laid her purse and her package on the kitchen counter. "How did your practice go today?"
Lisa grinned. "Stellar. How about yours?"
"It went well. I even talked to Tia, one of my competitors. We sat and watched some of the other skaters."
Lisa made her way into the kitchen and pulled a bottle of juice from the fridge. "That's outstanding, Amber. Look at you, being all extroverted."
Amber skirted around Lisa to grab a juice drink for herself, unscrewed the top and took a swallow. "I wouldn't go that far."
"Hey, it's miles above how you were four years ago."
"I'll give you that. I mean, I'll never be you."
"Ha. Well, no one can be me."
Amber rolled her eyes. "So true. But I am getting out there more. I did a walk around the village today. Ate lunch by myself. I haven't been back to the room since this morning."
"See? You are doing better. I'm proud of you."
Amber laughed. "Thanks. Oh, and I had breakfast with Will this morning. He also went for a run with me at the gym."
Lisa's eyes widened. "Do tell."
"Nothing happened between us. Just a run and breakfast. Then I had to leave to get ready to skate."
Lisa leaned back in her chair. "But you want something to happen between you."
"I don't know. Maybe. I don't want to be a one-night stand for any guy."
"I don't know why not. Sex can be fun, Amber. It doesn't have to end in a big commitment. And frankly, you don't want that from any guy you hook up with here."
She sighed. "I know."
"We talked about that, remember? Jump into the sex waters, have a little fun and don't get emotionally attached to anyone. If you want to limit yourself to one guy--or maybe two guys, great. But it's okay for you to be a sexual being, honey. Isn't that what your hormones have been telling you?"
For the longest time, she'd thought she was sexually dead inside. She'd been so focused on skating, she never gave guys a second look, especially the drunken frat boy, grabby type of guys. But then she realized there was a major part of life--the fun, sexual part--she was missing out on. The only thing was, she didn't just want to be some guy's lay and then quickly forgotten. There was something deep inside of her that strongly objected to that.
"Yes, you have been telling me that. And I want that. I want to have fun. I want to have sex. I just want to be selective about it rather than falling into the sack with the first guy who suggests it."
Lisa nodded, then took a sip of her drink, obviously pondering her next words before she said them. "And has Will suggested it?"
"Not directly. I mean we've sort of talked about it in a roundabout, flirtatious kind of way, but I think he understands that I want to take things slow."
"Okay. And he's still around, right?"
"I guess. I mean, we'll see. I haven't heard from him since breakfast."
Just then her phone buzzed, so she reached for it, read the message and looked up at Lisa. "It's from Will."
"And what does it say?"
"It says, 'Hungry. Wanna have dinner?'"
Lisa grinned. "Outstanding. So go have dinner with Will. Then see what happens after dinner."
Amber couldn't deny the small thrill of anticipation, or the delight at getting a text message from Will.
You're being ridiculous.
Of course she was. But she was also giddy. So she'd ride the wave of giddiness and, like Lisa said, she'd see what happened after dinner.
EIGHT
WILL WAITED AT THE DOOR TO AMBER'S HOUSING UNIT. When he saw her step out of the elevator, his heart rate kicked up a few beats faster. She had on her white parka, the dark fur from the hood teasing her cheeks. It was snowing again, so she stopped at the door, pulled her beanie from the pocket and slipped it over her head. She spotted him as she pushed through the door on her way outside and graced him with a genuine smile that rocked him back on his boots.
"Hi, Will."
"Hey. You look pretty." Her cheeks were already pink from the cold. It was snowing again, the flakes dropping onto her black beanie. She also wore dark skinny jeans that were tucked into tall boots.
"I do? Thank you. That's so sweet of you to say. Can I say you look hot?"
His lips curved. "You can say that."
She looped her arm in his. "Are we heading to the cafeteria?"
"Nope. We're heading offsite for dinner."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
They walked a ways out of the village, toward a parking lot. Will pulled out a set of keys.
"You got a car? How did you get a car?"
He walked her to an SUV. "Let's just say I know people."
He opened the door for her and she slid inside and buckled her seat belt, her internal excitement engine revving up.
She thought she'd be stuck at the village for the entirety of the games. She wouldn't care if they were going somewhere for fast food.
Will got in and buckled up, then started the engine and cranked up the heater. They headed out of the lot and down the road.
"So this is why you wanted to meet early."
"That, and other reasons."
She looked over at him. "Care to share?"
"Not at the moment. But you'll know once we get there."
"Okay." Mysterious, too. Will was getting more and more interesting every time she was with him.
She focused on the scenery as Will drove. Vancouver was breathtaking. The snow had stopped falling and the sun had come out, so she fished her sunglasses out of her bag and slid them on, taking in the view of all that white and green blanketing the mountains. The trees towered so tall she could barely see the tops of them as Will took them thr
ough some fairly treacherous turns. But he took his time and she enjoyed every moment of gawking as he drove them down the mountain.
When he pulled into a parking lot and she spied the restaurant perched precariously on top of a hill, she felt pure awe.
"The views here must be incredible."
Will put the SUV in park and nodded. "Yeah, I've heard good things about this place. Let's go check it out."
They went inside and were immediately greeted by windows that showcased not only Vancouver, but the Burrard Inlet. Obviously there wouldn't be a bad seat in the entire restaurant.
Will stepped up to the desk and gave his name. They were immediately seated near one of the windows. Amber took off her beanie and her coat and then looked over the restaurant. The cedar ceiling and gorgeous stone fireplace created a cozy atmosphere. The fire gave off a delicious warmth, despite all the windows. She looked out over downtown Vancouver and watched the sun go down over the water. The views were breathtaking, the sun an orange fireball as it sank slowly behind the mountains. Amber felt so fortunate to be able to see it.
"This view is spectacular," she said, pulling her gaze away from the breathtaking scenery and onto other steal-your-breath sights, namely Will, who sported a day's growth of stubble on his jaw, which only served to give him a sexier look. If that were even possible.
"I thought you might enjoy it."
"Thank you for bringing me here."
Their waiter came over with menus and asked what they wanted to drink. Amber chose water. Will did as well.
Amber looked over the menu. "I have no idea what to order. Everything looks amazing."
"We should have an appetizer," Will said. "I don't know about you, but I worked up an appetite during practice today."
She looked up from her menu. "Did you eat lunch?"
"Well, yeah. But that was hours ago."
She laughed. "Okay, then. Appetizers it is."
When the waiter came back with their waters, they ordered an appetizer and their dinner.
"How did your skate go today?" he asked.
"It felt good. How about yours?"
"Not long enough. Not tough enough. It's better when you have someone to skate against other than your own team."
"I imagine that's true. I did stay and watch some of the other skaters on the ice. And I talked to one of my US teammates."
"Don't you always talk to your teammates?"
"No."