Page 25 of My Rival for Christmas

I can’t wait.

“So people know, then.”

“Know that Cole is a fucking asshole?” Timidly, like approaching a wild animal, I skate towards her. Careful not to spook. “I hate to break it to you, Paige, but we’ve all known that for years.”

Ever since he destroyed half the men’s locker room at Charmed Athletic for coming in last in a game we were playing to kill time.

We were, like, eleven, and he’s only gotten worse as we get older. I’ve hated to see him skate with Paige. Hated that he got to skate with the most perfect person, and not only did he ruin it, but he’s left her so withdrawn into herself, she can’t even enjoy skating.

He stole her joy.

And I want to kill him for it.

“Not about that. But good to know my feelings are valid about him.” Paige drifts backwards. Away from me. “I’m now two-for-two on partners leaving me, though, aren’t I?” She doesn’t say it with the usual heat. Instead, she sounds tired.

“Is that what you actually care about?” I push off the board. “Not Cole?”

“Did you hear what else he told me?” She doesn’t answer me. I’m getting really tired of her doing this. But since it’s the holidays, I’ll play along. Because I’m on the nice list this year. “I’m assuming Stassi told you.”

I nod to both.

It didn’t take her long to find out.

“What did she say?” Paige hugs her elbows to her chest.

“That he told you you’re not as good as you think you are.” I hate relaying these words. I hate even thinking of them. But I need to get through this so she can hear what I can offer her. “That you’re washed up.”

I really hope he leaves Charmed after this. If not, my fist is going to love decorating his pretty boy face.

“What else?” She’s so small. Voice quiet.

“Paige.” My eyes plead with her.

“Tell me, Nate. I need to hear it.”

“He told you to retire.” For someone as dedicated and obsessed as Paige, telling her to retire is like telling her she’s dying.

She inhales, a flicker of raw pain rippling across her face until she schools it into a docile expression that she wears when she sits in the kiss and cry, the area where we wait to see our scores at competitions. Paige always guards her expression, not letting anyone see her sweat.

But I see her. Even when she tries to hide pieces of herself away.

Whether she’s right in front of me or across the room, I will always see her.

“Tell me you know he was just projecting.”

She doesn’t answer.Thisis why she’s been stuck in her head, missing jumps and skating slower. He’s gotten in, and now she’s turning his words over and over, trying to see if anything sticks.

I try to keep my own anger in check. But there is only one reason why Paige would finally take a vacation. And it’s not because she’s finally learned the benefits of prioritizing herself instead of figure skating.

It’s because she’s weighing her options.

“Paige, tell me you don’t actually believe him. That you’re not actually thinking about retiring.”

This time when she meets my eyes, I see the defeat shining back at me.

“I don’t know, but I can’t really be a pairs skater without a partner, can I?”

CHAPTER FIVE

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