Page 29 of At the Edge with You

I let out a loud belly laugh, and he grins at me. “How could I not? It inspired our whole story.”

I look away, my face warming. “I still can’t believe they had us skate to ‘Feels Like Forever’ by Joe Cocker.”

Kitty’s idea worked in our favor, though. The hockey player turned ice skater skating to the theme song of the movie with the same premise. Yeah, people ate it up.

“Hey now. Don’t talk about my favorite song like that,” he teases, and my heart sings. Even though we heard it a million times, it’s still on all my playlists.

Just to remind me of that time together.

Not that I need it.

Jett leans into the door, the smile I love most on his face. “I’m just glad they didn’t have us do the Pamchenko Twist.”

I snort. “You know that’s not real.”

“Hey, it was in a movie. It was real.” My face hurts from smiling so hard. Looking so damn sure of himself, he says, “And I’m certain we could have pulled it off.”

I roll my eyes at his cockiness. “Probably. Since you’d never let me fall.”

My words come out breathier than I intended, but they’re true. Jett didn’t drop me unless it was completely out of his control. He was always so careful with me. On and off the ice.

“Never.”

My heart jumps up into my throat at his word, our eyes locking once more. The silence is so thick I feel like I’m choking, but I don’t dare look away. The way he looks at me has me burning up from inside, and it’s too much. Needing to fill the silence—and change the subject—I tell him, “Everything looks awesome. You’ve done great with this place.”

He slowly nods. Gone is the playfulness, replaced by a blank look I don’t understand. Why is he looking at me like that? What does he need to say? His brows furrow, and his eyes darken as he bites out, “How’s this going to work, Fable?”

His question catches me off guard. “I don’t know,” I admit softly, holding his gaze. “I want to work with you, not against you—I know that.”

“But when you’re gone, this place will still be mine.”

“I am aware.”

His eyes are hard as he pushes off the wall. He holds my gaze, not looking like the boy I knew but like a man I’d give my left tit to know. “So, I think you should follow my lead. In the end, this place is mine, and I’ll be the one running it.”

And then, just like most men, he’s opened his big mouth. I don’t disagree with him, but his delivery has my eyes narrowing. He’s acting like I’m someone who doesn’t know how to run this rink or help it grow. I’m an asset, but he wants me to follow his lead. When, obviously, he’s done nothing with the figure skating program. He must see the fight blazing in my eyes because he stands a bit taller, almost as if he’s preparing for battle.

My voice is menacing as I demand, “Why isn’t figure skating taking off?”

He balks at my question, his eyes searching mine. “I haven’t had time. Phillip and I have been looking for someone to take it over.”

“So, you need me.”

Indignation flashes in his eyes. “I don’t need anyone,” he tries, but he’s so wrong and we both know it.

“Eh, but you do,” I correct, turning to face him. “I am one of the most sought-after figure skating coaches in the country. I not only know how to coach, but I know how to build a program. And I don’t know if you realize this, but a lot of what I suggested over the years, my grandfather was implementing.”

He presses his lips together. “I recently learned that.”

“So, you know I’m good at my job and that I know what I’m doing.”

“I never said you didn’t?—”

“No, yousuggestedI should follow your lead, which blows my mind because you’ve worked with me. You know my work ethic. I don’t follow anyone’s lead, and I won’t be following yours.”

“Fable—”

“I know it seems like my grandfather is making me stay here for Kitty, and I’m sure that was his main concern, but he knew what I can offer. What I can provide you with. The figure skating program is trash and undeveloped. Why is the pro shop devoid of anything figure skating? Why are only three girls signed up? Who is coaching them?”

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