Page 76 of Wonderstruck

“And going to classes makesyou miss skating?”

I nodded, forgetting the tears runningdown my face. “Yeah.”

I saw Cora shrug out of the corner of myblurred eyes. “Well then, there you have it. You’re doing this.”

Quick as anything, I shook my head. “But—”

“No buts,” Daisy said firmly. She grabbedmy phone from the coffee table and thrust it into my hands. “Call Aspen. Tell her you’ll go to regionals.”

My gaze darted between the phone and herstare so many times I felt dizzy. “Now?” I asked, my voice rising.

“Yes, now,” Daisy said, giddy smile inplace. “Before you can talk yourself out of it again.”

“Do it,” Goldie urged, her eyes sparkling.

I looked at Cora, hoping for an out, but shejust smiled. “You’ll thank us later.”

Taking a deep breath, I thought over theirwords. And I knew I could spin this a thousand different ways. I could conjure up every excuse known to man and these girls would still find a way to remind me that this was the right choice. That choosing myself would always be the right choice.

I unlocked my phone and scrolled toAspen’s contact.

Do it, Aurora. For once, do something foryourself.

Myfingers trembled as I hit the callbutton, and the girls all leaned in, theirexcitement palpable.

Aspen picked up on the second ring, hervoice bright and familiar as I puther on speaker. “Hey!”

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding.“Hey, Aspen. I'm sorry to call so late.”

Static filled the air before she spoke. “Iseverything okay?”

I glanced around the room one last time before letting my lips slide open. “Yeah,and I’ve been thinking, and…”

For you, Aurora.

“Do you still want to be my coach? Forregionals.”

The line went quiet for a moment, statichumming, before a delightedsqueal erupted down the line. “Are you kidding? Rory! Oh I’d be honoured to!”

The girls burst into cheers behind me, andI couldn’t help but laugh, a weight lifting off my shoulders for the first time in weeks. But another weight entirely settled on me when the girls piled over me, their giggles warming my skin like the sun had swapped places with the moon.

“Is tomorrow too soon for you to start?”

I let my eyes fall shut, savouring everyelated feeling that was making my skin buzz and my smile ache in a way I never wanted to forget.

Because for the first time in a long time, Ifelt like I was finally taking a step toward my own happiness.

“Tomorrow is perfect.”

1.Damn it.

chapter nineteen

seeing him on his knees would fix me, i think

This morning felt colder than the others, partly because it was October now and the air had that bite to it that made the earmuffs and mittens socially acceptable.

Don’t get me wrong, spring and summer were where I thrived. Tea dresses and tote bags were what I wanted to be buried in. But those days where you felt winter tiptoeing in? I loved them just as much. I used to remember waiting for it to get cold enough so the lake by the house would freeze over, meaning I could skate from sunrise to sunset, and nothing was going to stop me.

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