Page 10 of My Last Dance

That girl had no partner—in skating or real life.

That girl had no coach

That girl was a “bad sport.”

All because I wanted to win.

And now I was losing when it came toevery single fucking categoryin life.

It used to be okay that I didn’t have any other part of my life figured out because I had skating. It was the one thing that made me feel like I wasn’t behind. I didn’t have a handsome fiancé or family because I was busy building my own success.

But without skating…

I had absolutely nothing.

Not even my fucking pride, apparently, because my eyes were stinging with tears threatening to come forward. It’s just…my heart ached for the stronger, naive version of me. I missed who I was before the world crushed me.

Ugh. No. I wouldnotcry. I quickly blinked away my tears, refusing to break.

“You okay, honey?”

I turned to see a middle-aged woman with long dark hair and kind round eyes hidden behind thick glasses.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I forced a bland smile.

“What’s wrong?” She came closer and touched my elbow,making me back away uncomfortably. I wasnota touchy-feely kind of person. “Do you want to talk about it?” Her frown deepened, enhancing the lines on her face.

“No, no, I’m fine.” I tried to wave her off and gave her a smile of thanks, but that still didn’t work.

Her eyes held so much concern as she moved further into my personal space. “You look really upset, honey.”

“I’m fine, thanks,” I said more firmly, trying to back away from the stranger.

“Come, sit,” she said, grasping my elbow again.

I automatically yanked my arm away, but when I did, my purse went flying to the ground.

“Oh dear.” The woman dipped for my purse before I could.

“Uh…thank you,” I stammered out, thinking she was handing it to me.

Instead, she grasped my purse to her chest and took off in a full-out sprint.

Oh my God.

My mouth dropped open in shock.

“Oh my God!” I pointed at her. This couldnotbe happening. “Stop her!’ I screamed, but everyone just gawked at me like I lost my ever-loving mind.

I started chasing after her. My hot coffee spilled on my arm, making me cry out in pain. I quickly threw it in a trash can and continued after her, but she was a speedy little thing, dodging people left and right without hesitating at all.

My leg muscles screamed at me in pain, wanting me to stop running, but I wasnotletting her get away. There’s no way I was about to let myself be outrun by this woman.

Thinking quickly, I ran onto one of the moving tracks that spanned DTW, making me double my speed.

Up ahead, she looked back over her shoulder and scowled.

Yeah, that’s right bitch,I thought. I was closing in on her. Huffing and puffing, I pushed myself to sprint faster. I was right on her tail now. I reached out to grasp her maroon jacket.

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