Page 102 of My Last Dance

He grinned at our joined hands. “Isn’t this canoodling?”

“It’s professional,” I said with false confidence.

“Whatever you say, P,” he said, and then I was rewarded with his one-of-a-kind grin.

Staring out the backseat window at Lake Michigan, I gathered up my courage and said, “I like you, too. Just so you know.”

He bit out a chuckle and suddenly he was pulling mecloser so our thighs were touching. Closing my eyes, I laid my head on his shoulder.

“I know you do,” he whispered before dropping a kiss on my hair.

________

I was right to think that our privacy would vanish.

The next day, we were practicing in the lobby with an audience of Mer, Colt, Lucy, and JP.

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell us. On top of being your best friends, we’re your teammates,” JP said.

“Not anymore. I replaced y’all with a prettier teammate.” He winked at me, and I really hoped no one could see the goosebumps that erupted on my arms.

The guys gave him more gruff, but he just shrugged it off, saying, “I’m just taking one season off, chill out. It’s not a big deal.”

After moving through a smooth lift where he held me above his shoulders and then dropped me so that our chests were flush, Lucy let out a loud sigh and whispered, “So romantic.”

I bit my lip to hide my smile because I didn’t want to embarrass her. Kappy’s eyes never left mine, but his shoulders shook with a silent laugh.

Colt watched with a shit-eating grin on his face.

JP studied us with his head cocked to the side. “Wait, can you teach me that?”

I shrugged. “Sure. C’mere.”

“No.” Kappy scowled, shoving him back. “She’smypartner, go get your own.”

Mer laughed, looking absolutely delighted as her eyes danced between me and Kappy.

20. REGIONALS

The day of our Regionals competition was a crisp fall day in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Patrick, Kappy, and I walked across the large parking lot and were greeted by a huge crowd of kids holding signs, sports memorabilia, and pens. I’d signed autographs for plenty of girls before, but this time, there were shockingly tons of boys in the crowd, holding up hockey jerseys and sticks.

“I think you guys are the favorite today,” Patrick mused with a genuine smile. “I’ll meet you inside for warm-ups.”

Kappy immediately jogged over to the kids and started joking with them and posing for pictures and signing autographs. A minute later, he was gesturing for me to join with a proud grin on his face.

I’d never signed a hockey jersey before that day, but that’s what the kids wanted.

“This is amazing,” a young mom gushed. “We’ve never been able to afford to go to one of your competitions before. She’s starting figure skating because of you.” She patted her tiny daughter’s head. “She can’t stop watching your videos.”

My heart warmed. Maybe being sent back to Regionals wasn’t such a bad thing. “Enjoy the competition,” I told them. “And good luck to you.” I smiled at the little girl.

After navigating through check-in and setting our stuff in a lockerroom, Kappy and I got to work stretching out in the rink hallway.

“I played so many games here growing up,” Kappy said with a chuckle while holding the cinderblock wall and stretching his long legs. “It’s funny to be back in a local rink after playing in so many stadiums.” He licked his lips and dropped his head. “If only my younger self could see me now.”

I smirked. “He’d be proud.”

He pinched his black shirt. “He’d roast my ass for wearing rhinestones and tucking my shirt in.”

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