Page 117 of My Last Dance

“And every time they master a pass, they make eye contact and smile. I like that,” Charlie added.

“They really are a great team. I can’t wait to see what they have cooked up for the Free Dance,” Sasha said.

“Same. I mean, they’re doing these technical skills, but they’re actually dancing and having fun with it, and that’s what’s setting them apart,” Charlie noted.

“Yeah, that, and maybe a little something else…” Sasha hinted.

“What’s that, Sasha?”

“I think there might be a little chemistry going on there,” she said with a light laugh.

Charlie chuckled. “I didn’t want to be the one to say it, but…you might be right.”

Yeah, they might be right,I whispered to myself, feeling my heart warm in my chest.

_________

The next afternoon, I shook out my legs and cracked my neck. The crowd exploded with applause for the couple ahead of us.

“I think that means we’re up.” Kappy gave me a wicked grin. “Ready?”

Jittery energy coursed through my veins. “Ready,” I confirmed with my own grin. My body was itching to get on the ice, to feel thehigh that only skating could give me.

Holding hands, we walked down the long hallway. Seeing our pictures displayed on the LED walls, pride skyrocketed in my heart.

Broadcasters, fans, coaches, and judges would later point to this program and use words like “explosive”, “romantic”, and “technical excellence.”

I just called it pure love.

For skating, and for him.

We nailed a perfect program.

As soon as the music ended, he held a hand to his chest, catching his breath and laughing. “We did it. We really did it.”

So much happiness and triumph coursed through me that I threw up my fists and shouted, “Yes!”

Still laughing, Richard picked me up, wrapping his arms right under my butt. My hands went to his cheeks.

His brown eyes shined. “It’s our time, baby.”

We sealed it with a kiss while the crowd roared around us.

“We better book our flights to Italy,” he said.

I was so overwhelmed with pure joy that I couldn’t get the words out. I just nodded. All our hard work was worth it.

I didn’t need to sit in the kiss-and-cry to know that we just won Nationals.

We were going to the Olympics.

_________

When we finally got back to our hotel room, Kappy quickly passed out for a nap—still wearing his gold medal around his neck. After such a crazy day, I actually enjoyed only listening to the sound of his even breathing while I steam-ironed our outfits for the Gala Exhibition. For these outfits, I tried to match Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” music video, so I dressed him in a black vest over a white button down and slacks, and I designed a white flowy dress for myself.

A knock sounded on my hotel room door, waking Kappy with a start.

As soon as I pulled the door open, Patrick pushed past me and stalked in, a solemn look on his face.

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