Page 128 of My Last Dance

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Just like I thought, I found him sitting all alone on the concrete slab that was once Centre Ice.

Walking closer, I heard “Some Protector” by Role Modelechoing from his phone.

He did a double take when he spotted me. Standing to his full height, he asked, “Can I have one more dance?”

Reaching up, I looped my hands around his neck and we slowly swayed to the music. “It’s funny if you think I’m dancing without you ever again.”

He dropped his head back to look up at the rusted rafters. “Ah, you can’t say that. You’re not a quitter.”

“You’re not either. So you better stay healthy and go to every single appointment and follow every single direction you’re given, or else I’ll never dance again.”

“That’s a lot of pressure.” His nose flared with a breath as he looked around the rink, gathering his thoughts. “My dad taught me how to skate here.” He choked up a bit. “I wish I remembered, but I was too young. He grew up playing here. He still played beer league every week up until…” he trailed off.

My heart ached for him. I reached up and held his cheek.

When his eyes finally landed on mine again, they were red and swollen. “This is going to kill me, Piper.” His lip wobbled before hebit it.

My face softened. He said it like it was the first time he was really absorbing the enormity of the situation. My hand drifted to his chest, right over his beating heart. “Something’s going to kill all of us eventually, Richard. And”—I paused for dramatic effect—“if you ever leave me in a foreign country again,Iwill kill you.”

He bit out a humorless chuckle, then held his eyes for a second. “I’m sorry.”

I swallowed down the burning lump in my throat. “You were running from me again, weren’t you? Like after you got traded away.”

His nose flared with a breath. “I’m not good for you, Piper. They won’t let me play hockey anymore, so I won’t have a job. And…” He choked up. “And you’d be stupid to stay with me.”

“Hey.” I grabbed his chin. “I never want to hear you say that again. This ismychoice.Youare my choice. Don’t insult me or my choices ever again, Richard, got it? And I don’t care about skating or hockey or anything else. I only care aboutyou.”

His eyes went a little glassy. He pressed a kiss to my head and lingered there for a minute. “I’m scared, Piper. You like me because I’m fun and funny, but right now I don’t even feel like the sameme. I think the Olympics were a distraction. Now that they’re over, I’m…” His chest heaved with a ragged breath. “I’m scared.”

I leaned my head against his chest. “You will be fine, and I will be right here with you. No matter what.”

“How do you know?” he asked in a thin whisper.

“Because.” I locked eyes with him. “While everything else in the entire world has changed, you have not. You’re the same person now as you were when we were kids, andthatis one of the many things I love about you,” I said, echoing what he said to me months ago. “Don’t you dare forget how well I know you, Richard. Now kiss me before I take you to the hospital.”

Dropping his neck, he pressed a slow, lingering kiss to my lips while the song ended.

With one last look around the rink, his chest expanded with a sigh. Holding my hand, we walked out of our old home together.

“Are you busy next week?” he asked, holding the dusty lobby door open for me.

“No.” I sighed with a content smile. “I’m retired.”

His eyebrows slammed down. “Really? You’re not gonna lookfor another partner?”

I shook my head. “I want my last dance to be with you.”

His throat bobbed with a swallow. “You’re sure that’s what you want? You don’t have to retire.”

“I’m sure. We got our gold, now it’s our time,” I said, making him grin. “So, what’s next week?”

“Ah.” He pulled at the collar of his t-shirt, looking adorably shy. “I was thinking of setting up some appointments with a realtor.”

“Oh.” I stopped walking. “You’re moving?”

“You are, too. Well, I hope.” He gave a sheepish grin and squeezed my hand three times. “I think it’s time we got our penthouse, baby.”

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