Chapter Twenty-Six
Nico
I free-skate around the rink, practicing my twists and flips.
Coach will be here in an hour, but I needed to let off some steam first—nothing out of the ordinary, especially not lately.
I spend more time in this rink than I do at home, which used to be an exciting thing—knowing I was preparing for the Olympics. Now? Everything feels flat.
I love skating and that will never change, but going back to regular tours after being in the Olympics? You’d think it would have heightened my love for the ice, but I only have this sick, heavy feeling in my stomach.
Which may have nothing to do with skating at all, and everything to do with someone. I skate to the bench to get some water and check my phone.
There’s a text from étienne. He’s the only one who texts me lately.
étienne: Come to my house after practice. I have a surprise for you.
étienne doesn’t live far. Our family is close and prefers to stay that way.
If they could have bought a building to fit us all, I’m sure they would have.
Instead, we have large houses all in the same neighborhood and take turns gathering at each other’s house once a month.
Though, with Mémé and Pépé being ill, everyone has mostly been coming to our house.
Me: Tell me what it is.
étienne: No.
Me: Then I’m not going.
étienne: Trust me, you want to see this.
Me: Fine!
I roll my eyes, dropping my phone to the bench and squirting more water into my mouth. I glance up at the stands—the empty stands—shake my head and go back to practicing jumps.
Before I know it, Coach shows up, and after giving me a long pep-talk on how we still need to try hard even though I already won a gold medal, he brings the choreographer onto the ice, and we start to form and run through the new routine.
It’s good—of course it’s good. It embraces everything I am. I have one of the best and well-paid figure skating choreographers in the area. He works with only me and has signed a mile long contract to do so.
What he did last year won me the gold, so I trust that what he brings to the table moving forward will be just as good, if not better.
“I should have your schedule for you by the end of the month,” Coach says at the end of practice.
“We’re hoping for two tours, plus we have the Grand Prix this fall.
Nationals are in January. Worlds in March.
We also need to sit down and figure out sponsorships because we’ve had a ton of new companies reach out. ”
“I want to stick with the old ones,” I say.
“Nico, we’ve had some big names reach out to us.”
“Who are only interested in me because I’m a gold medalist. I’m loyal, and I will stay with those who have been with me from the beginning.”
He holds my gaze, blinking before shaking his head. “We’re leaving it open for discussion.”
I roll my eyes, knowing I’m not budging. He can fight with me all he wants. Sure, I could take on more, but I am not letting go of anyone who has been around the entire time… as long as they’re still interested in me, which I hope they are. Loyalty, of course, goes both ways.
“We also will be looking into a media tour, some galas and fundraisers, and there is a list of shows you’ve been asked to perform in, but we need to go over the rest of your schedule before we can fit these things in.”
“Sounds great.”
Coach narrows his eyes, tucking his clipboard under his arm and pinning me with a gaze.
“What’s up with you? You’re off. Did you not sleep well?”
“Slept just fine, Coach.”
“Then what’s going on? You done with this now that you think you’ve reached the top? Because I can assure you—”
“No,” I say firmly. “Nothing like that. I love skating. I want to skate. I want to perform. This is my life. It’s just… personal. I’m fine.”
He glances at the choreographer, who shrugs. “He did great today.”
“My mood won’t affect my performance,” I argue. “Are we done here?”
“Sure,” he says and I take off toward the locker room. “See you tomorrow!”
I shower, the water running cold long before I’m ready to get out. There isn’t a single part of me that is interested in whatever surprise étienne has for me, but I still drag myself over to his place instead of going home and faceplanting into my bed like I want to.
“étienne!” I call once I’m inside. His parents’ cars are gone, so I assume they are both at work. I go right upstairs to his room. “This better be good!”
I let myself into his room and find him sitting at his computer. He looks at me over his shoulder, smiling.
“I didn’t think you’d come.”
“I didn’t want to. Don’t want to be here.” I drop onto his bed. “Make this quick.”
“You must be the only person in the world who doesn’t like surprises.”
“What in the world could I possibly need that I don’t already have?” I groan.
“Two tickets to the Tornadoes versus Diamonds game.”
Everything in my body freezes.
“Diamonds?” I ask, slowly turning my head toward étienne, who has a shit-eating grin on his face. “Why would I want to see them?”
His smile falls, turning into a deep frown. “Don’t give me your shit, Nico. I know you miss Roman.”
I scoff, jumping to my feet. “And going to sit in the stands and watch him play from afar, is supposed to… what? Scratch my itch? What could watching him in person possibly do that watching him on TV can’t?
Which I have been avoiding, by the way, but I just—” I growl, throwing my arms up, with nothing left to say.
When I meet étienne’s eyes, he has the audacity to look annoyed.
“Are you done? Because that little outburst tells me all I need to know.” He gets up, coming to stand in front of me and putting both arms on my shoulders. “We’re not just going to watch him. We’re going to see him.”
“What?” I breathe out.
He sighs, dropping his head for just a moment before looking back up at me. “It was Connor.”
“Connor…”
“The guy I was seeing in Vancouver.”
My eyes widen. “Oh…”
“Yeah, so, this isn’t just for you. It’s for us. Maybe, I, uh… found out what hotel they’re staying at.”
“You creep,” I say with a grin.
He shrugs. “So, are you coming with me?”
I grab his face and kiss his forehead, hard and dramatic. “Hell yes, I am going with you, étienne.”