Chapter 20
TWENTY
I take Rhett with me to the locker room so I can grab my bag.
It looks like we’re going to take third overall and I am going to take second in the senior division.
Not a bad way to hang up my skates. Metaphorically, of course.
We still have the Valley Classic, but it’s more of a showcase with just one other university.
This is the last competitive show of the season and I’m happy with what I’ve accomplished.
“Did you watch it?” I ask. I sent him a video that Josie took of my short program yesterday.
“About a hundred times,” he says, lighting up my insides. “Did someone take video for me today?”
“Yes. I’ll send it to you.”
He grins so big like I’m sending him nudes. His gaze drops. “Can’t wait. Green today, huh? I like it.”
“Oh, thanks.” It’s an emerald green that Josie says makes my eyes pop. I step in front of the large mirror in the locker room and turn my camera to show him the full outfit—sans skates.
“I like it a lot. Wish I could have been there to see you skate.”
“You see me skate all the time.”
“Yeah, but this is different.” He sits on the bed and leans against the headboard. “Hey, I have a question for you.”
“Shoot,” I say, flipping the camera back around, then grabbing my stuff and heading back upstairs.
“How come you never told me about your accident last year?”
I still even before I’ve processed the words.
Rhett continues, “When we were looking for your competition online yesterday, Mav found some old videos from last year.”
“I told you about my heart condition,” I say defensively.
“Yeah, but I didn’t realize it was like that. Besides, knowing it and seeing it happen…” He tilts his head and gives me a tight smile. “I can’t stop seeing it.”
I steel my expression and feel myself withdrawing from him.
He isn’t the first guy to get freaked out and decide it’s more than they can handle.
I was dating Mike, the more recent of my two boyfriends, when I fainted on the ice.
He was great while I recovered and then peaced out as soon as I was feeling better.
It’s hard to blame him. Who wants to date the chick who could drop dead at any minute?
“Why didn’t you tell me more?” he asks.
“Because.” I wave a hand in front of the screen. “This happens. I’m fine. I have a heart condition and sometimes it stops me. Literally stops me. I didn’t want to scare you off with details that aren’t important.”
“It’s pretty important.”
“I get it. It’s a lot to deal with and you already have enough on your plate.” My eyes burn with tears that I will absolutely not cry. Not now. “You should go and get ready for your game. No need to worry about me.”
“Trying to shoo me away, angel?”
“I’m letting you off the hook. I promise I won’t even bad-mouth you to my friends. Not much anyway.”
“Back up about twenty steps, angel. I’m not ending this.”
“You’re not? But you’re freaked out?” I can see it all over his face even if he hadn’t said it. I didn’t put it together yesterday when he was acting strange, but now it all makes sense.
“Yeah, of course I’m freaked out. I don’t feel like I know anything about your heart condition and I was caught off guard. I want to know those kinds of things. I’m tough. I can handle it.” He flashes a sheepish smile.
“What do you want to know?”
“Do you have to get cleared by the doctor every time you skate? Was he there today?”
“No. He’s in Valley. I just see him the week before a competition.”
“Has he ever not cleared you?”
“I had to take some time off last fall.”
He nods and looks to me thoughtfully. “You are inspiring, angel.”
“Inspiring?”
“Yeah, that’s the one thing I’ve said today that I’m standing by. The rest is probably garbage and I’m sorry if I said it all wrong. I like you and I’m not going anywhere. Did I already say that?”
“You did.”
“Good. Don’t forget it.” He glances up and I hear some of the guys talking. “I’ve gotta get ready for the game. Call you later?”
“Sure.” I know he said he’s not going anywhere, but I try not to get too hopeful just in case.
“Good luck.”
He winks. “Later, angel.”
Monday morning, I go to the yoga studio. I’m not teaching any fitness classes today, but Coach gave us the next two days off practice and with Rhett still gone, all my homework done, and my friends busy, I’m bored.
The hockey team won their first game and tonight they play again. It’s the last game standing in the way of them going to the Frozen Four. I talked to Rhett when they were heading to the arena for their morning skate and he was so excited and talking so fast. It was adorable.
I’m taking a break and sitting on my mat when the door creaks open.
“Hello?”
The door swings open and Dakota and Reagan appear.
“I thought that was you,” Dakota says. “What are you doing?”
“Hey!” I smile as they walk into the room. “Messing around, mostly. What are you two doing here?”
“She made me do a spin class.” Reagan sits beside me and drinks from her water bottle.
“Made is a strong word,” Dakota says and joins us. “We missed you last night. What time did you get back?”
“After eight,” I say. “I watched the end of the game in bed and then crashed. Thanks for the invite though. Me and Josie were planning to watch at The Hideout tonight.” From what I’ve heard, that’s where everyone will be. I look to the girls. “Do you want to come with us?”
They look to each other and then me.
“We’re going to the game. You have to come with us,” Dakota says.
“To Troy?”
Reagan nods and smiles and her dimples appear. “We’re surprising the guys.”
Dakota leans forward. “We’re leaving this afternoon and staying overnight. You have to come. Rhett will be so excited to see you.”
“Yeah, you absolutely have to come with us,” Regan says.
“I don’t know. I have…” All my excuses die on my tongue. I’m caught up in all my classes and I already have the day off practice. “You know what, I’m in.”