Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 113072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 565(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 565(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
“You rule breaker,” I say as we dance through the next footwork section. “What’s with the jump?”
He just winks.
Next up, the camel spins, the pair spins, and more footwork. Then somehow it’s already time for the lift. As I catch Chase’s hand for our final span of crossovers, he gives me a smug grin. And when he lifts me in the air, I look down at the crowd and see a thousand faces tilted up toward mine, eyes bright, mouths open.
Do you believe in fate? Martina asked us. Tonight I really do. This song is only four minutes long, but some performances feel like a whole life in four minutes.
It’s beautiful.
We’re beautiful.
And I hope my mother sees the video on Instagram. I hope she understands me a little better when she sees it.
Chase sets me down again, and suddenly it’s over. We’re slowing to a stop at center ice, our bodies curved together to form the heart shape, just as we practiced.
But this time, when we pull apart to “break” the heart, Chase doesn’t let go. Instead, he draws me back in, finishing with an unplanned embrace as the final note fades. And the rink goes dark.
The applause is deafening as the lights come back on. I bow on autopilot, Chase still holding my hand. Then the music changes to “Unstoppable,” and hockey players are flooding the ice, too, forming two lines.
Chase and I move out of the way so they can spray ice shavings at the crowd in twos and threes.
“I’m sorry,” Chase says, leaning in to whisper into my ear. “About the hug. I got carried away.”
“It’s really okay,” I say, turning to look into his clear blue eyes. “I don’t care anymore what other people think.”
He gives me a puzzled look, but I’m not joking. Sharp obviously knows about the two of us. Any attempt I made to maintain professional boundaries at work is just a joke now. He’s going to use our relationship to manipulate Chase, and I don’t know how to handle it.
Chase squeezes my hand, and I realize it’s time for our final curtain call. We bow once again, and then the house lights come on.
That’s when the real chaos starts. Darcy, squealing, brings me a Legends jacket to wear over my dress so I don’t freeze while Chase and I shake hands with the people who paid a thousand dollars to see us skate.
I take off my skates and replace them with a pair of Darcy’s little black heels, because I don’t own any girly shoes. Then I follow her and Chase into the lobby, where a sea of faces greets us. A few tweens and teens ask for my autograph, and the whole world asks for Chase’s. They take photos of him in his slinky blue shirt.
As the crowd finally begins to ebb, Bess appears in a blue dress and a bright smile, complimenting us on our performance. “Kids, that was fun to watch. And I look forward to seeing it eleventy billion more times on social.”
I’m just about to comment when Chase says, “Holy shit! Ethan!” I turn to see him hug-tackling an East Asian guy about my age.
“Oh my God,” I squeal. “Ethan?”
He laughs, then pulls a second guy into the circle by the hand. “We had to come. You remember Joon-ho?”
Chase lets out a bark of laughter. “You guys! You’re a couple? After all this time?”
“We’re married,” Joon-ho says, blushing.
“That’s amazing! I’m so glad you came!” Chase laughs, hugging Joon-ho, too. “Are you still skating?”
“Not really,” they both say at once. Ethan adds, “The best thing I got out of skating was him.” He puts his arm around Joon-ho. “But that’s enough. And we weren’t going to miss this tonight.”
“I mean, for the shirt alone,” Joon-ho says with a snicker.
Chase reaches out and squeezes his shoulder. “Staying off Adderall, I hope?”
Joon-ho puts his face in his hands. “Oh God, that’s still so embarrassing.”
“It turns out he’s really sensitive to stimulants,” Ethan says with a blush. “He can’t even drink coffee.”
Chase asks Bess for a scrap of paper and writes down Ethan’s number so he can text them for a meetup. And then finally there’s nobody left waiting to talk to us. I’m tired, and I can’t wait to get all the pins out of my hair. But I’m happy, too. And Chase is giving me the let’s go home eyes.
“Guys, you crushed it.” Bess turns to me. “Zoe! You are a star. That routine was so impressive. I can’t believe you choreographed that when you were a teenager.”
“Thank you,” I say, meaning it. “It was really fun then, and it’s still fun now.”
“You know you’ll have to do this again next year, right?” She cackles. “Steve Sailor’s got his hooks in now. And by the way, I need to congratulate you on your job offer.”