Maya broke the silence with a laugh. “It seems you’ve got my mitten—and my attention,” she teased, her voice light but warm. She slid her hand into the mitten he held open, her fingers brushing against his. She smiled up at him. “You’re too good to me.”
Sam blinked rapidly and covered a smile with her hands. Honestly, Maya was the best flirt she’d ever seen. And Gabriel was falling for it. Sam watched in amazement as his smile softened into a bashful grin. This was the most romantic moment she’d ever seen.
“Just doing my part,” Gabriel said. “Wouldn’t want you to lose anything—especially not this mitten.”
Sam had to turn away to hide her smile. What was happening? Gabriel Hawke, known for his calm, cool, and collected personality, his ability to remain unruffled no matter what the occasion, was melting under her friend’s attention.
Maya raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “You’re starting to sound like a knight in shining armor.”
Gabriel laughed, his cheeks still tinged with a soft pink. “If the glove fits …”
Maya snorted, and Sam couldn’t hold back a laugh either. The tension between them melted away in the shared humor, and for a second, it felt like the three of them were part of a world entirely their own.
“Okay, okay, I’ll let you two have your moment,” Sam said with a teasing wink, stepping back. “But seriously, if I get dragged into one moreCinderellascenario, I might start looking for my own glass slipper.”
Maya rolled her eyes, but her grin never faltered. Glancing at Gabriel, she gave him a mock-serious look. “If I catch you keeping any more of my stuff hostage, there’ll be consequences.”
Gabriel held his hands up in faux surrender. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Well, I hate to break up beautiful things, but duty calls.” Maya smiled at Gabriel. “I’ve got a Finn to annoy.”
She winked at Sam. “I’ll catch you later—and don’t worry. I’ll log in for you and post the best pics. Ciao!” She waved her hand and disappeared into the hotel, leaving Sam and Gabriel standing in the snow.
He turned to her, his smile faltering. “Sam, about yesterday, I’m sorry you missed out.”
“Thanks,” Sam said. “I messed up.”
“No. It was bad luck, that’s all.” Gabriel shoved his hands into his coat pockets. “You had it right up until that last second. I never saw anything like it. You made everyone sit up.”
Sam hunched down into the neck of her jacket. “No, it wasn’t bad luck. I hesitated.”
Gabriel looked at her steadily. “Ah, I’ve been there too. You didn’t trust yourself?”
“Something like that. How’d you know?” Sam looked at him. They were friendly with each other, and had met on the circuit many times, but he’d never been as open about his career before.
“Been there.” He nodded. “Messed up too. Qualifiers in 2018. Didn’t you know?”
Sam shook her head. She’d been so wrapped up in herself, acting as if no one before her had ever failed in anything, that she felt a hot wash of shame creep up her neck. “What did you do?”
A smile tugged on the corner of his mouth. “The same thing you’re known for—I got up. And the next day I showed up, and the day after.”
Sam kicked the snow at her feet. “I feel like a fool.”
“You’re not a fool.” Gabriel’s tone was firm but kind. “But you are if you let this get to you. Sam, you’re not even close to being done. Get back out there and show them that.”
Sam swallowed hard, his words settling somewhere deep beneath her ribcage. The sting of shame was still there, but it was softened now by something steadier, respect maybe. Or even hope.
“Thanks,” she said quietly. “You’ve no idea how much that helps.”
Gabriel smiled. “You don’t owe anyone anything, remember that.”
Sam nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
Gabriel looked at his watch and Sam smiled, knowingit was an accessory that Maya would love to see. “Look, I have to go—media team meeting. Apparently, I’m supposed to know what I’m doing up there.” He grimaced.
“I’ve no doubt you’ll hit those marks,” Sam said, hiding her hands in her pockets so he wouldn’t see her trembling. His words were hitting home hard. She didn’t owe anyone anything. It was about her—her love of the sport and her joy, and it always had been.
She watched Gabriel run lightly up the hotel steps and into the lobby. The street was quiet around her now, the cold less biting than before. Her heart still ached for yesterday’s loss, but she had tomorrow waiting for her, and moping about it wasn’t going to get her anywhere. Nope. Sam Harrington wasn’t done yet. But first she needed to change into her kit and get out there to cheer Finn on.
