“That will be you one day,” I say, looking over at Brody. “Thank you so much for coming, you all. I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you’re here.”
“I knew you were good. I knew you were popular.” Brody’s gaze shifts from my skirt to my ribbon. “But watching you skate at full strength and speed in person? That was the most beautiful fucking thing.”
My cheeks flush with heat. “I messed up a few times. Some of my entries were shaky and?—”
“You did the damn thing, Hannah. And your edge work?” He reaches out like he wants to touch me, then remembers who is around. “Perfect.”
“I had a great teacher,” I say.
“Is that Tierney Paige?” Liv asks, craning her neck. “Oh mygod. She’s stunning in real life!Dad. Did you know she’s the second Black woman to medal at the World Figure Skating Championships? She’sroyalty.”
“And one of the sweetest people in the world. Go talk to her,” I urge. “She’d love to meet you. If you have any extra friendship bracelets, she’ll take one.” I show Liv my wrist, the gift she made me carrying me through my program. “We can all match.”
“YouandTierney wearing one of my bracelets? I would die. Okay.” Liv takes a deep breathe. “I’m going to say hi.”
Brody and I watch her walk up to my best friend, and he puts a hand on the small of my back.
“You’ve given my daughter so much,” he tells me. “I don’t think I could ever repay you.”
“Says the guy who went out of his way to see me.” I relax when his thumb strokes up my spine. “Knowing you were in the crowd reminded me it’s okay if I mess up. At the end of the day, I have people who support me, and that’s what is most important.”
“Any anxiety?” Brody asks. “Feeling overwhelmed?”
“No. I’m always happy when I skate, but I’m not always happy when I perform. Right now, I’m happy. It’s a start.”
His hand moves up back, between my shoulders, stopping when he gets to my hair. “Another ribbon. Still the bane of my existence.”
“Should I stop wearing them?” I ask.
“Please don’t.”
I laugh and undo the bow looped through my ponytail. I pull it free, then take his hand, tying it around his wrist. “There. Now you have one you haven’t ripped.”
“Wow.” Brody brings it to his nose, giving it a deep inhale. “Smells like your shampoo and perfume. I’m never taking this off.”
“Unless it’s to tie my wrists together, right?”
“Right.” He smiles and looks over his shoulder. He kisses his palm then rests it on the back of my neck, the briefest of touches to my skin. “What are you doing now?”
“Tierney and I are probably going to grab some food. Do you want to come?” I ask.
“I do, but you should go without me. This is your big night. She’s been your cheerleader for years. Go enjoy it with her,” Brody says.
Oh, no.
The butterflies are back, swarming in the center of my chest.
This man and his soft, considerate heart.
“Thank you,” I whisper. “I’ll text you later?”
“Looking forward to it.” He steps back, and I miss him already. “I know I already said it, but I’m going to say it again, because it’s worth hearing twice. I’m so proud of you, Hannah. Small, local competitions. The Olympics. Doesn’t matter what the stage is. I do support you and whatever your dreams look like.”
With the graze of his knuckles against my elbow he heads for Liv, leading her toward the exit. Brody looks at me one final time before they step outside, and I feel it. The cosmic shift when his eyes find mine.
He’s part of my dreams now, and I don’t think I could ever be any happier than this.
THIRTY-FOUR
