“Come on, Dad. I have straight A’s. I’m the ninth grade student body president. I haven’t missed a day of school all year,andI had the best figure skating lesson of my life. I never ask for anything.”
“You asked me for a pony.”
“For Christmas when I was four,” she challenges, and I know how this argument is going to go. I know he’s going to give in.I’m more certain of it when she sticks out her bottom lip and adds, “Please?”
Brody pinches the bridge of his nose and glances at me. “Are you okay with this? You don’t have to be.”
“I’m not going to risk being the uncool one. I’m okay with it, but you don’t have skates. If I’m going to win, I want to win fair and square.”
“There are some in my office. I have multiple pairs.”
“How convenient that you’re prepared.” I smile. “Could be fun. Could also be embarrassing, but I’m down to find out if you are.”
“This is your one guilt trip of the year,” Brody says to Liv, and she bobs her head in a nod. “You don’t get another one. I’ll be back.”
“I’m so glad I’m using it on something good.” She takes his spot on the bench, resting her elbows on the boards. “His turns are slow,” she tells me when he disappears. “If you’re with him at the halfway point, you’ll probably win.”
“I love insider knowledge. Thanks for the heads-up.” I bump her knuckles with mine and move to the ice, stretching my hips. “I’m not very fast, but I am competitive.”
“My dad might have you beat there. He’s competitive witheverything.”
Brody is quick to return, mumbling under his breath about peer pressure and being ganged up on. He ties his laces and spins his hat so it’s facing forward, and I decide he’s one of those men who looks good no matter which way he wears a cap.
How unfair to all of us.
“What are the rules?” he asks, skating over to me. “A lap? Crease to crease?”
“Crease to crease.” Liv winks at me, and he scowls. “Winner gets… the tiny origami star I made in Spanish class this morning!”
“You’re going down,” I whisper to Brody, and he grunts in response. “Do you think your legs are going to give out?”
“Be careful what you say, Tiny Everett. I’d hate to see you trip and fall.”
“Tiny?” I laugh. “Please. Have you seen me?”
“I consider anyone I can lift with one arm tiny. That applies to you.”
“I guess you can do that, huh?” I say, proud when his cheeks turn a deep shade of pink.
Making him blush might be one of my new favorite things.
There’s no more trash talking, because Liv whistles, signaling the start of our race. We both take off, and I’m genuinely shocked by how fast Brody is. I was expecting to have the advantage due to his injury, but he’s like a bullet. Gliding across the ice while looking like he’s not even moving, and my legs burn as I approach the halfway mark, struggling to keep up.
It helps that Liv was right about Brody’s rotation. It’s clunky. He’s heavy on his feet and his turn takes longer than it should. It’s just enough time to allow me to catch him, and as we come into the final straightaway, I have a slight lead, ahead by a nose.
“Go, Hannah, go!” Liv cheers, and it’s the motivation I need.
There’s no trophy or grand prize. In the grand scheme of life, this event has no impact on anything else I’m ever going to do, but I’m suddenlydesperateto win. Maybe it’s to prove to myself that even though I’m going back to square one, I’m still one of the best skaters in the world. Maybe it’s because I haven’t won anything in so long. Whatever the reason, it’s fuel to the fire, and with ten yards to go, the victory is within reach.
But Brody has other plans. I blink and he’s there, right by my side, matching my pace. He’s crouched low, keeping his center of gravity tight while swinging his arms, and I make the stupid mistake of looking over at him. When I do, I catch him smiling.Little eye wrinkles. An open mouth, like he’s about to let out a low laugh.
He’sbeautiful.
It distracts me, and I lose my footing. The toe of my skate nicks the ice, and I tumble both forward and sideways, right into him.
“Shit,” I cry out, hoping I hit the ice ass-first and not with my wrists.
The fall is inevitable. I brace myself, but I’m not met with the hard, cold surface I expect. Instead, it’s warm. Soft in the middle, with an arm around my waist. I open one eye and find myself against Brody’s chest, his back bearing much of the brunt force.
