“That’s part of your problem,” I say. “You need to eat.”
“I’ll go get you something,” Andrew says as he gets up.
That’s when I feel it. Like a warm itch on the back of my neck. I turn without thinking, and my eyes lock with his… for the second time today. He’s sitting at a table full of athletes in USA gear. Like earlier, he doesn’t look away. The intense look on his facestays. No greeting smile, no wave. Just a stare like he doesn’t know what to make of me.Well, I don’t know what to make of you either, Roman Blake Callahan.
He says something to his friends, then he gets up. I watch him with a smirk as he walks over. I feel Étienne’s excitement as he notices what’s going on.
“Hi, again,” he says, eyes laser-focused on me.
I won’t lie… I love the attention.
“Hello, Roman Blake Callahan, defenseman for the Colorado Diamonds.”
He smirks. “I didn’t tell you I was a defenseman.”
“No,” I say with a smile and point at Étienne. “He did.”
“Hi,” Étienne says in a dramatically lustful tone and a small wave. “Me and my whole family, well, except this loser over here, arehugehockey fans.”
“That’s awesome,” Roman says genuinely. “It’s always cool meeting fans. Are you skating too?”
“No, no, no,” he says, waving his hands. “I don’t get on the ice. I like it from afar.”
“Étienne tried ice skating once and broke his ankle—literally.”
“Damn,” Roman says, scratching the back of his neck. “That sucks.”
“It was so bad,” Étienne says with a frown. He shivers as if he’s reliving the memory.
“It was actually really funny.”
He gives me the middle finger.
“You should have listened to me,” I say, taking a sip of my water. “I told you to point your toes in and not out. You wanted to point them out. You thought you knew better than me.”
“Okay, All Star, we get it,” he growls.
I grin, tilting my head. I look up at Roman who is watching me in awe.
“Do you want to sit with us?” I ask.
“I don’t think I’m supposed to,” he says carefully.
“Right, right. Fraternizing with the enemy. Canada and USA… I get it.” I nod, then add, “Well, I will see you tomorrow, right?”
He nods, the look on his face so intense. There’s something about it that I really like.
“Bye, Nico.”
“Later, Big Guy.”
Chapter Five
Roman
Morning skate is rough but it’s better than some of the practices we’ve had. Our first game is today, and I think we’re doing as well as we can. It may be different once we get on the ice for the game. We know there’s more on the line there, and it’s not just a practice. Everything could fall into place once we’re playing for the gold and nottryingto mesh. Sometimes trying is what makes it not work. Thinking about it too much messes with your head.
I sit on the bench, half my gear off, still trying to catch my breath. I grab my phone and pull up the schedule for figure skating because I just need to know…
