Gasps burst through the audience, applause following quickly as Indie performed her graceful escort routine. Nate barely processed it. He was aware of Holly’s fingers curling more tightly around his and he shifted closer without even thinking, solid.
Indie returned to center stage, final card in hand, grin positively wicked.
“And now… the winners of the week.”
Nate felt the anticipation ripple through the crowd, but it didn’t land in his gut the way it had in previous weeks. There was no nausea. No tightness. No quiet fear that he’d let Holly down. Because he already knew he hadn’t.
“Based on the judges’ scores and the highest number of viewer votes…”
Another pause. Another inhale.
“The winners of the week are… Holly and Nate!”
The studio exploded.
Cheers crashed over them, applause echoing off the walls, and Holly turned to him with eyes so wide and bright he actually laughed out loud. He didn’t hesitate. He just scooped her up like she weighed nothing and spun her once in the center of the stage, the audience roaring louder at the blatant display of affection between them.
She laughed against his shoulder, arms tight around his neck. Cameras zoomed in. Somewhere, someone definitely clipped that moment for TikTok already.
He set her down but kept his hands on her waist, unable to convince himself to let go. Her smile was incandescent. Not polished-for-TV radiant. It was raw, earned and slightly unhinged in the way pure joy sometimes was.
“You just Cha Cha’d America into submission,” he murmured, leaning in close enough that only she could hear.
She smirked back. “You’re welcome.”
Indie slid back in beside them, practically vibrating. “A flirty Cha Cha toTraining Seasonand a live declaration of feelings? Honestly, you two areexhausting.”
Holly beamed sweetly.
Nate, meanwhile, felt something settle deep in his belly that had nothing to do with glitter trophies or weekly titles. Standing there under the lights with her hand in his, the room still buzzing with cheers, he didn’t feel like he was surviving the competition anymore. He felt invincible.
Because she was beside him, totally flushed, absolutely fierce. His in every way, with the entire world watching them choose each other without flinching. The scoreboard flashed their names in bright gold letters overhead, but Nate barely looked at it. He didn’t need numbers to know they were winning.
@BallroomInsider on X:
Holly Martinez & Nate Eriksson just went from ‘unexpected chemistry’ to ‘probable winners’ in record time. Judges loved it. Viewers loved it. The internet is already planning their victory edit. #takethefloor
@HockeyWAGCentral on TikTok:
(caption on slow-mo clip of Nate lifting Holly)
the hockey girlies have gathered to announce:
we are no longer watching this show ironically
@icegirlsunite (comment reply)
we lost him to ballroom but like… respectfully??? look at him????
@PuckBunniesDaily on Instagram:
I regret to inform everyone that Nate Eriksson smiling like that should be illegal.
We have lost a soldier. He is DOWN BAD.
SportsNet segment soundbite:
“We expected Eriksson to pick up some footwork and maybe some anger management strategies. We didnotexpect him to pick up America. The man looks like he’s playing Game 7 every week.”
