Then another.
“I’m going,” I say. I quickly take off my jacket and hand it to Tess.
“You look amazing. You’re going to do great,” she says, trying to convince me. I hear her words, but they don’t really register.
“I’m going on the ice,” I say again, like I need to hear it out loud.
Leo’s eyebrows shoot up. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I repeat. “If I fall, I fall. At least it’ll be on my terms.”
Tess smiles. “That’s my girl.”
Chapter 1
Gwen
The volunteer opens the little gate to the ice.
Cold air rushes up to meet me, sharp and bracing. The ice looks impossibly smooth, reflecting the lights above like a mirror waiting to expose me.
I step forward.
One foot. Then the other.
The skates hit the ice, and my body immediately registers its displeasure. Somehow, this is worse than I expected.
I am going to die on this ice.
Not metaphorically. Not dramatically. Literally. My tombstone will read:
GWEN: LOST A DARE AND PAID FOR IT IN PUBLIC.
The rink smells like cold air, popcorn, and regret.
I stand at the edge of the ice in borrowed skates that are definitely one size too big, gripping the railing like it’s the only thing tethering me to this mortal plane. My knees are locked. My jaw is clenched. My dignity is already gone.
This is it.
Somewhere behind me, someone taps a microphone.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” a cheerful voice booms through the arena, echoing off the rafters, “joining us on the ice for our community challenge tonight, please welcome… Gwen!”
The crowd cheers again.
Actual cheers.
I crack one eye open and immediately regret it. Every single person in the arena is looking at me.
I lift one hand in a weak wave that probably looks more like I’m asking for help. The Grizzlies are already on the other side of the ice, warming up. Some glance my way, but I decide to ignore that fact for now.
But knowing that Leo tampered with fate, even just a little, makes everything sharper. If I survive this ice, I will get him back.
“Why,” I ask slowly, “would you do that?”
He looks at me. Really looks. His teasing softens.
“Because you’re always on the sidelines,” he says. “And you never get pulled into the middle unless you put yourself there. I just… helped.”
