Page 147 of Chasing Gold, Catching Her

Was it really a victory?

But then her eyes moved toward the gold medal resting beside it, the one Tora had placed around her neck herself.

And what a gesture that had been.

Alisa sighed heavily. She would have to give it back eventually. Tora had earned it fairly. She had skated the better program. She had been better than Alisa tonight, and perhaps it was finally time for Alisa to admit that to herself instead of fighting reality.

Still holding the medal for a second longer, Alisa looked back at her reflection in the mirror. She spun around once, then again, smiling faintly despite everything.

Finally, she grabbed her shoulder bag, slipped into her shoes, threw on her winter jacket, and headed downstairs.

There was no snow in Milan tonight, and the walk to the taxi stand outside the hotel wasn’t far at all.

Tora was already waiting for her in the hotel lobby.

The moment Alisa stepped out of the elevator, Tora looked up and smiled immediately, as though she had been waiting only for that exact moment.

She was wearing a long white dress that reached all the way to the floor. Black and white—complete opposites, just like the two of them—but the pale fabric suited Tora perfectly, and the beige fur jacket draped over her shoulders only made the entire look even more elegant.

Although, if Alisa was being honest with herself, the first thing she noticed was still Tora’s breasts highlighted by the dress.

Tora gently took Alisa by the chin and tilted her face upward.

“My eyes are up here, babe.”

“Yes, yes, I know,” Alisa muttered immediately. “I just couldn’t help myself again.”

Tora laughed softly and hooked her arm through Alisa’s elbow before leading her outside, where a taxi was already waiting for them.

Like a perfect gentlewoman, Tora opened the door first and let Alisa get in ahead of her before sliding into the back seat beside her.

Their hands found each other almost immediately.

The taxi pulled away from the hotel and headed toward the restaurant where Tora’s parents were apparently waiting for them.

The thought alone made Alisa nervous.

But even more terrifying was the fact that she and Tora still hadn’t truly talked through everything that had happened between them. That betrayal Alisa still felt somewhere deep inside herself.

Still… tonight probably wasn’t the night for another scandal.

Everything had already happened the way it happened, and there was no changing the past now.

Yes, Alisa had won silver.

Yes, she wanted gold.

Yes, she had probably just destroyed her future with the Russian Olympic team by publicly getting engaged to another woman during the award ceremony.

Yes, her parents had abandoned her.

Alisa closed her eyes tightly, trying not to cry again. Her eyes burned painfully from exhaustion, stress, and too many emotions all at once.

Then she felt Tora squeeze her hand tighter.

Tora leaned closer, whispering softly against her ear while Alisa rested her head against her shoulder.

“Everything’s going to be okay,” Tora murmured gently. “No… better than okay, Alisa. Really. I’m here with you. I love you. And honestly… I think my parents already love you too.”