Page 34 of Date With Skates

Then he pokes my nose and says, “Love you too.”

I laugh as I walk away, grabbing my things and heading out the back door.

He doesn’t need me for anything right now, so there’s no point in hanging around. In fact, he doesn’t need me for much here. Since I’m his personal assistant, I only have to do what he tells me. I’m not employed by his team, so I don’t listen to them. We only did this so I could get here, and boy, am I thankful we did.

Roman is waiting outside when I get out there.

“Hey, Roman,” I say with a knowing smile.

“Oh, hey, Étienne.”

I note the way he isn’t shy about saying my name, even though he butchered it. The thought makes me laugh, which causes him to frown.

“Sorry, just thinking about something Connor said.” He raises a brow as if he’s asking me what it was. I just wave him off. “Nico is finishing up inside. He’ll be out soon.”

“Thank you,” he says.

“You’re very welcome.” I wink back at him, then take off for the bus, hoping to find Connor somewhere in the Village.

I search the Village and don’t find Connor anywhere, so I text him to ask where he is as I head into the dining hall and grab food. He’s not here because I checked about two minutes ago. I walked out and got a few feet away before turning around because I decided I would eat while I wait for him. It’s been hours since I had my last meal.

They have pasta just about every day, which is always my first choice. I love all food, but pasta has a special place in my heart. Today, it’s Alfredo sauce with chicken. I grab two garlic breads, then find my way to a table with some of Nico’s team.

We make small talk about Nico winning, and how proud they are. I smile like I’m the one who won the gold. It feels like that sometimes. That’s how close Nico and I are. His wins are my wins. Even if we get on each other’s nerves, I wouldn’t change a thing about him. He’s truly my best friend.

I’m in the middle of telling the story of how I broke my ankle on the ice, because it’s funny when I tell it, but annoying when Nico does, because it’s my story to tell, and not a story for him to make fun of me with. Of course, I take his picking on me with a grain of salt. It’s how we show each other our love, so I don’t really get offended by it. sMost of the time.

But I’m about to tell the best part when someone has the audacity to snatch a piece of garlic bread off my plate.

I look over my shoulder, ready to lay into whoever dares to touch my food and find a smiling Connor.

“That’s how people lose fingers in my house,” I say.

He laughs, taking the empty seat beside me.

“You owe me.” He shrugs, taking a large bite of the bread.

“Heathen,” I mutter, then turn back to the team, who are looking at us like we’ve just sprouted branches out of our ears. “Anyway, I was saying—”

“You’re Connor McVoy,” Andrew says. “I’m a huge fan.”

“Yeah? That’s so awesome to hear,” he says, brushing his hands together to get the crumbs off, then offering it out for Andrew to shake.

“Um, hello? We were talking about me,” I say.

“Seriously, the Diamonds have been my favorite team since I knew what hockey was. I know I’m supposed to like a Canadian team and all, but my dad was from the states and that was his team, so…”

“It’s not always about where you’re from,” Connor says in a practiced way. “There are plenty of reasons to have a favorite team, and that’s a good one.” It almost sounds like he’s in front of the camera and talking to a room full of people.

What a phony.

“I agree, but I always get crap for it,” Andrew says.

“Well, now you can tell them to screw off because I said it’s okay.” Connor smiles.

Andrew huffs a nervous laugh. “You’re awesome, man. Thanks.”

Andrew and Jules get up and walk away, taking their empty plates with them. My jaw drops and I turn to narrow my gaze at Connor.