r

tting the ice brought a wave

reath. For a second, I hoped the fall had shattered his ridicul

threw his head b

moment, not bothered by the freezing surface. He stared up at

a punch. It instantly dragged a memory

a hard practice, pulling me down onto the ice beside him

hed back to

d. Oliver leaned in, brushing away the moisture with

quick word. I will b

e on the table

t and the screen lit

he switch. Thanks for making the right call for our future, p

nt draft to his coach: "I don't

sts, forcing the memory bac

palms on the ice an

tion, gliding forward to bridge the

kept coming until his shadow covered me, invading my

his voice. The teasing edge returned to his eyes, sharp and mo

to take a step back. "Go back to your g

just smirked, leaning in closer until I c

d boy and stay away, who's going to catch you when you break? Because l

need yo

look terrified," he stepped closer. "Tell me, are you going to choke on the ice again like y

n his voice was a sharp contrast

s turning white as I prepared to hit him again

My offi

oomed over the rink inte

ng as he gave me a lazy, two-finger salute. "Du

a

kated toward the exit gate, my right ankle givi

trative office. The head Coach, Marcus sat behi

ital medical charts and the therapy reports from my three-year break.

inconsistent, Aria," Marcus said, finally turni

pproved your probationary return because of your past record, but

leather chair, trying to hide the fact that I was deliberately keeping my right fo

left side. You are hesitating before your takeoffs. If you drop a jump during the upcoming qualifi

t him do this. I couldn't let them bench me before I even had a chance to compete. "I've spent three years

, his expression unreadable. Slowly,

academy standard by Friday, your funding is revoked and your spot on the roster goes to the alternate brac

a stiff nod before

the hallway made the adrenaline fade from my system. The fierce confidence I had for

y back as I looked down at my trembling hands. My ankle throbbed

pped by a wave of exhaustion. I wondered when m