: A

orning,

of the arena's back corridor. I flinched, my skate bag slipping

etween his fingers. He had his blue jacket zipped halfway up, his m

told me everything I needed to know.

napped without

aded the narrow hallway, forcing me to snap to a jarring halt just inches from his

u

t hit me all over again, making my stomach twist. "Our parents haven't even finalized the wedding

n slightly, his voice dropping into t

cutting through the damp air. "I think sharing a roof is going to have its perks. For

vously toward the doors leading to the rink. A few early-a

into my tone. "We need to talk about this. Seriously. We have to

g into a look of amusement. "Drive them apart? Are you suggesting we

. My mother is a stressed-out designer. They have nothing in common. If we both make their lives a living hell the second they try

rom my eyes to my lips, and then back up again. He l

actually can't see a single reason why we shouldn't move in together. In f

roat. "You think having the person who despises yo

means I get to watch you struggle up close. It means you can't hide from me behind closed doors anymore,

anger in my chest flaring so intensely I want

his keys into the air and caught them with a sharp click. "Now move your feet, si

ely clipping his arm against mine as h

s I watched his retreating back. He wasn't going to help me. He was going

he ice, the atmosphere inside the main ar

ire elite team– singles, pairs, and alternates– was assemble

me a small wave from across the ice, but I couldn't even smile back. My right ankle was

il

rafters. He stood near the center, a clipboard held in his hands. Beside him s

e slots for Nationals last night. Because of the budget shifts and the new sponsorships, the roster require

ater bottles. Blades shifted nervously against the ice. In our sport, a bad pairi

was a singles skater on probation, I assumed I would be left at the very bottom of

d to survive

lided across the ice, her movements flawless. She didn't look at any

, tilting her chin up with a self-assured smile.

ink on a stretcher. Since then, she had spent every single day since es

ds resting on his hips, his expressio

s deep voice carrying a sudden weight that mad

shoulders locking into perfect postu

eyes scanning the highlighted ink befor

airs division...

hand. Marcus didn't even look in her direction. H

tner will