“Aaron’s avoiding me. You can’t play hockey. I can’t practice and I’m scared of being lifted.” I chew the inside of my cheek, reminding myself not to cry. “Nobody can fill in for Aaron because everyone has commitments or partners already, and I ju—”
“I’ll be your partner.”
I’m choking on my words, literally. He pats my back gently as I struggle to make my lungs work. “I mean this in the most respectful way, huh?”
The drive from Russ’s place to mine is short and Nathan pulls into the drop-off zone. Twisting in his seat to look at me, his face is serious. “I said I’ll be your partner. I have to skate and work out anyway, I’ll just do it with you. I’ll be gone for away games, but you can have me the rest of the time.”
Dragging my hand through my hair, I can’t help but shake my head, immediately thinking of every reason it would be a horrendous idea. “Figure skating isn’t like hockey; you can’t just switch. It’d never work, Nate.”
“It’s eight weeks, Stas. I might not be able to leap about like Aaron, but I can help you practice and do your lifts.”
“You can’t lift me. You’re not trained.”
Resting his hand on my neck, his thumb rubs tenderly against my cheek. “You’ll have to show me what to do, but I’m more than capable of safely lifting you.” He sighs and the weird heart-thumping flutter thing returns. “I’m an excellent skater and I’m strong. I’m much stronger than Aaron. I’d use myself as a human mat before I’d ever let you hit the ice.”
I gnaw on my lip, thinking about what he’s said. “It’s kind of you, but it’d never work.”
“Give me one good reason why it wouldn’t work.” He brings my hand to his mouth, kissing it gently, and gives me the real reason. “Just one.”
“Because of that,” I respond quietly. “I can’t mix skating and whatever we are. I like you, which pains me greatly to say out loud, but you’ve wormed your way in and made me enjoy spending time with you. I’m nice to you now. It’s a true representation of how far I’ve fallen. A disaster, some people would say.”
He chuckles, staring at me with adoration that steals my breath away. “You’re saying a lot of words, drunk girl, but you’re not saying anything that makes sense.”
That seems fair. “I need to focus, Nate. I can’t do that if I’m in your bed every night.”
“What about every other night?”
I roll my eyes, smothering the grin trying to betray me. “Nathan…”
“If you think I can’t keep my dick in my pants, you’re wrong. Two months ago, I thought you would rip it off and feed it to me. Look how far we’ve come?”
My eyes are watering. Traitors.
“You fucking love bossing me around. Think how good it’s going to be teaching me to figure skate. Please say yes.”
“I don’t think this is a good idea…”
“But say yes anyway.”
Blowing out an exhausted, tension-riddled sigh, I nod. “Okay. Let’s be partners. Yes.”
TWENTY-FOUR | NATHAN
When I wokeup this morning, picking Stassie and Russ up from a cute, little coffee shop date seemed about as likely as me becoming a figure skater, yet here I am.
It takes thirty seconds for the panic to set in. The little line between her eyebrows appears, like it does every time she’s deep in thought. “I can be hard work, Nate,” she blurts out with a shaky voice. “I know you think Aaron walks all over me, but he doesn’t. Sometimes we full-on argue in the middle of the rink.”
Reaching toward her, I tuck her hair behind her ear, cupping her cheek gently. “Why are you telling me you’re hard work like I don’t already know?”
The line deepens, but a small laugh slips out. For me, Monday started great, went shitty, and now it sort of seems to be ending great. I don’t know where my offer came from; I think I’ve just reached my limit of seeing her upset.
I’m not convinced I’ll be any good, but I won’t drop her, and that’s what she needs.
“You don’t understand what you’re signing yourself up for.” She nuzzles into my hand and lets out a sigh. “What if you can’t stand me when we’re done?”
“Anastasia, me not liking you in eight weeks is not a concern you need to have. But just know, if I’m ever down a guy I’ll be expecting you to step up to play hockey. I think your hostility would be a great addition to the team.”
I manage to catch the arm that flings in my direction and give it a gentle tug until Stas is climbing over the console to straddle my lap. “When you get out of this car, we’re partners, and I’m not going to be able to touch you until January. If I’d known this morning would be the last time I could kiss you, I’d have done it better. One last kiss?”