Page 75 of Only Ever You

“And probably my favorite one.”

I shift into park and look at him. “Why don’t you date her then?”

“Neither of us wants all that commitment. The sex is great, and we have fun. What more do I need?” He opens the car door. “I’m not opposed to being in a relationship, but not now.”

“Okay.” I haul myself out and then snag my duffel and stick from the cargo area. As I press the button to lower the hatch, Ash punches me in my shoulder.

“Hey! What’s that for?”

“You and your questions about Amanda distracted me. Leah wants to come too. Can she?”

I look him up and down and then head toward the rink.

“Where are you going?” He jogs to catch up. “We’re in the middle of a conversation.”

“If she wants to come, she can come. I don’t care what you do in your room.”

He groans, his feet dragging on the asphalt. “She wants to come because she’s interested in you, Captain Obvious.”

“What’s her name again? Leah?” I rack my brain, trying to picture the girl’s face. “What does she look like?”

“Blonde. Tall.” He smirks. “Your alleged type.”

I frown. “Why alleged?”

“Because even though you swear that’s your type, the girls you actually pay attention to look nothing like that.”

Fucker. He’s got me there.

Yeah, most people think I’m into leggy blondes, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Not that I’m going to talk to him about it. Or anyone. I let them all believe the illusion—it keeps things simple.

“Okay.” I sigh, even though I’d rather spend the evening in my room alone. “She can come.”

Grinning, he snatches his phone out of his pocket. “Awesome.”

“But if I’m not vibing with her, I’m out; you can deal with them both.”

“What won’t I do for you and our friendship?” he teases.

As we step into the rink, I consider my retort, but before I can fire back, a sharp, cadenced sound snags my attention. It’s as familiar to me as my own face: a set of blades meeting ice in a rhythm all its own, creating a melody I’ve grown to love over the years.

Ash pulls up short. “Thought you booked this slot for us.”

“I did. I didn’t think anyone else would be here.” Bottom lip trapped between my teeth, I mess with my nose ring, a habit I barely notice anymore. I got it the summer before freshman year, and now, it’s part of me, like my tattoos. I have to take it out before every game, though. Annoying, but I’m used to it. “Maybe they’re just finishing up. Our slot starts in ten minutes. Guess we should check.”

“Just don’t be a jerk. If they booked the block before us, then their time isn’t up yet, and they have every right to be out there.”

I stride toward the rink, my neck stiff, irritation flaring bright inside my chest. Ash is right, but I’m on edge, like I am most days. I need to get out on the ice to work through it.

When the skater comes into view, my shoulders sag. A figure skater. I should’ve known.

Ash stops beside me, and as we watch the girl on the ice through the glass, a coldness that has nothing to do with the temperature in here seeps into my bones. My chest tightens, and for a second, my brain blanks out.

Black leggings, pink leg warmers, a pink warm-up jacket, and white skates. She moves fast, the bright pink and black blurring. Every turn, every spin, every landing is clean, making her look like she’s defying gravity.

She glides into a backward crossover and jumps up, her arms pressed to her chest. She does two and a half rotations in the air, and when she lands on the back outside edge of her skate, she doesn’t even wobble.

Holy shit. A nearly perfect Double Axel with a clean landing.