“Traded up already?” Elias lifts a brow.
Mav cackles. “Traded up. That’s hilarious, and thanks for saying up instead of down.”
“The other one is currently on my shit list, so it isn’t hard to look better than him right now.”
“Elias!” I slap his arm.
“I know. I know. His ex died. It’s awful, but I’m still pissed he took off.”
The guys shake hands and then Elias takes us on a quick tour of the building. It’s impressive and I find myself already missing the hours I’ve been lucky enough to spend on the ice the last four years. Oh, how I’m going to miss skating every day.
“I have to get back. How long are you staying? Can we skate together?”
“I would love that.” I look to Mav. “Do we have time?”
“Yeah, I wouldn’t mind checking out that ice myself.”
“Awesome.” Elias grins. “Sit wherever, don’t talk to the mean-looking lady with the flaming red hair, and I’ll be done in about two hours.”
“Mean-looking lady with the flaming red—Ah! Found her.” Mav leads the way to a row about midway up.
I snort. “That’s his coach and she’s amazing.”
There are two other pairs on the ice, but it’s Elias and Taylor I focus on. I’ve seen videos online of their competitions and some clips that Elias has sent, but they’re even better in person. Taylor has this presence about her and Elias is a great partner, syncing with her and making every movement seem so connected and like it’s all about her.
“What are you doing over there?” I ask Mav a while later. We’ve barely spoken since we sat down since I’ve been so enthralled with watching. He’s leaned back smiling at his phone.
“Sexting Kota.”
“What?!” Well, that definitely has my attention. “No way. Let me see.”
He sits up and shows me a picture of Dakota holding Charli. “O-kay. I was expecting something a little… sexier.”
“She’s watching her for me while I’m gone.”
“That’s nice, but how is that sexting?”
“Trust me. I invented this move.”
“What move?”
“Sending chicks I’m interested in pictures of my dog to get their attention. It’s a signal and way more effective than nudes.”
“Wait a minute.” I pull out my phone and scroll up toward the beginning of mine and Rhett’s text history, then show Mav.
He covers his mouth with a fist. “Worked, didn’t it?”
“Of course you traveled with your skates,” Elias says as I step onto the ice.
“Mav did too.” I nod my head to where he’s skating around, hockey stick in hand.
“This place is incredible.” I look up and take in the view from down here. “And here I was feeling sorry for you being in small-town hell.”
“It’s pretty nice,” he admits. His gaze goes to Taylor.
“How are things?”
“Good. We decided to give dating a shot.”
I stop. “Dating?”
“Yeah, it isn’t a big deal. We figured the only way to keep things from being weird was just to date, give in to the chemistry.”
I laugh. The first time I’ve really, truly genuinely laughed in a week. So hard I can’t stop for a full minute.
“I’m sorry,” I say, clutching my stomach. “I don’t mean to laugh. Do you really think this is the less weird route?”
He flashes a sheepish grin. “Probably not, but she kisses like a damn goddess about to be struck down by Zeus.”
“Is that good?”
“It’s…” He holds his hands together in front of his face. “So good.”
“I’m happy for you then.”
“It’ll be good while it lasts,” he says with forced lightness in his tone. I hope for his sake that it ends as casually as it started. He’s so close to reaching his gold-medal dreams.
“So…” He starts. “What’s the plan? You’re going to just show up at Rhett’s house and then what?”
“I don’t know,” I admit. “I just need to tell him to his face that I love him. Maybe he already knows, but until I’ve said the words out loud I’m going to feel like I didn’t do everything I could.”
“You still haven’t told him?”
“You’re dating your partner?”
He flashes a sheepish grin.
“It probably won’t matter. He loves me and that wasn’t enough. I think he wants to protect me.”
“From?”
“My broken heart.”
“Did he say that?” Elias looks pissed at the prospect.
“No, not exactly, but he said that the last thing he wanted to do was hurt me or bring more stress into my life.”
He gives me a small smile.
“I guess I can’t blame him for thinking I can’t handle it considering I nearly fainted when we found out Carrie had died.” I hate so much that he has any question that I’m capable of being there for him. And I hate even more that I let him down when he needed me most.
“Honey, you’re not broken. He knows that. Or he should. Don’t even try to play the woe-is-me card. You’re the strongest person I know. You’re a motherfucking badass. He said it for the same reason you haven’t told him you love him.”
“I just haven’t found the right time. Sorry your ex-girlfriend died, but hey, consolation prize, I love you.”
“You’re no one’s consolation prize.”
“I know.” I sigh. “And I know he doesn’t think that. But what if…” I place my hand over my heart.
“What if he can’t deal with being with someone who could drop dead at any minute?”
“It is a lot. Especially now.”
“We’re all ticking time bombs. You’re scared. He’s scared. Life is fucking scary.”
“People don’t like to be reminded of their mortality.”
“True.”
Elias and I don’t get the luxury of believing we’re untouchable. We know better, but anyone that gets close to us has to accept that too and that can be a really hard thing to admit.
“What if he can’t get over this? What if he doesn’t come back?”
“Then Rickie really is a dumb hockey player.” Elias takes my hand. It’s so weird being here with him, skating, like we’ve done it a million times before. “Do you want to meet Taylor?”
“Oh my gosh, really? Is it weird if I ask her for an autograph?”
He laughs under his breath. “Oh, she’s going to love this.”
Mav and I climb back into his SUV. We’re only a few hours from Rhett’s house and the nerves and anticipation slam into me.
“This was an awful plan. How did I let you talk me into this?” I ask Mav when we’re on the freeway.
“It’s a great plan and I talked you into it.”
All too soon the signs for Rochestertown start appearing indicating we’re close.