Chapter Eleven

Bobby was right where he said he would be; in the stands of the game, watching and cheering, Kayla at his elbow and Kayla’s roommate on the other side.

Dan skated by the stands, giving them a wave, knowing people in the stands would probably claim he was saying hello to them, but he and Bobby, even Kayla, knew where he was looking.

After the loss, and fuck did it hurt listening to Swan tell them they’d do better next time, they had the skills, Dan showered and changed as quickly as possible, ducking out of going out with the team. Nobody stopped him this time, everyone handling loss differently, but there was somewhere Dan had to be. It would be Bobby’s last performance, and Dan was determined to watch it.

Kayla was waiting for him at the arena, hooking an arm through his. Now that she knew, it made it easier for Dan to stare and appreciate Bobby and not have to worry someone would be judging him for it. Well, she was judging him, but only in the way that a sibling would, promising Dan she would film it and send it to him later. Dan flipped her off, eyes on the rink so that he could keep an eye out for Bobby.

“You know,” Kayla said, leaning over. “He kept talking about you yesterday during training.”

Dan shrugged like it didn’t bother him, but it was such a good feeling. “He did, huh?”

“Oh, don’t pretend you don’t care,” Kayla said with a grin. “I know it’s a strange feeling, Dan, but you’re allowed to be proud of yourself for this.”

“I’m not proud.” At Kayla’s questioning look, he frowned. “I’m not proud. Like it? Yeah. I just… I don’t know how you’re supposed to feel when, you know, that happens.”

Kayla didn’t look confused or pitying, she just stared down at the ice, bottom lip pulled between her teeth, and eyes following the line of the Russian skater. “There’s no right or wrong way, Dan. Some people get cocky. Someone we know very well,” Kayla said, with a wry smile. Dan thought of Ian and snorted.

“Other people,” she went on, “people like you, probably, just get embarrassed and don’t know how to handle it. That’s fine, I think Bobby likes it. Just don’t let it make you push him away.”

“It won’t,” Dan said with certainty. He couldn’t imagine a world in which he would ever push Bobby away unless Bobby wanted to leave. “I know it’s been a couple of days, but I think I really like him, Kay.”

Smile wide, Kayla tapped his arm. “Like the real deal?”

“Dunno.” Dan watched the Russian skater take his bow. Dan squinted at the results, irritated that he had surpassed Bobby.

“Relax,” Kayla said, following his gaze. “Bobby hasn’t skated yet. He’s only first because his scores have been combined.”

“Oh.” Bobby wasn’t due up for a while, so Dan turned back to his sister, trying to find the words to explain. “How do you know when it’s the real deal?”

“I don’t think you can.” Kayla clapped dutifully for the Canadian skater, the roar of the crowd deafening, and Dan wished, just for a second, that they were in America so that Bobby would get the best cheer. Kayla squeezed his arm. “I think with time, you’ll know whether or not Bobby is the one for you.”

Time.

Dan wasn’t certain they had a lot of that. A reminder of the end of the Olympics meant going back to Manhattan, playing for the Hunters and pretending he wasn’t gay. Bobby couldn’t want that, wouldn’t want to spend the rest of his life in the shadows. Wouldn’t want to wait for Dan to finish playing even, and Dan could never ask it of him.

Shaking off the melancholy, Dan tried to get back into the skating, double-checking scores and trying to work out how much Bobby would need to score to win. Thankfully he had Kayla along to help him out, talking in low undertones about mistakes, telling him when she thought someone was doing particularly well. It would take a while for Dan to get used to figure skating, but by the time Bobby took to the ice, he was certain Bobby could make a couple of mistakes and still get gold.

“Oh, God,” Kayla said, clutching at Dan’s hand. “I’m so nervous.”

“He’ll do fine,” Dan said, just as nervous and doing his best to hide it.

Bobby seemed to be in his own world, and as the familiar strains of a song Dan recognized started up, he found himself pulled into the dance. Bobby was dressed this time in a costume that looked like a soldier, movements sluggish and slow to start with, but then moving into something fluid and beautiful.

“Is that part of the theme?” He leaned over and asked Kayla when Bobby started slow.

“He’s a wooden soldier,” Kayla explained. Dan knew he had heard the song before. “Now he’s come to life.”

Just like the first time, Dan was mesmerized, gasping and cheering along with the crowd, feeling his heart in his mouth when Bobby over-rotated a jump.

“It’s all right,” Kayla said, cheeks red and still smiling. “He can still win this!”

Dan felt on edge, like every second dragged on, every jump and step and spin the one that was going to tip Bobby over the edge and steal the medal away from him. The music hit a crescendo and Dan was gripping Kayla just as hard as she was holding him and then Bobby was coming to a stop, taking his bow and fuck, fuck.

“Did he do it?” Dan asked.

“Yes,” Kayla was screaming, grabbing Dan and jumping up and down. Dan let himself go, couldn’t help but do the same thing, staring down at the ice and didn’t think he had ever been so attracted to someone.

There was a little waiting around while they set up for the medal ceremony and Dan was itching to get down there and congratulate Bobby. When he said as much to Kayla, her eyes widened, and she gripped his hand.

“Come on.”

Dan wasn’t thinking as he let Kayla lead him down to the rink, both flashing their passes. He wasn’t thinking as Kayla tugged them along to where Bobby and two of his competitors were awaiting their medals. Katarina was talking with the media, and once she was done, waved them both forward.

“Isabelle!” Katarina gave her a kiss on the cheek. “You are going to make me as happy this week, no?”

Kayla grinned. “Of course.”

The three of them hovered during the medal ceremony, Dan’s heart in his throat as he watched them loop the gold medal around Bobby’s neck, and it was the first time that Dan wanted the same thing for himself. With the pictures taken, Bobby’s smile not fading, he looked up, catching sight of Kayla and Dan rink side.

Dan was sure the media were still watching as Bobby skated straight for them and he didn’t know what to do with himself. Thankfully Kayla stepped forward, looping an arm around Bobby’s neck and kissing his cheek.

“Congratulations. I’m so proud!”

Bobby was grinning, squeezing her again before looking up at Dan, hesitating.

Dan had been too excited for Bobby to care now how it looked. He tugged Bobby in for a hug, keeping his voice low as he said, “You were so good.”

“I was, wasn’t I?” Bobby said with a cheeky grin that looked almost too fond.

Media was calling for Bobby, wanting to interview their new gold medalist, so Dan squeezed his hand. “Text me your room number and I’ll be there.”

Dan kept his tone low so that nobody could overhear, not even Kayla, but the way Bobby licked his lips, the darkening of his eyes, told Dan that he had heard him just fine. Watching Bobby walk away was difficult, but Dan consoled himself with the knowledge that he would be seeing Bobby real soon, and they would hopefully be doing some celebrating of their own.