Chapter 18

 

Kelly

 

 

I wasn’t a crier. I didn’t cry after finding out Joe had a fiancée back home in Colorado and I didn’t cry the first time I didn’t get gold at competition. But Blake Tremblay constantly had me on the verge of tears, and I didn’t know how to handle it. How to be this girl that was so used to putting her feelings in check and now couldn’t hold anything back.

I told Blake I wanted space and that was exactly what he gave me. He left the restaurant as soon as I told him to. My parents nor Becca or Logan asked where he went and I was okay not to have to discuss it.

But I wasn’t okay with not seeing him. The Games were coming to a close, and I kept expecting him to show up at my dorm or see him at a coffee shop or restaurant. But he did just what he said he would do and gave me space. Space that I thought I needed.

But the truth was, by having space I realized how much I missed having him in my life. It was only a short time we were really together, but he changed me so much for the better. He made me realize I didn’t need the angst or to ice everyone out to be the best. That I could have emotions and those emotions could push me further.

“Looking for someone dreadlocked in the crowd?” Logan whispered, his sequined suit hitting my cheek.

The exhibition would be our final performance, so we decided to have some fun with a more rock and roll routine. Logan wore the suit and an equally sparkly hat, and I had on a crystal encrusted red dress, wearing my hair down for the first time in competition. The tight updo was my signature, but like other ice queens, it was time for me to let it go. Just like my hatred of Blake, that is if I ever saw him again.

I’d scrolled through his social media on more than one occasion and thought maybe I’d even go to his cabin. But I didn’t I was selfish, and I was a coward. And because of that, I could never see the guy again who turned my world upside down.

“Like you’re looking for my sister?” I asked, raising an eyebrow as I looked at him over my shoulder.

Logan looked down at the ice. “She’s probably out celebrating her gold,” he muttered.

I wanted to know what was going on with them. They’d been so hot and cold. One minute they were laughing up a storm and the next they were avoiding each other. When the USA women’s hockey team won gold, Logan cheered in the stands alongside my parents and me. He was there for every moment with us, but when we invited him out for a celebratory dinner, he turned it down. Said he was tired or something.

Instead of asking anything further on the subject I just smiled at my partner. “I think she’ll be here. She wouldn’t miss our last performance.”

Logan’s eyes slowly met mine. “Same with Blake.”

Alexis Cote and Jacob Roy spun to their last position, smiling and waving to the crowd. I hadn’t seen the brunette bitch since the free skate and had no intention of seeing her again after these games. Of course, she had to stop and see me, going in for a hug before she walked to her seat.

I darted backward, avoiding her arms and she glared. “What? No good luck hug?”

“Fuck off, Alexis,” I spat.

Alexis, Jacob, and Logan’s eyes all widened.

“Well, that was rude,” Alexis stuttered.

“What’s rude is you trying to falter me. We’re professionals, or at least I am, and I wouldn’t go for as many low blows as you have.”

Alexis smirked. “Look who finally got some balls. Borrow those from Blake? Oh no, wait, you two aren’t together. Never really were.”

“Next up we have American skaters, Kelly Johnson and Logan Smith,” the announcer boomed followed by applause filling the arena.

I forced a fake smile in Alexis’ direction. “I’d rather be known as Blake Tremblay’s bet than the bitch of the ice. Have a fun career with that, Alexis.”

Before she could respond, I took Logan’s hand, and we made our way to the center of the ice.

“That was awesome,” Logan whispered in my ear as he placed his hands on my side and we got to our starting position.

“Gotta try something new every once in a while,” I whispered.

“Maybe after this, we can both try something new. Head over to Blake’s place so you can makeup and I’ll find your sister?” he whispered.

I sighed. “Maybe.”

It was what I needed to do. I needed to stop being such a bitch and just let all of this go. Tell him how I felt and if he rejected me in the end, then so be it. But for now, I had to put all of that worry and those feelings away. I had to think with my heart and put all those thoughts of love and lust for Blake into our routine instead of focusing on the bad.

The music started slowly, and we skated side by side then the tempo picked up, Logan grabbing my sides and tossed me in the air. This time I wasn’t looking around to see who was watching but living in the moment. Every spin, every jump, it was my last of The Games.

Last.

These would be the last games I’d see Blake. That time in the bathroom might have been the last time I’d ever see him. Tears again pricked my eyes, and I pushed them back, getting ready to move into double triple axels alongside Logan.

When I heard the crowd gasp collectively. I looked over, wondering if Logan fell, but instead, I saw his eyes trailing toward the stand, so I followed all the way up to the glass that separated the seats from us.

The stadium was packed, but instead of everyone watching us, they were staring at the dreadlocked Canadian in a suit, singing along to the music at the top of his lungs and holding up a sign that said “Unfreeze my heart, Kelly. #Klake4eva.”

I skated to a stop and stared as a security crew darted down the stairway. Blake glanced behind him then jumped on an empty chair next to him, waving the sign frantically in my direction. Before the guards could get to him, he ran in front of the guests in their seats, causing a roar of laughter to go through the crowd.

“What the hell is he doing?” Logan asked, skating to my side.

I watched as Blake zigged and zagged through the crowd, smiling and laughing until another set of security guards came, and they ended up cornering him, practically dragging him out of the stands.

Without thinking what I was doing, I skated toward the entrance of the rink that we just came in from and Coach was still standing at.

“Where are you going?” Logan yelled.

I opened the door and grabbed my skate guards. Coach opened his mouth to say something and bolted toward me, but I was faster and ran past him, and the camera crew pointed right at me.

I ran through the double doors and up the stairs until I was out in the lobby where more camera crews were focused on a large circle of guards.

I pushed past everyone until I heard his voice.

“Hey, guys, I was just having some fun. No need to get all handsy!”

I stopped, seeing Blake’s smiling face with his hands up and a torn poster at his feet. I grabbed the poster and slowly stepped forward. “I think this is yours,” I whispered.

The guards and camera crew stopped and stared at us, but I didn’t care at that moment. All I cared about was the set of blue eyes on me.

“It’s actually yours. Well for you. I had to pay way too much to buy that poster board at a convenience store. I was about to trade in my medal for it,” Blake said with a single laugh, but there was no humor to it.

“You could have just messaged me,” I said quietly.

“You wanted your space. And I gave it to you, but your space was killing me. I thought maybe I could just sit in the stands, but I think you know that I can’t go without making a scene.”

I laughed in spite of everything and a large grin spread across my face. “I know. I love that about you.”

Blake stepped forward, closing the space between us as he put his hand to my cheek. “And I love everything about you. Frozen heart and all he whispered before pressing his lips to mine.”

This time I didn’t pull away or fight it. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him fiercely, letting all my worries melt away as the camera crew and guards around us cheered.

I broke the kiss and put my forehead to Blake’s. “Did you lose a bet? Is that really why you’re here?”

He smiled, kissing me again. “No. I think I won one, without even knowing the game I was playing.”

Before I could respond, I heard Logan yell through the crowd. I turned to see him pushing past the camera crew and guards. “Kelly! I saw this on the screen. Way to steal our moment.”

I laughed. “Sorry about that. I’m sure we can still finish the routine. It’s our last one, after all.”

Logan shook his head. “I don’t know. The crowd was cheering 2022. Think you can make it back for another Games?”

I turned toward Blake. “What do you think, Blake, wanna go for another Games?”

Blake grinned. “Wanna bet on making it again?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “I think I’m done with betting. Probably The Games too.”

He put his hand on my cheek. “I’m not. You were the best bet I ever made.”

I smiled in spite of all of the craziness. “And you’re the best game I ever played.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Are you going to let me win?”

I leaned in and kissed him slowly before whispering. “We’ll see about that.”