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My face begins to dip down to hers. There isn't a single coherent thought inside my head. I'm too caught up in the moment, lost in the euphoria after skating with her like that. We connect on a level I've never felt with anyone else before, not even with Delaney. I'd be a fucking idiot if I turned down being her partner.
Clearly I am a fucking idiot because I'm about to fuck it all up in one second.
My lips are mere millimeters from hers. Her warm breath fans across my face, smelling faintly of her strawberry lip gloss. Her eyelids flutter shut, her long black lashes resting against her skin. I let my own eyes shut. Just as I'm about to kiss her, someone starts to clap. It's like a slap in the face and reality comes crashing down around us.
Aria quickly pulls away from me, her hands abandoning my biceps as she inhales sharply. I instantly feel her absence and also want to kick myself for being such an idiot. I told myself not to do it and what did I do? I started to do it anyway. Her eyes are wide, her face flushed, and she blinks three times. The music shifts into a different song and things just feel off-balance now.
"Um, I'm sorry," she says in a rush as she glances around me. My back is to the door and I’m shielding her with my height. My jaw clenches and I slowly turn around to see who the hell is clapping for us.
It’s Coach Kincaid.
A part of me is relieved, but I also want to put my fist through his face. He came at the perfect time, yet I also wanted to be catapulted back into the moment he ruined.
Luca pushes open the door that leads onto the ice and he stands there as Aria and I begin to skate toward him. "I only caught the tail end of that performance, but holy shit. The two of you are meant to skate together."
Aria smiles at Luca and nods. "It felt really good," she tells him before turning to look at me. "How about you, Leo?"
It was unlike anything I'd ever experienced before…
Well, except maybe that one time many years ago, but we’re more skilled skaters now. More experienced in life. More experienced with each other.
“It was good.”
Luca moves out of the way as Aria steps through the door, and I follow after her. We fall into step together as we head over to the bench where our things are.
Aria stops beside me, a shy smile sliding onto her lips as she looks up at me through her lashes. "So, what do you say, Leo?" She pauses for a moment, not looking at Luca as she keeps her eyes glued to mine. "Do you want to be my partner?"
Luca is still standing with us and he's waiting for an answer just like Aria is. She's acting like I didn't almost kiss her. She certainly wasn't making any move to stop me when I did. It was a moment of weakness and I'll gladly pretend it didn't happen.
I can't believe I'm actually going to agree to this. Austin told me not to fuck it up and saying no would most likely fuck up my entire career. I don't have any options other than Aria Reed. If I want to win, I need her, and after skating with her, I know we can do this together. It doesn't mean I have to like her and I certainly won't develop any type of attachment to her.
It's strictly business and nothing more.
"Yes."
Aria's smile doesn't reach her eyes and her expression is unreadable as she nods.
She doesn't want this either.
CHAPTER FOUR
ARIA
Grabbing my latte, I turn around inside the coffee shop looking for my best friend Brynn just as my phone starts ringing in my purse. I pull it out and see my brother’s name on the screen at the same time I spot Brynn. She’s across the room, sitting at one of the tables along the wall made of windows. I catch her gaze and hold my hand up to show her my phone before I answer the call.
“Hey,” I say as I step out of the way of a group who steps up to the counter. My brother and I talk regularly, so his call isn’t completely unexpected.
“What are you doing?” Austin asks me in greeting.
“Getting coffee with Brynn. What’s up?”
“I went out with Leo last night,” he tells me. I can’t tell if he’s in a bad mood or what, but his tone is a bit clipped. “He’s not happy about skating with you.”
“Yeah.” I laugh softly, shaking my head. “I already told you that.”
“If he’s an asshole in any way, I need you to tell me.”
I roll my eyes as I hold my phone against my ear. “I’m a big girl, Austin. I don’t need you to fight my battles for me.”
