Page 64 of Snowflakes and Ice Skates

Jake and I were on opposite sides of the room for the majority of the time so I couldn’t ask for updates, but I knew that would come across as too desperate anyway. I waited until Coach Rust released us, and we were heading to the showers before I caught him.

“Did you ever get it right?” I tried to sound casual, uninterested, but I doubted it worked.

He stopped in the middle of the hall, causing a roadblock, and slowly turned to face me. A smile crept on his lips, and he eyed our audience before landing back on me. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

I narrowed my eyes. Of course, I did. It was my idea to ask Dani.

He took a step forward and leaned in until there were only inches between us. “You wouldn’t believe me.”

I wasn’t going to back down. He was being a pompous jerk only because he knew how badly I wanted the answer. “Just tell me.”

He smirked and straightened. “It seems our girl, Jess, has a crush on her number one nemesis.”

I shook my head. “What is that supposed to mean?”

OIli pushed past us, “It means you, idiot.”

I gaped while the rest of the guys followed Olli into the locker room, forcing Jake and me to opposite walls. I kept my eyes on him until we were alone. “It’s really me?”

He nodded, and his cocky demeanor vanished. “Dani made me swear not to tell, but I can’t keep something like this from you.”

I was too stunned to speak.

He clapped me on the back. “Don’t go passing out on me. I don’t think Amelia’s here, and I know you don’t want any of the other trainers performing CPR.”

Me? There was no way. That was what I’d wanted to hear, but I couldn’t believe it. Was the fight she put up an act? Maybe she didn’t want to like me. I couldn’t blame her for that, not after all the garbage people fed her about me.

But if there was a chance she saw past that . . . I had to try.

“You swear you’re not just making this up?” I stared him down, watching for any signs he was lying.

“I wouldn’t joke about this. Not with how much I know you like her.” He sighed. “I feel like we’re in high school again. How about you pretend I didn’t tell you so Dani doesn’t kill me in my sleep, and you man up and talk to Jess.”

I huffed. “Excuse me? I talk to her all the time. I’ve asked her out dozens of times. That’s not the issue. It’s her rejecting me each time.”

“So make her an offer she can’t refuse.” His horrible attempt at an Italian accent made me laugh.

“Thanks for that advice.” I went to the showers with his words in the front of my mind. Maybe he was right. If I asked her out in a way that she couldn’t refuse, she might just say yes. I wasn’t going to force her into anything, but if I thought through her possible excuses and made a solid contingency plan, I would have a really solid chance.

The holiday party would be the perfect event. She had to go, so why not go with me? Since Dani was going with Jake, I knew they didn’t have to work the actual party. Once set up was done, they were free for the evening. I could even talk to Dani and see if she wouldn’t mind me and Jess joining her and Jake. A double date was much less intimidating. Especially with how many times the four of us hung out. It would be like any other day, except she would be my date. I’d let her set boundaries too. If she didn’t want me holding her hand or putting my arm around her, I would refrain. She would be in control the whole night. I bet she would agree to that.

I debated waiting until tomorrow to go talk to her, but there was less than a week left and I didn’t want to wait a second longer. The only thought that came up that made me pause was what if she had a date already? It was pretty last minute for me to ask her. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone already asked her.

Again, this was feeling like high school. I was hyping myself up to ask the prettiest girl in school to the prom, and I felt so far out of her league. That was what months of rejection did to a man.

The DG Events office was still lit up when I looked through the windows as I approached the doors. It was after six, which wasn’t late for them. I swear they worked the most insane hours, but they never seemed to mind.

The door was unlocked, so I stepped inside and pulled off my coat and called out, “Dani? Jess?”

Jessica peeked out from around the wall separating the lobby from their supply room. “Hey, Lance, Dani already left.”

Perfect. “That’s fine. I actually wanted to talk to you.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Okay?” She stepped out of the room and moved toward me.

I decided on the walk over here to be direct and to the point. No unnecessary small talk. “I was wondering if you had a date for the holiday party yet.”

Her brows shot up. She clearly wasn’t expecting that question from me. “No, I don’t.”