15. Emma

The skating rink stretches out before me, a pristine expanse of glistening white. I stand at the edge, bundled up against the biting cold, watching as Lily glides gracefully across the ice. Private lessons have become a routine for us, a chance for me to share my passion for figure skating while keeping my feet firmly planted on solid ground.

Lily executes a flawless spin, her movements fluid and controlled. I cheer her on from the sidelines, my hands tucked into my pockets for warmth. The thrill of coaching fills me with a sense of accomplishment, even if it"s from a distance.

"Beautiful, Lily. You're such a quick learner."

"I've been working on that after you taught it to me last week. I even watched some of your old competition footage so that I could master it."

"That's quite the dedication. I'm impressed."

"She's obsessed," Callie grins next to me. "I'm so grateful you agreed to do this for her."

"She's my favorite student, don't tell anyone else," I whisper with a giggle. "She's so intelligent and poised, so graceful, and her work ethic is incredible for her age."

"I think she gets that work ethic from her uncle. She's always saying how hard he works and how driven he is. How a teenager pays attention to that is beyond me."

"He's definitely driven."

"Since you came back into town he's finally taking breaks. I'm no longer worried about if he slept in his office," Callie teases as she nudges me playfully. "Thank you for that, we were all getting worried about him."

I open my mouth to reply but a noise behind me distracts me.

Drake emerges from the warmth of the rink"s lobby, his gaze finding mine. He saunters over, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "Hey there, Coach Emma. How"s the training session going?"

I grin, the chill in the air doing little to cool the warmth spreading through me. "Lily"s making great progress. I might have a future Olympian on my hands."

Drake chuckles, his eyes sparkling. "That"s impressive. I always knew you had a knack for coaching. And she's the perfect student."

As Lily glides to a stop, she spots Drake and waves enthusiastically. "Hi, Uncle Drake! Watch this!"

She launches into a series of jumps, her enthusiasm infectious.

Drake joins Callie and me at the sidelines, his attention alternating between Lily"s performance and the radiant smile on my face. "You"ve got a talented student there. And a talented coach, of course."

I playfully nudge him with my elbow. "Flattery will get you everywhere."

As Lily completes her routine, she skates over to us with a triumphant grin. "How was that, Coach Emma?"

"Fantastic, Lily! You"re really coming along."

Lily"s eyes flicker between Drake and me, a mischievous glint appearing. "You guys are like the cutest couple ever. Coach Emma and her number one fan, Uncle Drake."

Drake and I exchange a glance, a shared moment of amusement. "Well, we make a great team," he replies with a wink.

"It's nice to see you happy, Uncle D."

As Lily skates off to practice more, Callie leans in.

"Everyone's noticing," she whispers with a laugh. "And everyone is here for it."

Before I can respond, a rink attendant approaches Drake, diverting his attention. "Excuse me, Mr. Baron, there"s someone asking for you in the lobby."

He nods and glances back at me. "Duty calls. I"ll catch up with you later?"

I nod, he kisses my forehead. "Absolutely."

As Drake heads inside, I refocus on Lily"s practice. She"s determined to master a challenging jump, and I offer guidance and encouragement from the sidelines. The rink echoes with the sound of blades on ice, a rhythmic melody that underscores the dedication of these aspiring skaters.

Just as Lily nails the jump, Zane skates onto the ice. His presence is hard to ignore, a magnetic force that draws attention. His eyes scan the rink, landing on me.

"Emma," he calls, a sly smirk playing on his lips. "Still refusing to get on the ice, I see."

I meet his gaze with a cool composure. "Coaching is my forte. I"ll leave the skating to the pros."

"You used to be a pro. What happened? Got tired of falling on your—"

I cut him off, maintaining my composure. "Zane, I"m here to coach, not to relive the past."

He smirks, skating away with a parting shot. "Guess some people are just better on the sidelines."

Lily approaches, concern etching her features.

"Are you okay, Coach Emma?"

"I"m fine, Lily. Let"s get back to work."

The coaching session continues, my focus unwavering despite the lingering tension. Drake returns after his call, and we walk with Callie and Lily back up to the office.

Zane reappears.

"Well, well, the dynamic duo," he sneers, a derisive tone in his voice. "The cutest couple in the world, right?"

"What is your deal?"

"No deal, it was a compliment."

Zane walks away. I shake my head.

"He's really annoying," I breathe.

Drake chuckles just as Chase calls after him. I gesture to let him know that I'm heading home. He nods.

As I walk outside of the rink, Zane hurries to catch up with me.

"So, Emma, the star player isn't good enough for you anymore so you try to sink your claws into the owner? Gold dig much."

"I have my own money."

"Correction, you did have your own money. Now you're just a washed-up, has-been that no one wants anymore."

"I have sponsorship deals in the works."

"Sure you do, sweetheart," he rolls his eyes. "Drake Baron isn't who he says he is. Did you know he killed someone?"

"Zane, quit being ridiculous."

"I have the proof. Let me know when you're ready for it."

I shake my head and walk off.

"Zane," I sigh as I spin around. "There was a point in your life when you were actually a really good guy. You could be exceptionally sweet. This asshole that you are now though is a douchebag. I hope you realize you need to make changes before you lose everything."

"You're such a judgmental bitch."

As the last word leaves his mouth, Drake is out the door snatching Zane up by the back of his collar. My eyes are wide as I watch him and the Coach yank Zane back into the building.

I stand there in shock for about a minute before I walk home.

***

The next day dawns with the crisp anticipation of a fresh start, but as I scroll through my phone, the headlines deliver a jolt of surprise. Zane has been suspended again, and the media is buzzing with speculation. I"m taken aback by the narratives being spun—stories that claim Drake, a figure of authority, is controlling and punishing Zane due to the past relationship between him and me.

Determined to get to the bottom of it, I head to the rink, my mind racing with questions. The familiar surroundings offer little comfort as I feel everyone is talking about me.

Callie is standing in front of Drake's closed door, trying to listen to whatever is going on inside.

A voice is berating Drake on the other side. I catch snippets of accusations—unfair treatment, harassment, bullying.

Callie glances at me. "Emma, I"m sorry you had to walk in on this. Loughlin came storming in, demanding a meeting."

"Loughlin?" I inquire, my confusion deepening.

"Yes, he"s making accusations against Drake, claiming he"s targeting Zane," Callie explains with a sympathetic tone.

"You can"t keep doing this, Drake! It"s harassment!" Loughlin"s voice echoes through the door.

"Loughlin, I"m doing what"s necessary for the team. Zane"s actions have consequences, and this suspension is a result of his behavior."

Chase, the Battle Hawks Coach, who has been a silent witness to the exchange, finally speaks up. "Loughlin, you know as well as I do that Zane"s actions were unacceptable. We can"t let that slide. He's berating rink staff in front of students and fans. He's making the rest of the team look bad."

"This has nothing to do with Zane"s actions. This is about you, Drake, trying to control him because of Emma. I thought getting engaged might turn things around for you, but you're worse because of that woman."

My eyes widen in disbelief, the accusation cutting through the air like a sharp blade.

"Loughlin, this has nothing to do with Emma. It"s about maintaining discipline and upholding the standards of the team."

"Bullying, targeting—that"s what you"re doing. And I won"t stand for it."

"Loughlin, you"re blowing this out of proportion. Drake is acting in the best interest of the team, and you know it."

As the argument continues, I feel a mix of emotions—frustration, anger, and a nagging sense of unfairness. Drake, caught in the crossfire, defends his decisions and me with an unwavering resolve. The accusations fly, each word adding to the tension in the room.

"That little fiancée of yours is entertaining other men. Are you aware of that? You're punishing Zane when she's egging him on."

"What is he talking about?" I ask Callie in a whisper.

She shrugs and shakes her head. "He's probably just trying to upset Drake."

"They didn't need to come to my rescue yesterday. I was fine," I tell her quietly.

"There were fans who saw him call you a bitch. There were kids who saw it. Parents were livid. They were threatening to go to the media with a video they took of it if they didn't do something to him. That's how Drake and Chase knew to come outside, a parent came up and said Zane was stalking you."

"I need a breather," I sigh as I turn around and walk away.

The bitter chill of the air wraps around me as I exit the rink, the echoes of the tumultuous meeting still lingering in my mind. As I make my way through the parking lot, a figure emerges from the shadows. Zane walks out with a scowl etched on his face.

"Emma," he sneers, his voice laced with hostility.

"Zane, I"m not in the mood for—"

"You"re the reason I got suspended. They"re all blaming you for it, and you know what? They"re right."

"Zane, I had nothing to do with your suspension. I"m just trying to—"

He interrupts me again, the venom in his words intensifying. "You should"ve never come back. Nobody wanted you here. They all knew you were a fraud, just pretending to be something you"re not. You should disappear before you ruin any more lives."

The harshness of his words stings, and I find myself at a loss for a response. Before I can collect my thoughts, he delivers one final blow.

"I always knew you were trouble. Just leave and never come back."

With that, he storms away, leaving me standing in the cold parking lot, the weight of his accusations settling on my shoulders. I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the impact of his words. As I begin to walk away, Zane"s parting shot reaches my ears.

"You"re nothing but a gold-digging bitch, Emma."

Before I can react, a blur of motion catches me by surprise. Out of nowhere, Kade appears, his fist connecting with Zane"s jaw in a swift and decisive punch. Zane stumbles backward, caught off guard by the unexpected retaliation.

My eyes widen as the scuffle ensues, Kade defending me against Zane"s aggression. It"s overwhelming, and I freeze, unable to comprehend the sudden turn of events. The parking lot becomes a chaotic battleground, the sounds of grunts and scuffling filling the air.

Realizing that I need to distance myself from the chaos, I force my legs into motion. The echoes of the confrontation linger in the air as I walk away, the sounds of the scuffle becoming muffled with each step. The parking lot feels like a maze of shadows.

My mind races with conflicting emotions – relief at Kade"s defense, disbelief at Zane"s harsh words, and a lingering sense of vulnerability. The night air bites at my cheeks as I navigate the twists and turns of the parking lot, seeking solace in the anonymity of the darkness.

What is happening?

Why is Zane acting like this?

Where the hell did Kade even come from?

Why was he even there?

Why do guys keep thinking they need to come to my rescue?

My legs are doing their best to carry me back to my apartment as quickly as possible. I need to hide for a while and keep myself away from everyone.

Zane's right. He's getting suspended constantly and now Drake is getting blamed for all kinds of nonsense.

Maybe I shouldn't have come home, maybe everyone was better off without me here.