Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

S asha and Wyatt left before Archer and the others got up in the morning. The mood in the suite was subdued. After Trent’s announcement, things went fast. Administration put Coach Jones on leave and Coach Richman took charge of the team. Later, a member of US Hockey’s investigation division interviewed Archer. He might not have been on the ice near Sasha to hear everything Trent said to her that fateful day, but he also knew nothing about the incident had been an accident.

Nothing.

He stumbled out of bed and headed for the kitchen to make coffee. The schedule for the friendlies was chaotic, to say the least. The commission scheduled the games between the skating competition. So, with Sasha and Wyatt hitting the ice in the morning, the team played in the afternoon. If the team still took part. Knowing the severity of the situation, if US Hockey sent them home, and called in a bunch of sanctions against Coach Jones and Trent... Well, it would serve them right.

He absently scratched his chest. The last four days had gone by in a flash and if the weather app told the truth, the blizzard officially passed them in the wee hours of the morning, allowing for cleanup crews to head out and clear the roads, meaning, their time in Telluride was ending as well. And not a damn one of them had made their move to tell Sasha how they felt about her. Not that he didn’t want to. He figured no one wanted to leave her this time. However, after everything she’d been through, maybe it was for the best.

Sasha deserved a fresh start. If they could give her that at least, then everything else didn’t matter, including their feelings. Didn’t mean he loved her any less. She was always the one. Even when they played youth hockey. He could say the same for his friends. When the coffeemaker beeped, he grabbed a cup, then went to take a shower. A million thoughts filled his mind, including the fact the room felt so empty without Sasha.

“Hey man,” Cam muttered before stretching and pointing to Archer’s cup. “Any more of that?”

Archer hooked his thumb over his shoulder. “Fresh pot. Just made it.”

“Trent’s gone,” Cam said, shuffling over to the full pot. “Just got the message.”

“What about the games?” He hedged, not sure if they should play or not.

“Still on for this afternoon and late tonight.” Cam yawned. “Seems the organization wants to show a united front and put their best foot forward.”

Archer grunted. “I think Wyatt and Sasha left earlier for last practice and to prep for the competition.”

“Do you want to go watch them?” Cam asked, cocking a brow. “We don’t have to be to the ice until three.”

“Sure,” he replied. “Let’s grab Brody too. Don’t want the surly bastard pouting because we didn’t wake him up soon enough.”

Cam laughed. “Too right.”

An hour later, they found their seats close to the ice, yet not up front so they wouldn’t be a distraction. The dancers began their warmups and practices on the ice. Wyatt and Sasha stayed to an open area away from others, while working more on snaping into positions than their lifts or spins. Both seemed fine, however stuffing down emotions came part and parcel with competitive sports.

Brody elbowed him. “She looks so damn hot out there.”

“Think she’d let us fuck her in that suit?” Cam asked, before running his tongue over his bottom lip.

Archer chuckled. “She doesn’t get replacements dipshits. That’s her costume for the full season. And, if she goes to the Olympics like we’re all hoping to do, she’ll need them for that too.”

“Why couldn’t you just say, hell yeah,” Cam muttered. “Why you gotta ruin the fantasy?”

He shook his head slouching down into the chair. The turnout for fans surprised him. Between what coach told them and the storm, he expected the place to be empty. Instead, there were more people than not. “Just cheer for our girl when she gets on the ice.”

“Our girl has a nice ring to it.” Brody smirked. Considering, she’d been their girl from the moment they met her.

“Yeah, it does. Wyatt’s not half bad either and he’s protected her.” Cam flicked his gaze toward Wyatt. “I think we’ll keep him too.”

“I’m sure us making plans for them will go swimmingly when Sasha finds out.”

Brody and Cam snickered. “We’ll tell her after the game tonight.”

“Even better,” Archer grunted. “When she’s exhausted.”

“Yeah, but her and Wyatt are going to win this, so she’ll be wired when we explain the situation. She’ll go for it. Don’t you worry your pretty little head.”

Sure... Archer wasn’t worried.

Much.

The lights dimmed in the arena and the skaters left the rink. The welcome music began along with the introduction for the event. The announcer droned on about the unexpected blizzard and how they were excited to finally start the competition. Up first was the team from France. Archer didn’t care about their names or what their Rhythm program consisted of.

Team after team hit the ice and Archer zoned out through them. All he cared about was seeing their girl on the ice with Wyatt, winning the title and hopefully a place on the US National Team. Nervous energy wriggled through his belly. His palms sweaty. He hadn’t been this anxious since the first time he stepped out on the ice for a big game. Crazy how the feeling instantly came back the minute he wanted Sasha to win.

“I haven’t felt like this is years,” Cam mumbled. “Puke or shit... I ain’t even out there. Crazy, right?”

Nope. He felt it too.

“Now, introducing from the United States of America, Ariel Rhodes and Wyatt Lane,” the announcer said as they skated onto the ice.

Sasha wore a pair of skintight bell-bottom pants with a tie-dye crop top sheer number bedazzled in millions of sparkling crystals. Her long brown hair was pulled back into a high ponytail with swooped bangs and curly ends. A smoky cat-eye accentuated her beautiful violet eyes, hidden behind a pair of rose-colored hippy sunglasses. Frosty purple, the same shade as Wyatt’s shirt, painted her lips. Gorgeous wasn’t even the right word for how she looked.

“I think I like this more than the body suit,” Brody murmured, sitting forward.

The lights dimmed low and the spotlight encapsulated Sasha and Wyatt. Both held up the peace sign, smiling at the crowd. With the first clap and strum of Cecilia by Simon and Garfunkel, Wyatt spun Sasha around in a small circle and they were off. Their program started with a jaunty tune, allowing their dance to be more whimsical than structured and routine. He didn’t know what half the dance moves were called, but they did most of them side by side without touching until the last possible second. Then, once they clasped hands, they went into a twizzle and transitioned into something a bit grittier. The blare of Jimi Hendrix’s guitar echoed through the area and Archer knew the moment Sasha sank into the music disappearing into the liquid flow of the song. She was fluid, gliding on the edges of her blades, twirling and spinning before going limp in Wyatt’s arms as he lifted her before setting her down into the splits.

The whole display was effortless. Exquisite. Archer stared at her in awe as she flowed from one move to the other before the music changed again, picking up tempo. The crowd had gotten into the routine as well, clapping along to CCR’s Down On the Corner . Archer whistled at them, cheering them on. The intensity and freedom in their program rivaled everyone else’s dance. Then the song returned to Cecilia as they slowed down, going into their final side by side spins, pride welled in his chest. Emotions clogged his throat. She’d always been a damn good skater, better than most of their team, but this... This right here, Sasha belonged on the ice.

The music ended, and they returned to their original pose, holding up peace signs, standing in the middle of the spotlight, smiling for the crowd while trying to gather their breath. The roar of the crowd was deafening. Flowers and stuffed animals landed on the ice while Sasha wrapped her arms around Wyatt’s neck. Tears of joy filled her eyes and pink tinged her cheeks. Archer whistled as loud as he could while they bowed then exited the ice for the remaining pair. In his estimates, it was safe to say, they’d get the highest score. No, that wasn’t bias because he liked Sasha and Wyatt, either.

It was the truth.

“Holy shit! Holy fuck!” Cam breathed. “Did you see that? She was... They were... Holy shit.” He had his hands interlocked on the top of his head, continuing to stare at the middle of the ice, the etching still visible where Sasha and Wyatt skated.

“I think they broke him,” Brody teased. “That was fucking amazing.”

It was. “I don’t even have words.”

Wyatt and Sasha sat on a small couch with their coaches laughing and crying. They had to know by now how good their program was, right? They had to know they’d just won, even though they had to skate one more time.

“The scores for Wyatt Lane and Ariel Rhodes are 43.85 for the technical and for the artistic...” A shout rang out, turning into a ruckus cheer from the crowd. The artistic score popped up on the screen as 50.07, along with a little asterisk beside their name.

“What does that mean?” Brody pointed to their names. “Is that good or bad?”

“...and the new American record holder, Lane and Rhodes!” the answer’s voice cut through the exhilaration flowing through the crowd.

“Holy shit!” Archer muttered. “Holy fucking shit.”

Sasha stared at their score, afraid if she moved, she’d puke. How did that happen? She couldn’t believe their score. Stepping out onto that ice... Everything around her disappeared and for the first time in a long time, she remembered what it was like to have fun on the ice.

When she woke that morning, there was a sense of unease within her. The last ten years had left a heavy hand over her, no matter what she’d done, never went away. Until she slipped out of bed and grinned. The unease she experienced that morning was nerves. She always had them. However, it was the quiet in her mind. Gone were the what if questions. Gone was the fear of running into the one person she hated the most. The shame? Gone. The need to be vindicated? Fulfilled.

Even her knee felt better than it had all those years ago.

Then she stepped onto the ice, and it was as if pure magic infused her body and she became one with their routine. If anyone asked her what they did out there or how she did it, she’d never be able to answer their questions. Usually, she mental instructed herself through each motion and element. Today, it was like her muscle memory did the heavy lifting, allowing her to have fun. When she was done, elation filled her.

She giggled to herself.

Standing, with Wyatt at her side and flowers in her right hand, she turned and waved the modest crowd that joined them for the competition. Then she was escorted away to waiting reporters for interviews. She didn’t even think she could talk. Let alone express how she was feeling right at that moment.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught movement. She glanced up and came face to face with Brody, Cam and Archer. Each wore expression that matched her feelings. Pride filled their eyes while something else lurked there. They waved to her then motioned to the door. She nodded, understanding what they wanted.

By the time she made her way to them, she thought perhaps they had to leave. They were, after all, due on the ice for their first game before the evening competitions. Yet, as she went through the door, there they stood, waiting for her behind the cordoned off area. She hurried to them, Wyatt right behind her before she jumped into Archer’s arms.

“Holy shit, Rogue!” Archer murmured against her neck. “That was fucking amazing. You looked gorgeous out there. So fucking proud of you.”

“Thank you,” she mumbled, pressing her nose to his neck.

“You were amazing out there,” Cam said, pulling Wyatt into a hug. “Both of you. I don’t have the words, man.”

“Thanks,” Wyatt said. “It was all her. The second she let go, so did I.”

“You got the record too for highest score,” Brody said. “I’m lucky to get those on video games.”

Sasha laughed. “When do you have to leave?”

“Now,” Archer said. “Unfortunately. But I was hoping after everything is said and done, we could celebrate? The guys and me have something we want to discuss with the both of you.”

She glanced at Wyatt who nodded. “Sure. As soon as we get changed, we’ll be at your game. We have to be back at six to get ready.”

“Just enough time to watch us kick some ass.” Archer set her down then brushed a kiss over her lips before stepping back for Brody and Cam.

Sasha accepted their kisses, then allowed Cam and Wyatt their moment together. That was the hottest fucking thing she’d ever seen. She fanned herself while giggling like a little girl as the guys walked away and she went toward the locker room so they could get out of their costume and into street clothes.

“I think I’m in love with you and Cam,” Wyatt said, when they stepped into the changing space.

“Oh yeah?” she murmured. “You think so?”

He nodded. “Please put me out of my misery and tell me you feel the same.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’ve been in love with you since our first year together. I think we’re stuck together permanently.”

Relief and excitement pooled in those mercury eyes of his. “You’re not upset about Cam and me?”

“Never,” she replied. “I think we’re a unit, you know? I don’t want to label us. Is that okay?”

Wyatt nodded. “Better than okay. I can’t wait to call you my girlfriend in public.”

Sasha laughed. “Well, boyfriend, I need a shower and a tub of nachos. A beer too.”

Wyatt snorted. “After our competition, I’ll feed you all the nachos and beer you can consume.”

“Swear?” Sasha hedged.

“You know it.”