Authors: Jennifer Comeaux
Tags: #romance, #young adult, #first love, #teen, #figure skating, #ice skating, #Sting, #trust, #female athlete, #Olympics, #coach, #Boston, #girl sports, #Cape Cod, #Russia, #Martha’s Vineyard
Life on the Edge (5 page)
I
went ahead to the locker room to change and then to the gym for two hours of off-ice conditioning. The cramped room included a couple of exercise bikes, two treadmills, and an area with weights and mats for strength and balance training.
My
legs were already pumping the bike pedals when Chris settled onto the bicycle next to mine.
My
legs were already pumping the bike pedals when Chris settled onto the bicycle next to mine.
“So, I have an idea how we can be more connected when we skate. You should pretend I’m Marley.”
I
gave him a toothy grin.
I
gave him a toothy grin.
He pedaled faster. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You were hanging on everything she said at my house the other night.”
His rosy cheeks deepened in color, possibly from the workout, but more likely from
my
teasing.
my
teasing.
“She’s a nice girl,” he mumbled over the whirr of the spinning cycles.
“I could put in a good word for you.”
He jerked his head to face
me
. “No, don’t say anything to her.”
me
. “No, don’t say anything to her.”
“I don’t get you. You’re Mr. Confidence on the ice, but you’re scared to ask a girl out?”
“I’m not scared. She just broke up with her boyfriend back home. I don’t
wanna
be the rebound guy.”
wanna
be the rebound guy.”
I
tapped his arm. “You want to be her serious guy.”
“Why don’t we get back to the original subject . . . this whole emotional connection
thing.
You could pretend I’m Sergei.” He stuck out his tongue.
thing.
You could pretend I’m Sergei.” He stuck out his tongue.
My
legs stopped moving. “Why would you say that?”
“It’s obvious you worship the ground he walks on. You were all
googly
-eyed when you were skating with him earlier.”
googly
-eyed when you were skating with him earlier.”
“I don’t worship him. I was doing what he told us to do.”
I
resumed cycling with a fury.
I
resumed cycling with a fury.
“Hey, I’m not judging. All the girls swoon over him.” He touched the back of his hand to his forehead and laughed.
“Some of the guys, too.”
“Some of the guys, too.”
I snickered, but on the
inside
alarm bells rang.
My
feelings for Sergei had shown on the ice–a dangerous development. Whatever
spark
existed between us needed to be doused because we couldn’t act on it. The federation would never approve, and Sergei’s position as our coach could be in jeopardy. If Chris and
I
were going to be the first American pair to win Olympic gold, I must stay focused on skating.
inside
alarm bells rang.
My
feelings for Sergei had shown on the ice–a dangerous development. Whatever
spark
existed between us needed to be doused because we couldn’t act on it. The federation would never approve, and Sergei’s position as our coach could be in jeopardy. If Chris and
I
were going to be the first American pair to win Olympic gold, I must stay focused on skating.
Starting today,
I
had to stop hanging out with Sergei at Starbucks. If
I
just saw him at the rink, then my feelings would eventually fade.
Wouldn’t they?
I
had to stop hanging out with Sergei at Starbucks. If
I
just saw him at the rink, then my feelings would eventually fade.
Wouldn’t they?
****
Instead of going to the coffee shop that afternoon,
I
decided to take a walk from my house to Main Street to window shop in the galleries and gift stores. Strolling past the harbor,
I
inhaled the nippy autumn air. The summer crowds were gone, so there were no lines of people waiting to dine at the waterfront restaurants. The Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket ferry docks were also quiet.
I
decided to take a walk from my house to Main Street to window shop in the galleries and gift stores. Strolling past the harbor,
I
inhaled the nippy autumn air. The summer crowds were gone, so there were no lines of people waiting to dine at the waterfront restaurants. The Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket ferry docks were also quiet.
I
walked through the little park along the harbor and passed Sergei’s apartment building.
My
parents had recommended the place when his old apartment had been sold a few months back. I noticed his black SUV in the parking lot, which meant he
hadn’t
gone to Starbucks either. A weight heavier than
I
wanted to admit settled on my chest. Maybe Sergei was avoiding
me
, too.
My
parents had recommended the place when his old apartment had been sold a few months back. I noticed his black SUV in the parking lot, which meant he
hadn’t
gone to Starbucks either. A weight heavier than
I
wanted to admit settled on my chest. Maybe Sergei was avoiding
me
, too.
On Main Street, many store windows featured Halloween displays of oversized jack-o-lanterns and tangled cobwebs.
I
wandered from shop to shop, making note of some items I thought Mom and Dad might like for Christmas. With
my
busy competition and training schedule coming up, it was never too early to think about the holidays.
I
wandered from shop to shop, making note of some items I thought Mom and Dad might like for Christmas. With
my
busy competition and training schedule coming up, it was never too early to think about the holidays.
I
stopped in front of a gift shop and peered through the window at a display of handmade jewelry.
Further
into the store, a familiar blue sweater caught my eye. Sergei was standing beside a shelf of silk scarves, examining one with a black and white striped design.
Further
into the store, a familiar blue sweater caught my eye. Sergei was standing beside a shelf of silk scarves, examining one with a black and white striped design.
Who
is he buying a scarf for?
I
watched him refold the scarf and pick up another one. Curiosity encouraged me to go inside, but
I’d
be violating my new rule of not socializing with him. While
I
played an internal tug-of-war, Sergei spotted me.
I’d
be violating my new rule of not socializing with him. While
I
played an internal tug-of-war, Sergei spotted me.
A smile spread across his face as he lifted one hand in a wave.
I
stuck my hand up in reply, and he motioned for me to join him. I
couldn’t
walk away now.
I
stuck my hand up in reply, and he motioned for me to join him. I
couldn’t
walk away now.
Inside the store, the strong cinnamon potpourri scent choked
me
.
I
moved through aisles of wind chimes and crystal figurines and met Sergei next to the scarves.
me
.
I
moved through aisles of wind chimes and crystal figurines and met Sergei next to the scarves.
“I’m glad you’re here,” he said. “I need a woman’s opinion.”
“Oh?”
“I’m looking for a birthday present for my mother, and I could use some ideas.”
I
tried not to smile too big when he said ‘mother.’ “What do you usually get her?”
“I usually send flowers, but it’s her fiftieth birthday, so I wanted to get something special.”
“Hmm . . .”
I
touched my finger to my chin. “Does she like jewelry?”
I
touched my finger to my chin. “Does she like jewelry?”
“She doesn’t wear much. She has pretty simple taste.”
I
scanned the cluttered shelves around us. “What about something Cape Cod-inspired?
Something that will give her a piece of your life here?”
Something that will give her a piece of your life here?”
“She does love all the photos I’ve sent her.”
“How about a framed print?”
I
led him over to the rows of colorful prints. “They have some beautiful ones of different scenic spots on the island. My mom bought two here for our living room.”
led him over to the rows of colorful prints. “They have some beautiful ones of different scenic spots on the island. My mom bought two here for our living room.”
We shuffled through the selection, and
I
gaped at one in particular. “This is gorgeous.”
I
stared at the portrait of the quaint rain-slicked city street shining from the gaslight lamps. “It’s Beacon Hill, one of my favorite areas in Boston. I would love to have this hanging over my desk at home.”
I
gaped at one in particular. “This is gorgeous.”
I
stared at the portrait of the quaint rain-slicked city street shining from the gaslight lamps. “It’s Beacon Hill, one of my favorite areas in Boston. I would love to have this hanging over my desk at home.”
“You should get it.”
“No, I don’t need to spend this much.”
I
returned the print to the bin. “By the way, thank you again for talking to Courtney and Mark’s moms and making me one of their official coaches. The money helps a lot. My parents spend so much on my skating that I don’t like to ask them for anything extra.”
I
returned the print to the bin. “By the way, thank you again for talking to Courtney and Mark’s moms and making me one of their official coaches. The money helps a lot. My parents spend so much on my skating that I don’t like to ask them for anything extra.”
“You earned it.
You’re
doing a great job with them. I think Courtney, especially, is learning a lot from you.”
You’re
doing a great job with them. I think Courtney, especially, is learning a lot from you.”
“Thanks.”
I
smiled. “I’ve learned a lot from them and from working with you.”
I
smiled. “I’ve learned a lot from them and from working with you.”
Sergei’s eyes regarded
me
with deep thought. He looked like he was going to say something, but instead he pulled the next print from the bin. “This one is nice.”
me
with deep thought. He looked like he was going to say something, but instead he pulled the next print from the bin. “This one is nice.”
A blue sky filled with white wispy clouds hovered above a lighthouse surrounded by marshy grass and the sunlit ocean.
I
imagined Sergei and I picnicking along the water, snuggling on a red and white checked blanket as seagulls serenaded us with their soft cries.
I
imagined Sergei and I picnicking along the water, snuggling on a red and white checked blanket as seagulls serenaded us with their soft cries.
“
Em
?”
Em
?”
Sergei’s voice broke
me
from my daydream. “Do you like it?”
me
from my daydream. “Do you like it?”
“Yeah.
It’s the perfect Cape Cod scenery.”
He smiled and started for the checkout desk. “Thanks for your help. I owe you a latte.”
When he was out of sight,
I
banged my forehead against the nearest shelf. Putting Sergei out of my mind was going to be much more difficult than
I’d
thought.
I
banged my forehead against the nearest shelf. Putting Sergei out of my mind was going to be much more difficult than
I’d
thought.
Chapter Four
I
shrugged on my blue Team USA jacket and rolled my small bag through the concourse of Colorado Springs’ World Arena. The souvenir stands were bustling to life with stacks of Skate America programs, T-shirts, and hoodies. Ducking into the section of seats facing center ice,
I
carried my bag down the steps and approached my parents.
I
carried my bag down the steps and approached my parents.
“Hi, sweetie!”
Mom’s exuberant greeting could likely be heard ten rows away, even with the noisy hum of the Zamboni. She hugged
me
, and I smiled at Dad over her shoulder. His kind, blue-gray eyes shone behind his wire-rimmed glasses.
me
, and I smiled at Dad over her shoulder. His kind, blue-gray eyes shone behind his wire-rimmed glasses.
“You looked great at practice,” Mom said. “I was so worried we weren’t going to make it in time when our connecting flight from Denver took off a little late and then the cabbie from the airport drove like an old lady . . .”
I
slid past her and kissed my father on the cheek.
“Hey, Dad.”
“Hey, Dad.”
His quiet hug showed his and Mom’s differing personalities. Both were professors at Boston University, but the similarities ended there.
My
mom spoke first, usually emotionally, and thought later, while my dad personified “easy-going” and viewed the world logically.
They’d
balanced each other for twenty-five years.
My
mom spoke first, usually emotionally, and thought later, while my dad personified “easy-going” and viewed the world logically.
They’d
balanced each other for twenty-five years.
“Aubrey and Nick’s group is practicing after the ice cut,”
I
said, sitting in the empty purple seat beside Mom’s. “I want to stay and watch.”
I
said, sitting in the empty purple seat beside Mom’s. “I want to stay and watch.”
“That’s fine,” she said. “We can do lunch after.”
I
jiggled my knees up and down. “I’m not sure how much I’ll be able to eat, thinking about tonight.”
Dad reached across Mom and squeezed
my
hand. “Try not to get too worked up. It’s the first event of the season.”
my
hand. “Try not to get too worked up. It’s the first event of the season.”
“But this is a really important season.
We’re
only sixteen months away from the Olympics. We have to show we can compete with the top teams.
Starting now.”
We’re
only sixteen months away from the Olympics. We have to show we can compete with the top teams.
Starting now.”
“The Canadians were sharp at practice,” Mom said.
I’d
watched a few minutes of Madeline Hyatt and Damien Wakefield’s session before ours, and the Canadian champions hadn’t missed an element. As World silver medalists, they were the heavy favorite in the competition.
“How did Claire and Brandon do?”
“Brandon was having trouble with the triple toe.” Mom smoothed one stray lock of her short, chestnut-colored hair. “I still think you and Chris had them beat at Nationals. Brandon fell in the free skate! The judges held them up on reputation and didn’t want a new team to win.”
I
massaged my right temple, the one nearest to Mom. “Let’s not rehash that again.” Anyone who knew my mother knew where
I’d
gotten my competitiveness.
I’d
gotten my competitiveness.
“I’m just saying, the judges better be fair here. If you skate clean, you should be rewarded.”
My
stomach clenched. I had a bad habit of focusing on the possible results instead of my performance, and listening to Mom’s tirade
wasn’t
helping my mindset.
wasn’t
helping my mindset.
I
felt a tug on my ponytail, and a voice behind me said, “Hey, stranger.”
Spinning around,
I
found Drew Henry, National men’s bronze medalist, grinning at me. He had one of those faces that always seemed to be smiling.
I
found Drew Henry, National men’s bronze medalist, grinning at me. He had one of those faces that always seemed to be smiling.
“Hey, how are you?”
I
stood and hugged him then turned to Mom and Dad. “I don’t think you met Drew at Nationals?”
I
stood and hugged him then turned to Mom and Dad. “I don’t think you met Drew at Nationals?”
The three of them exchanged handshakes, and Drew poked
my
arm. “So, what have you been up to lately? You’ve been slacking on email.”
my
arm. “So, what have you been up to lately? You’ve been slacking on email.”
“Sorry, it’s been crazy, getting ready for the season and everything.”
“We’ll have to catch up this weekend.” He brushed his shaggy brown hair out of his eyes and leaned toward
me
. “And I can school you some more on the dance floor at the closing party.”
me
. “And I can school you some more on the dance floor at the closing party.”
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