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"Awesome!" Olivia pumps her fist, bouncing in the booth.
"Finish up, kiddo," Victor tells her, his tone light but firm. "You'll need the energy. We've got ice to conquer after this." He winks at her, and I can't help but marvel at the transformation skating has wrought in him—a thawing frost, a tender kindling.
"Skating?" Her spoon clatters against the bowl as she shovels in the last few bites.
"Yep, just you and me on the rink." His voice holds a promise, one that extends beyond the ice.
"Best day ever," Olivia declares, grinning from ear to ear.
I watch them, the easy camaraderie that's unfolded like the petals of a flower long closed. And there, amidst the cluttered table and sticky syrup bottles, I feel something shift inside me—a budding hope that maybe Victor Stone might stick around.
Chapter Forty-Four
Victor
I stumblethrough the door of my corporate apartment, legs wobbly from hours of skating. Kicking off my shoes, I can't help but grin like an idiot as I replay the day in my head.
"You're getting pretty good at this, Mr. Fancy Skates!" Olivia had teased, whizzing past me for the hundredth time.
I'd laughed, my heart light. "Just wait till I get my sea legs, kiddo. I'll catch up to you yet."
Avery had watched from the sidelines, bundled up in her coat. When I'd offered her my hand, she'd shaken her head with a soft smile. "I'm good here. You two have fun."
Now, collapsing onto my couch, I'm exhausted but can't wipe the grin off my face. Who knew a day at the rink could be so... perfect?
My phone buzzes, yanking me from the warm afterglow. Fishing it out of my pocket, I see a flood of notifications. Shit. The board meeting. The fallout. How could I have forgotten?
I groan, rubbing my temples. The meeting feels like it happened a lifetime ago, buried under the laughter and joy of today. But now reality comes crashing back.
As I scroll through message after message from the guys, my stomach sinks.
Roman
Yo V, what went down last night?
What am I going to tell them? That I let my emotions get the better of me? That I put the entire project at risk because of... what? A girl I barely know and her daughter?
But as I start to type out a response, Olivia's gleeful face flashes in my mind. Avery's quiet strength. The way they both looked at me today, like I was just... Victor. Not some corporate big shot.
I hesitate, finger hovering over the screen. For the first time in my life, I'm not sure which version of myself I want to be.
I take a deep breath and dive into the group chat:
Lawrence
Heard you went off script yesterday. What happened?
Sebastian
Seems so. Are the investors happy with this turn of events?
Roman
Who cares? It was awesome! Fuck the investors!
I can't help but chuckle at Roman's typical bravado. My fingers fly across the screen as I type out a response:
Victor