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“She’s not wrong,” Kappy whispered out the side of his mouth. “I’m very confused at what you’re saying.”

Patrick relented with a sigh before skating off to the music box.

After recording, Kappy carefully watched the replay of him skating.

“See, right there, you’re sitting too low.” I moved my hand to his thigh to show him, but he jumped away.

“A little handsy there, Viper.”

I arched a skeptical eyebrow. “We’re about to be a lot more touchy if we’re actually partners.”

Worrying his bottom lip, he finally nodded. “Okay, show me.”

I felt his heated gaze on my face as I pushed his chest back and smoothed my hands over his shoulders.

“Relax your shoulders, they can’t be all tense like this.

” I narrowed my eyes to his chest, which was stiff and unmoving.

“Are you not breathing?” I asked, alarmed.

He wasn’t. He totally wasn’t. “Oh my God, breathe!” I smacked his chest.

He released a huff. “I’m sorry, this is a lot to think of, and now that I’m focusing on breathing, I can’t breathe right.”

I shot Patrick an exasperated look before turning back to Kappy.

“Sorry, okay, I’m ready now. ”

Blowing out a sigh, I extended his arms for him. “Now push and extend.”

He did as I said and actually looked like an ice dancer for once.

“Perfect!” Patrick yelled out.

“We got one stroke, woo,” I said sarcastically with some jazz fingers.

Kappy frowned and dropped his head, making me immediately regret my words.

Why did I always have to open my mouth? I needed to control myself.

I was just so…so… mad about everything. But none of it was Kappy’s fault.

I needed to settle down. Even though this was a lost cause, and the guys would surely figure it out by the end of today, it was sweet that they were actually trying to help me.

“Piper, what did I say about the attitude?” Patrick chided me. “And no more eyerolls. I’ve had enough to last a lifetime,” he muttered. “Now, let’s try some partner stroking and crossovers. Please lead, Piper.”

Grabbing Kappy’s hand, I interlocked our fingers in the correct way, and then took off.

Even though he still looked a little sloppy, Kappy did a decently good job of keeping pace and copying my stride.

We almost made it fully around the rink when Kappy hit the toepick again and flew forward.

“Ow! Fuck!” he yelled out as his body went sprawling on the ice.

I rolled my lips together to keep from laughing.

Patrick chuckled. “The toepick will humble you real fast, my friend.”

Rolling up to his butt, Kappy leaned his elbows over his knees.

I popped a hip out. “Ready to give up yet?”

He grinned at me, making both dimples pop out. “Not by a long shot, P.” His eyes scanned my body, but in a more curious than sexual way. “When do we get to do the lifts?”

I almost choked on my own spit when Patrick actually considered his question.

“No,” I wagged a finger at both of them. “Not until we nail them consistently in off-ice and he gets through at least a week of practices without a toepick fall. I am not hitting the ice.” That was a firm line for me.

“I’d never let you fall.” He said it so forcefully that my heart wavered a little in my chest .

As ridiculous as it sounded, I knew he wouldn’t.

I still trusted him, and that was a sobering thought.

Breathing out a sigh, I extended a hand to help him back to his skates. “All right, let’s keep going.”

__________

“So, what’s next?”

My eyes snapped over to Kappy, who maintained a safe distance from me while unlacing his skates in the lobby. As soon as his left skate came off, he let out a hiss and rubbed his foot. I didn’t envy him going through the uniquely horrible pain of breaking in new skates.

“I guess we’ll see what our coach says.” I gestured to Patrick, who was already stalking across the lobby toward us. Hans paused what he was doing in the pro shop to listen in.

Patrick’s hands went to his hips. “Well, it’s gonna take a lot of work, but…”

“But?” Kappy asked.

Patrick gave us the biggest grin I’d ever seen on his face. “But I actually think we can pull this off.”

“Hear that?” Kappy gave me a bright grin, then shot a thumbs up to Hans.

A little smile played on the old man’s face as he moved further into the pro shop.

“Wait, wait, wait.” I clenched my eyes shut. This was all moving too fast.

“What’s the hold up?” Kappy asked. “We got this.” He dapped up Patrick, making a loud smack with their palms.

Ignoring Kappy, I focused on Patrick’s face. I could read him better than anyone. I’d be able to fish out a lie in seconds. “You seriously think this could work? No bullshitting me, Patrick.”

He rubbed his stubbly jaw, and his shoulders shook with a little chuckle. “As crazy as it sounds, I actually do.”

His words had my heart picking up a little speed. Patrick was a realist; if he thought this was possible, then…then maybe my Olympic gold was still in play.

“Okay.” Patrick clapped his hands together. “Let’s work on some off-ice lifts.”

“Yes!” Kappy rubbed his hands together and then rolled his neck from side-to-side. “Been wanting to do this for years, guys. Seriously, I was always jealous watching you in the lobby, man,” he said to Patrick.

“Oh God.” I covered my eyes. “I’m scared.”

The deep rumble of his chuckle filled my ear as his strong arm wrapped around my waist. Suddenly I was airborne. He easily hiked me up and carried me over his shoulder like a fireman. I was too tired and confused to fight against him.