Page 20

epilogue

NATE

Three days later

I'm standing at the edge of the rink, watching as Paige skates around with her niece. Clover’s laugh fills the abandoned arena as Paige grabs her tiny hands and spins her around, her skates hovering above the ice.

Both of them wearing matching smiles.

I feel my lips tug up, too, grateful we made it here in time.

The ice cleared enough for us to leave the cabin the day after Christmas, with Dax’s loud truck engine waking us up. But my friend didn’t come alone. My dad made it into town. He had a few hours before he had to get back on the road, so Paige, me, and Snowball, who stowed away in my coat pocket, packed up the cabin and went back down the mountain. Back to the Sugar Peak Resort, where we grabbed Paige’s luggage at the front desk and lunch at the Brazilian steakhouse.

It might not have been the usual time I get to spend with my dad, but the look on his face as he kept glancing between Paige and me as we ate our food told me that we were both okay with the outcome.

I swear the old man wiped tears from his eyes more than a few times.

But after lunch with my dad, Paige and I continued down the mountain to the airport, catching the first flight out to Colorado.

Making plans for our future the entire way.

A warm glow, soft and tender and more content than I’ve ever known, flourishes in my chest as I think about them. About what we have in front of us.

I’m watching Paige as she skates around, more carefree than she’s been in years, when I feel a dark, looming presence nearby.

Glancing over my shoulder, I watch as Austin sidles up beside me. He’s freshly changed out of his hockey gear and back in his suit. But I’m not sure if it’s the tie or my presence that’s making his already surly expression more irate than usual as he glowers at me.

And let me tell you, his glare is a lot more intimidating than his sister’s. Nothing kitten-like about it.

But I’m probably one of the only people not put off by his hostile expressions.

I’m also one of the few people who know just how much of a secret softy he is.

“Good game tonight,” I tell him. His team had a shutout and he only got into a sort-of fight. I was expecting a bloodbath, honestly. To help him work out all the rage my presence has inspired.

Austin grunts, not caring for my compliment. “Paige says I can’t be mad at you anymore.”

He sounds not too pleased with that. He hasn’t been too pleased by my being here in general.

Paige didn’t tell her brother I was coming with her, so when we both showed up to his house, my arm slung around her elegant shoulders, he took one look at us and slammed the door.

Then reopened it to pull Paige inside before slamming it back in my face.

He also has me sleeping in his unfinished basement on an old futon I swear he’s had since college. The thing might be even more uncomfortable than my dad’s couch. Not that I’m there for long. Just until Paige texts me that it’s safe to come back up, and we spend the rest of the night being very, very quiet in her room.

I give him a sidelong glance. “Does that mean you’re gonna listen to her?”

“Nope.”

I chuckle. Not put off by his rough exterior or protective nature. If anything, it just makes me like him more. To know Paige always has someone in her corner. Someone besides me, of course, because now that she’s let me in, I’m making myself nice and comfortable.

“You should sound more concerned. I’ve sent bigger men than you to the hospital.”

“Too bad. I’m not. Just like I’m not above winning your forgiveness, too.”

“Good luck with that.” He grunts again. “Unlike my sister, you can’t win me over with orgasms.”

“Damn.” I snap my fingers. “There goes my plan. ”

Austin shakes his head at me, staring at the two most important people in his life skating around. This time with Clover chasing after Paige, both their cheeks plump from their joyous smiles.

“Just don’t hurt her, okay?” Austin orders, his voice not as gruff or as menacing as before. His eyes still trained on his sister and daughter. “Don’t break her heart again.”

I nod along to his words, a somber expression taking over my face. Showing him how serious I am when I say, “I would break my heart a thousand times over before I ever dreamed of hurting her again.”

Never again.

Tearing his gaze from the rink, Austin gives me a long stare, digesting my words and the truth behind them before he nods.

“Good.” He slaps my back with enough strength I jolt forward, my bones rattling from the force. “Let’s keep it that way.”

I cough, trying to ignore the fact that he almost just broke my spine. Fuck, he’s strong. I’m so glad I’m in figure skating and never have to face him on the ice. I’d just be sending the puck to him, protecting myself.

But I nod in agreement, knowing I’m never going to make the mistake I did two years ago again. Never going to let a moment go wasted, feelings go unheard.

I’ve lived that life before and I’m not going back. All I’m doing now is looking forward to the future with Paige. Always with Paige.

Noise draws our attention back to the rink as we hear Clover calling our names, clapping and waving her hands over her head, making sure she has our attention. “She’s going to do it, guys!” Her gap-tooth grin splits her face with the kind of energy only found in a child. “She’s going to jump!”

My shoulders pull back, snapping to attention as my hands grip the edge of the board in front of me. Eyes frantically looking around the rink until I find Paige. Standing across the ice, her gaze is already on me. Looking as relaxed and at peace as I’ve ever seen. Her hair is slicked back in a ponytail, a curtain of red behind her.

Are you sure? I mouth. She hasn’t attempted her triple toe since the day we got snowed in. Hasn’t touched the ice until this very moment, when Austin was able to pull strings that allowed us to get on after the game.

She gives me a small, secret smile that clogs my throat with emotion as she nods. The familiar determined gleam when she steps on the ice is ever present.

I’m sure, she mouths with a wink before taking off like a bullet, skating around the rink with such grace as she builds momentum, finding her rhythm.

Waiting for the moment.

And when she finds it—she jumps.

My hands tighten, trying to keep myself in place as she spins around and around and around.

Then she lands.

And it’s perfect. No mistakes, no wrapping. Clean and expertly executed.

Perfect.

Just like her.

“You did it!” I sprint onto the rink before both her blades touch back down, skating over to her with the biggest grin. Clover cheers, going crazy in celebration. Not quite realizing the depth of this moment.

But I do. And I can’t get to her fast enough.

When I’m finally within distance, I swoop Paige into my arms, lifting her above my head and spinning us in a circle.

She’s finally gotten out of her head, enough to land the jump she’s always been able to do. The passion that she’s been missing is back in her face as she holds onto my shoulders. Laughing.

Her laugh fills the rink as I lower her back down, my hands cupping her cheeks. “You fucking did it,” I whisper, ever mindful of the child near us.

“I did it,” she whispers back, grabbing onto one of my wrists while reaching for the new necklace around her throat with the other. Christmas Day was spent a lot like how we ended Christmas Eve, getting lost in each other’s bodies. Making up for all the time we didn’t have together.

But as someone who actually loves Christmas, I couldn’t let the day go without at least one present. Especially when I knew there was a box in the cabin with Paige’s name on it.

So I braved the hoarder’s dream closet, formally known as my bedroom, breathing in enough dust that my sinuses are still fucked from it, digging around until I found my old gym bag.

The present I wrapped six years ago still inside.

The present she’s now wearing around her neck.

Two ice skates dangle from the gold chain—one white and one black, like the ones around our feet, with each of our initials carved into the blades.

Paige cried a little bit when I told her how long I had it. How long I’d been waiting to give it to her, swearing to never take it off. I’ve caught her playing with it more than a few times since.

“But do you think I’m ready?” she asks, nervously dragging the skates along the chain.

On the plane ride here, Paige asked if she could tell me about her skating plan, prefacing it by stating I couldn’t get mad. I didn’t understand why until she told me she’s not ready to skate together again.

Quickly rushing to add, it’s because she doesn’t want to complicate us learning how to be together as a couple with trying to be partners again. She wants to take time to build a foundation between us, dealing with the everyday stressors before we think about incorporating the pressures of skating on top of it.

She wants to just be Nate and Paige, together and in love.

She is going to keep skating, though. But she’s going to do it in a healthy way that helps her reconnect with the sport she loves so much.

And she’s not looking to do it with a partner this time.

She’s going to try a solo career.

To stick it to all the people that doubt her talent without me. Paige with an axe to grind is an impressively scary thing, and I can’t wait for her to make all the naysayers eat their words.

“I don’t think the world is ready for you. But I am. And I can’t wait to be cheering you on the whole way.” I kiss her, hard and fast.

Somewhere behind me, Clover squeals. I think she’s the most excited about us being together. The little girl who’s had so much love, she doesn’t have to fear it.

Paige breaks away first, pressing her forehead into mine. “I love you so much. I can’t believe I ever went this long without it.”

I hug her close. “It doesn’t matter how long it took. We’re here now, and we’re not looking back.”

“Never going back,” she agrees. “Instead we’re going forward—together.”

Forever.

At some point during our conversation, Austin slipped his skates back on, moving around the ice with his daughter. And I can’t help but feel like I’m getting a glimpse into our future. With more time spent together, with family and friends, laughing with each other, loving one another.

I kiss her again, not caring if her brother sees I’m slipping her a little tongue. I’m tasting the future, and it’s the best gift a man could ever ask for.