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brYAN

“ T he gift you left in my pocket.”

She says it flatly, and it’s enough to get me worrying. Was it weird? She probably doesn’t even remember our conversation from the other day—oh, God, did the wording come off sexual?

“Um…” I can feel myself turning redder by the second. “Look, it was just a joke, I can explain—”

But before I can make an even bigger fool out of myself, Katya starts laughing. And I mean almost cackling, like a full Wicked Witch of the West, totally hysterical I-can’t-breathe laugh.

“Oh my—I—” She lets out a hiccup, which of course makes her laugh even harder, and I just stare, mouth open. Who is this girl, and what has she done with my partner?

She clutches my arm, grey eyes wide. “This is the best present I have ever received,” she gasps. “Thank you.”

“Uh…you’re welcome?” I raise an eyebrow, but can’t help smiling. I carefully pry her fingers off from where they’re cutting off my circulation, and she starts shaking with giggles again.

“I can’t believe this. That bottle was bigger than my actual head. Where did you even find it?”

“The glories of Costco,” I quip.

“What’s that?”

“Oh, man, you are missing out. You haven’t lived until you have one of those hot dog samples.”

“Never mind. What did you mean by my real present being in the kiss-and-cry?”

“What do you think?” I nudge her. “A gold medal. Duh.”

A tiny smile lights up her face again, but as soon as she catches me looking it disappears. “Don’t get any ideas. You still aren’t funny. Also, you’re my only skating partner, so it isn’t like anyone else can be my favorite.”

I don’t fight her. I just start grinning. “So you admit I’m your favorite?”

“Shut up.”

Turns out, I was right about the other thing. We kill the free skate, get positive grade of execution marks on every last one of our elements, and get a new personal best—not to mention our first win. Our first gold. Wanna know what Katya says when we’re up there getting them put around our necks?

She smiles and thanks the guy, then as soon as he’s gone, she leans in my ear and says, “Better get used to this.”