Page 21

Amara was lost in the rhythm of her skating, every turn and spin a release, a way to push the weight of her emotions away.

The rink was quiet except for the sound of her blades slicing through the ice, each stroke grounding her as she practiced her jumps, her spins, pouring her heart into every movement.

As she prepared for a triple axel, a sudden presence caught her eye, and she nearly stumbled mid-jump, her heart leaping in a way that had nothing to do with her routine. Standing near the entrance of the rink was Liam, watching her with a look she couldn't quite decipher.

She came to a stop, breathing heavily, her chest tight with a mixture of surprise and something dangerously close to hope.

She'd been trying to move on, to distance herself from him, but seeing him there, looking at her as though she were the only person in the world, brought every feeling rushing back.

Liam walked towards her slowly, his hands in his pockets, his expression softened by something unspoken. "I'm sorry to interrupt," he said quietly, his voice carrying across the empty rink.

Amara's heart pounded as she took a step closer, her emotions warring between excitement and caution. "What are you doing here, Liam?"

He stopped just a few feet away from her, his gaze intense. "I couldn't stay away, Amara." His voice was laced with a vulnerability that she hadn't heard before. "I tried, but it just made me realize how much I wanted to be here... with you."

Her breath caught, and for a moment, she could only stare at him, taking in the honesty in his eyes. "Liam, you said... you said your life was too complicated for me," she reminded him, her voice barely a whisper.

He nodded, looking down as if gathering his thoughts.

"I know. And it is—my life is complicated, messy. But you deserve the truth." He lifted his gaze, meeting her eyes with a steady resolve.

"The truth is, I can't stop thinking about you. I can't pretend that there isn't something between us, something real."

Amara felt her heart swell, her defenses wavering as she took a shaky breath. "Liam... I don't know if I can handle it if you're just going to pull away again. I need to protect myself, too."

He stepped closer, reaching out as though to take her hand, then hesitating. "I don't want to hurt you, Amara. That's the last thing I want. But I can't keep pretending that I don't feel this way."

Her chest tightened, her heart racing as she looked up at him, her walls crumbling. "So, what do we do?" she asked, her voice soft, her vulnerability clear in the question.

Liam smiled, a flicker of warmth and hope in his expression. "Maybe we take it slow. We don't have to rush into anything, but I'd like to see where this goes... if you're willing."

Amara looked down, considering his words, her heart torn between the hope of being with him and the fear of what she might lose.

She knew how much was at stake—not just her heart, but her focus, her dreams.

But the way he looked at her, as if she were the one thing he'd been searching for, made it hard to resist.

"Alright," she said finally, her voice steady despite the flutter in her chest. "But let's be careful, Liam. I can't afford to get lost in this."

He nodded, his expression full of understanding. "I don't want you to lose yourself, Amara. You're too incredible, too determined, and I want to support that. I want you to reach every goal, and I'll be here cheering you on, however you'll let me."

She felt a wave of relief wash over her, knowing he understood, that he wasn't asking her to choose between him and her dreams. Tentatively, she reached out, letting her fingers brush his. He took her hand in his, and they stood there, a fragile promise between them, filled with both uncertainty and possibility.

For a long moment, they didn't say anything, just stood in the quiet of the rink, feeling the warmth of each other's presence. Finally, Liam broke the silence, a gentle smile lifting the corner of his mouth. "I should let you get back to practice. I know how important this is to you."

Amara smiled, her heart feeling lighter than it had in days. "Thank you... for understanding."

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze before letting go, stepping back but keeping his gaze on her. "I'll be here, watching. I'm here for you, Amara. Whatever you need."

With a small nod, she turned and glided back onto the ice, feeling the familiar rush of the rink, but this time, her heart was filled with something new—a quiet joy, a hope that maybe, just maybe, she didn't have to face her dreams alone.

As she skated, she felt his eyes on her, steady and unwavering. And in that moment, she realized that taking things slow, being cautious, didn't have to mean holding back. It could mean building something real, something lasting. And for now, that was more than enough.