Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 80045 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80045 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
“You'll be waiting a long time,” I say. “I don't mind going to karaoke bars, but I never actually partake.”
“We'll see about that,” he says playfully.
Our conversation is hushed by the appearance of the head of the university’s figure skating club walking across the stage. My nerves jolt knowing this will be my cue to go up and give my speech next. I’d been too distracted with dinner and conversation with Lawson to pay attention to who is in the room, but being on stage and speaking to all of the attendees will make it hard to ignore the sea of faces.
The room erupts into applause as I’m called to the stage, and I'm filled with gratitude at the appreciation and recognition the head of the club gives me. Lawson watches me with an intense gaze that's hard to tear my eyes away from even when I take my place behind the podium on the stage.
I have to force my eyes away from his before I forget my entire speech.
Thankfully, after a few deep breaths and a few well-intended pieces of advice, I make it off the stage without any embarrassment. And bonus? I didn't spot Brian’s face among the crowd.
Maybe he forgot.
Maybe he already secured some grand figure skating adventure and didn't need this event to network.
Maybe it’s just a stroke of luck, but either way, it makes the anxiety twisting in my chest unravel a bit more.
Lawson stands and claps as I make my way back to the table, and I can’t help but smile at his enthusiasm. He certainly likes to play the role of doting boyfriend, even though our target audience of one isn’t in attendance.
It’s totally endearing, especially because it’s so nice to experience another person that’s actually here to support me and isn’t here for his own gain. Even if it is just pretend.
“Damn, I didn't know you were an expert skater and public speaker,” Lawson says as we take our seats again.
I laugh softly, shaking my head at him. “You don't have to lay it on so thick, hero. No one is here to see it.”
Lawson furrows his brow, studying me for a few moments. “Do you think I'm behaving any other way than I normally would? I am who I am. And just because it'll make a good show doesn't mean it's fake. You did really well up there.”
Well, goddamn him. My heart actually flutters at the compliment, at the sincerity swirling in his gorgeous hazel eyes. Jesus, what am I doing? I can't stop the way my body reacts to this man, especially when he's looking at me like that. Or when his hands are on me, or his lips.
Our little practice kiss after our first private lesson still buzzes beneath my skin. There was definitely nothing fake about the way I responded to him, or the chemistry that crackled between us. I know there’s no denying it, but neither one of us wants a relationship and we also have the little side issue of me being one of his coaches. That’s like a mess begging for trouble, which neither of us needs.
“Thank you,” I say, and genuinely mean it. He’s certainly made this night a thousand times better than it would’ve been without him.
The event continues with us mingling with skaters, judges, coaches, and producers, and by the time I think I can't utter another word, the music finally starts up and Lawson eagerly drags me to the dance floor.
We fall into an easy rhythm to the upbeat music, immersed among other happy couples dancing and laughing and having a great time. Lawson takes lead, and I find myself laughing as he twirls me around before cinching me tight against his body and working us around the dance floor.
“What's that grin for?” he asks, one hand in mine and the other on my hip.
“I'm having fun,” I say.
“Why do you sound so surprised? Did you really think I was just going to sit here and pout because this event has nothing to do with me? I'm not that much of a cocky prick.”
I shake my head. “Of course, I didn't think that,” I say. “But I've been to several of these things before and seeing someone sitting and pouting is what I’m used to. Especially if he wasn't getting the attention he thought he deserved.”
Lawson takes that opportunity to dip me, his powerful arms easily bending my body this way and that, sending heat shivering down my center. “Can I ask why you stayed with him so long if he was that way with you?”
I sigh as he brings me back up to standing, our bodies flush as one song turns into another, neither one of us moving to let go. “I’ve asked that question myself a lot since leaving him. At first, I think it was because it was my first real relationship. All throughout high school I’d been so focused on my practice and competition circuits that I didn't have time for a real boyfriend. Hell, I'd never been on a real date until my freshman year of college. I finally made time to open myself up to the idea of having a boyfriend and Brian seemed to fill that role very quickly. He liked the same things I liked, and he was a skater too. We were in each other's worlds so much that it was a natural progression.” A weight sinks in my stomach as too many memories flood me. The constant lectures, the subtle passive aggressive jabs that I thought were out of his love for me and his wishes for me to be better. He only wanted to look better. I was never really a factor in the equation.