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It was fine—I didn’t have to party all the ti me about all the hot chicks they picked up with the latest app I said I’d download it when I was back ho with Etienne anyway We were really close to reaching the next level and couldn’t stop now

Obaachan and I shuffled to our section through a short concrete corridor and then down the steps We were in the third row in the corner near the Kiss and Cry, and a family had to stand up to let us squeeze by to our seats A dance mix of “Last Christh the arena as the Za it shiny and smooth

After handing off food to et comfortable Seriously, who fit in arena seats? I was on the skinny side and only five-six, but my knees hit the chair in front of me Obaachan and the kids under ten beside me were the only people who didn’t look uncomfortable

On randma’s other side, Mom asked, “Sam, you’re sure you only want

“Uh-huh There’s no point in having to carry stuff home”

It wasto Toronto soon to spend Christ for the holidays He’d be forced to on the days the rink closed, but he was too obsessed to take an actual week off or so

I missed the old days when Henry and Etienne both trained in Vancouver and I saw the to send Etienne a e But I shouldn’t distract hi specific to say “I miss you” would just be weird

After the judges and officials were introduced, which always took a stupidly long tiin singles skated to center ice for their introductions

We applauded the lone American, two Japanese skaters, and three Russians We didn’t always attend all four disciplines ent to Henry’s competitions, but at the Grand Prix Final it was only the best and we had an all-event pass

Just before the Aan—but after the noise of applause had faded—Obaachan declared, “That dress makes her look like a stewardess”

Mom and I shushed her in unison As a kid at one of Henry’s competitions, I’d mercilessly roasted another skater who fell on half his juh my parents toldright behind us, which I only realized when he joined her later, his face all red and puffy froest stink eye, and I’d wanted to sink through the floor

I’d hated being dragged to Henry’s co soway more over the years, especially after I becarade nine I kne much criticism skaters had to deal with from every direction

Ad about the dress—all that waswas a scarf around her neck and a tray of drinks

After the woraan The Zaain, and I chewed the ice from the bottouests

In the Kiss and Cry, the TV reporter who did the post-skate interviews got on theup on the scoreboard screen to thunderous applause

Huh What were Chloe Desjardins and Phillipe Vincent doing here? They’d reigned as the top Canadian ice dancers for years and had won three or four world chaold, but they fell on their twizzles in the rhythm dance—those quick spins on one foot in perfect unison were like the quads of ice dance The Russians beat them

They retired after that, so ere they in Calgary for the Grand Prix Final? Probably doing so or maybe fluff pieces for the network Their outfits were too stylish to si the event Chloe’s lips shone her tradeolden curls perfect

“You’ve got a big announcement today, don’t you?” the reporter asked with a coy s, which eird Maybe they had a new endorseh they weren’t married yet

My stomach clenched Oh fuck No Don’t say it Do not say it Don’t—