I didn’t want to get so emotional that I screwed up the elements.
I remembered clearly the day Josh had brought up his idea. We’d just finished our competition in France and were spending the day sightseeing in Paris. We sat in a charming café, drinking coffee and enjoying the best chocolate éclairs we’d ever tasted.
“I’ve been thinking about nationals and something new we could do for the exhibition,” Josh said.
“I thought we would just do our ‘Titanium’ program since we don’t have much time to work on something else,” I said.
“I love that program. It’s so badass.” Josh took a long sip from his cup. “But I have an idea I really want to put together. The song inspired me as soon as I listened to it.”
“What song is it?”
He hesitated slightly, and I became more curious.
“’The Impossible Dream.’”
My first reaction was to laugh, and Josh quickly said, “I know what you’re thinking.”
“That if we don’t make the team, there’s no way I’m skating to a song about chasing an impossible dream?”
“We’re going to make the team, so that won’t be an issue.”
I rested my chin on my hand. “I’m all about being confident, but this ain’t my first rodeo. I have to prepare myself for all scenarios.”
“I totally get that. What I need to explain, though, is the reason the song spoke to me. It’s not about our Olympic quest.” He grasped my other hand. “It’s about you.”
“Me?”
“For so long, being with you seemed almost impossible, but I never stopped dreaming of you. You were my ‘unreachable star’ as the song says.” He grazed his thumb over my knuckles, and I shivered from his gentle touch. “But I just had this feeling I would have a chance someday. And here we are.”
I smiled. “Here we are.”
“That’s why it would be incredibly special for me to create this program for you and to skate it with you in Boston.”
My heart ballooned further, and I angled forward over the tiny table. “Well, how can I say no to that?”
The ice dance champions waltzed past me, their sneakers squeaking on the floor, and I came back to the present. I stretched one arm in front of me and extended one leg behind me to loosen my muscles.
Em walked with purpose toward the locker rooms, not looking my way, and I wondered what was up with her serious expression. She normally wouldn’t be backstage at the exhibition, but she and Chris had been honored during intermission with all the country’s past Olympic gold medalists. She’d been teary then, but she looked on a mission now.
I trailed behind her and found where Josh had been hiding. Em went up to him and gave him a long hug, and I stayed behind a TV monitor and watched them talk quietly. Josh looked serious, too, and seemed just as nervous as he’d been before our free skate. The butterflies swarming in my stomach multiplied. I really wanted to skate this performance lights-out for him.
Em said something, and Josh finally broke into a smile. They hugged again, and I walked over to them, brightening Josh’s face even more.
“You disappeared on me,” I said.
“Sorry, I just wanted to do one last run-through in my head, and there was too much going on out there.”
“Yeah, I tried to escape myself.”
“I’m heading back to my seat.” Em hugged me hard. “Have a great skate.”
She sounded on the verge of crying again. I supposed it was just the emotion of the whole event getting to her. I was in no position to question anyone’s tears after I’d sobbed my way through the press conference. I’d struggled to form one coherent sentence.
Josh and I held hands and drifted toward the tunnel. With the stark lights in the arena dimmed and a DJ spinning tunes between each skater, the atmosphere had an entirely different feel from when we’d last been on the ice. We stood next to the boards, shrouded in darkness, and watched the men’s bronze medalist skate to Jason Mraz.
Josh moved behind
I remembered clearly the day Josh had brought up his idea. We’d just finished our competition in France and were spending the day sightseeing in Paris. We sat in a charming café, drinking coffee and enjoying the best chocolate éclairs we’d ever tasted.
“I’ve been thinking about nationals and something new we could do for the exhibition,” Josh said.
“I thought we would just do our ‘Titanium’ program since we don’t have much time to work on something else,” I said.
“I love that program. It’s so badass.” Josh took a long sip from his cup. “But I have an idea I really want to put together. The song inspired me as soon as I listened to it.”
“What song is it?”
He hesitated slightly, and I became more curious.
“’The Impossible Dream.’”
My first reaction was to laugh, and Josh quickly said, “I know what you’re thinking.”
“That if we don’t make the team, there’s no way I’m skating to a song about chasing an impossible dream?”
“We’re going to make the team, so that won’t be an issue.”
I rested my chin on my hand. “I’m all about being confident, but this ain’t my first rodeo. I have to prepare myself for all scenarios.”
“I totally get that. What I need to explain, though, is the reason the song spoke to me. It’s not about our Olympic quest.” He grasped my other hand. “It’s about you.”
“Me?”
“For so long, being with you seemed almost impossible, but I never stopped dreaming of you. You were my ‘unreachable star’ as the song says.” He grazed his thumb over my knuckles, and I shivered from his gentle touch. “But I just had this feeling I would have a chance someday. And here we are.”
I smiled. “Here we are.”
“That’s why it would be incredibly special for me to create this program for you and to skate it with you in Boston.”
My heart ballooned further, and I angled forward over the tiny table. “Well, how can I say no to that?”
The ice dance champions waltzed past me, their sneakers squeaking on the floor, and I came back to the present. I stretched one arm in front of me and extended one leg behind me to loosen my muscles.
Em walked with purpose toward the locker rooms, not looking my way, and I wondered what was up with her serious expression. She normally wouldn’t be backstage at the exhibition, but she and Chris had been honored during intermission with all the country’s past Olympic gold medalists. She’d been teary then, but she looked on a mission now.
I trailed behind her and found where Josh had been hiding. Em went up to him and gave him a long hug, and I stayed behind a TV monitor and watched them talk quietly. Josh looked serious, too, and seemed just as nervous as he’d been before our free skate. The butterflies swarming in my stomach multiplied. I really wanted to skate this performance lights-out for him.
Em said something, and Josh finally broke into a smile. They hugged again, and I walked over to them, brightening Josh’s face even more.
“You disappeared on me,” I said.
“Sorry, I just wanted to do one last run-through in my head, and there was too much going on out there.”
“Yeah, I tried to escape myself.”
“I’m heading back to my seat.” Em hugged me hard. “Have a great skate.”
She sounded on the verge of crying again. I supposed it was just the emotion of the whole event getting to her. I was in no position to question anyone’s tears after I’d sobbed my way through the press conference. I’d struggled to form one coherent sentence.
Josh and I held hands and drifted toward the tunnel. With the stark lights in the arena dimmed and a DJ spinning tunes between each skater, the atmosphere had an entirely different feel from when we’d last been on the ice. We stood next to the boards, shrouded in darkness, and watched the men’s bronze medalist skate to Jason Mraz.
Josh moved behind
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