me and played with my curls, his fingertips lightly teasing my bare shoulders. Unlike our competitive programs where I wore my hair up, I could leave it down and let it fly in our show programs. The soft style went perfectly with my pale pink dress.
I turned to face Josh, and I connected with his eyes in the dim light. He looked especially handsome dressed all in black. I was trying to calm myself before getting on the ice, but taking in his hotness only made my heart beat faster.
He pulled me close and clasped his hands on the small of my back. “You were my inspiration for this program, but after yesterday, I know the song must have deep meaning for you, too.”
I smiled and squeezed his biceps. “I reached my own unreachable star.”
He kissed my forehead, and I took slow breaths in and out. Even though we hadn’t run through the program many times, all I had to do was look at Josh and the love between us would take over and guide us through every step. I’d felt it when we’d practiced at home. This program wasn’t about the elements. It was about the connection we’d had since we’d met so many years ago.
One of the volunteers signaled to us to get ready, so we inched nearer to the ice door. The DJ cued up some dance music, and I bounced on my guards to stay warm. The closer we got to the ice, the more goosebumps formed on my arms.
The veteran skater coming off the ice high-fived us, and we switched places with him. We stood under the spotlight near the boards and received applause even before our introduction. Once we were introduced and we skated to center ice, the crowd really let loose, giving me added goosebumps. How lucky was I to have had my first and my last nationals in my hometown?
Josh and I separated for our starting pose, and the moment the music began we skated toward each other, joining our hands as we met. We quickened our strokes and sailed across the rink, and right on the first rise of the music, Josh tossed me over his head for a massive triple twist.
We slowed to match the tempo of the piano, and Josh swept his hand over my cheek. His eyes captured mine, and as we glided in the spotlight with blackness all around us, it truly felt as if only the two of us existed.
Through each movement our eyes stayed connected, and the love in Josh’s heightened my emotions. We spun into our rotational lift, the one we’d done the first time we’d ever skated together, and a lump formed in my throat. I’d known then that I’d found my skating soul mate. What I hadn’t realized but knew with certainty now was Josh was also my life soul mate.
The song rose toward its soaring high, and overwhelming joy rose inside me as we sped across the ice. Josh took hold of my left leg, and he lifted me high into the air, higher than I’d ever been. It was like I was standing on air and flying. I spread my arms wide and couldn’t hold in the tears any longer.
Josh brought me down into his arms, and we both shook with emotion as we glided to a stop in a tight embrace. The crowd lit up the darkness with cheers, and I shuddered harder with sobs. Josh held onto me and buried his lips in my hair.
“Better than I ever could’ve dreamt it,” he said.
We left the ice after an endless ovation, and Liza was waiting for us with big hugs. She sniffled in my ear and blotted her eyes with a tissue.
“I’ll have to fix my makeup before I skate. Thanks for making us all cry.” She punched my arm.
I laughed. “You’re welcome. You’re going to have people in tears, too.”
Her “Beneath Your Beautiful” program that Josh had choreographed always choked me up, especially because I knew the deep meaning it had to her.
She fiddled with her long, sleek ponytail. “I think everyone here is in a state of either laughing hysterically or bawling uncontrollably. This has been the craziest day.”
“And there’s more to come,” Josh said.
Liza ran off to do a mirror check before her performance, and Josh and I
I turned to face Josh, and I connected with his eyes in the dim light. He looked especially handsome dressed all in black. I was trying to calm myself before getting on the ice, but taking in his hotness only made my heart beat faster.
He pulled me close and clasped his hands on the small of my back. “You were my inspiration for this program, but after yesterday, I know the song must have deep meaning for you, too.”
I smiled and squeezed his biceps. “I reached my own unreachable star.”
He kissed my forehead, and I took slow breaths in and out. Even though we hadn’t run through the program many times, all I had to do was look at Josh and the love between us would take over and guide us through every step. I’d felt it when we’d practiced at home. This program wasn’t about the elements. It was about the connection we’d had since we’d met so many years ago.
One of the volunteers signaled to us to get ready, so we inched nearer to the ice door. The DJ cued up some dance music, and I bounced on my guards to stay warm. The closer we got to the ice, the more goosebumps formed on my arms.
The veteran skater coming off the ice high-fived us, and we switched places with him. We stood under the spotlight near the boards and received applause even before our introduction. Once we were introduced and we skated to center ice, the crowd really let loose, giving me added goosebumps. How lucky was I to have had my first and my last nationals in my hometown?
Josh and I separated for our starting pose, and the moment the music began we skated toward each other, joining our hands as we met. We quickened our strokes and sailed across the rink, and right on the first rise of the music, Josh tossed me over his head for a massive triple twist.
We slowed to match the tempo of the piano, and Josh swept his hand over my cheek. His eyes captured mine, and as we glided in the spotlight with blackness all around us, it truly felt as if only the two of us existed.
Through each movement our eyes stayed connected, and the love in Josh’s heightened my emotions. We spun into our rotational lift, the one we’d done the first time we’d ever skated together, and a lump formed in my throat. I’d known then that I’d found my skating soul mate. What I hadn’t realized but knew with certainty now was Josh was also my life soul mate.
The song rose toward its soaring high, and overwhelming joy rose inside me as we sped across the ice. Josh took hold of my left leg, and he lifted me high into the air, higher than I’d ever been. It was like I was standing on air and flying. I spread my arms wide and couldn’t hold in the tears any longer.
Josh brought me down into his arms, and we both shook with emotion as we glided to a stop in a tight embrace. The crowd lit up the darkness with cheers, and I shuddered harder with sobs. Josh held onto me and buried his lips in my hair.
“Better than I ever could’ve dreamt it,” he said.
We left the ice after an endless ovation, and Liza was waiting for us with big hugs. She sniffled in my ear and blotted her eyes with a tissue.
“I’ll have to fix my makeup before I skate. Thanks for making us all cry.” She punched my arm.
I laughed. “You’re welcome. You’re going to have people in tears, too.”
Her “Beneath Your Beautiful” program that Josh had choreographed always choked me up, especially because I knew the deep meaning it had to her.
She fiddled with her long, sleek ponytail. “I think everyone here is in a state of either laughing hysterically or bawling uncontrollably. This has been the craziest day.”
“And there’s more to come,” Josh said.
Liza ran off to do a mirror check before her performance, and Josh and I
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