“But like … Given your track record with monogamy and shit, you probably won’t last that long with her anyway, so can we still go to the strip club together?”

“Goodbye, Travis.” I patted his shoulder before heading towards the door. “I’ll see you in Vegas.”

Thirty-One

Present Day

Penelope

It took me fifteen orgasms to realize that I needed to do some real work before I spent the rest of my life in bed with Hayden.

While he stepped into my shower, I slipped away to the ice rink and found an envelope from U.S. Figure Skating waiting on my desk.

I’d been staring at it for over an hour now, brewing fresh cups of coffee while wondering what was inside.

“Open it already,” Tatiana said. “I need to know if it’s my biggest fear come true.”

“Why would the figure skating association send me a letter about you?”

“I don’t know, but I sometimes have nightmares that they’re going to give you this grand award with a special, over the top ceremony for being the best skater in the sport.”

“Glad you can finally admit that I was the best.” I smiled. “Took you long enough.”

“I didn’t mean it.” She eyed the envelope. “Open it, will you?”

I picked up a pen and sliced the top, pulling out a bright blue sheet.

Dear Miss Carter,

* * *

 

As the most decorated female singles skater and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, we wanted to reach out to you about a rule change regarding the upcoming winter games in Beijing, China.

* * *

 

Per the International Olympic Committee, qualified coaches of individual athlete sports will now be eligible to receive medals.

* * *

 

Unfortunately, the coach for candidate Katie Folds is now banned from our organization, and we are hoping to replace him with someone who respects our sport at the highest level.

* * *

 

Per structural changes we’ve made (and the earlier date for the World Championships that began last year), the top choices will train at the Edwin Compound in Salt Lake City, Utah for four months before traveling to Beijing.

* * *

 

If you’re interested in this opportunity, please contact me at your earliest convenience to go over the updated rules and terms for our organization. (I’m sure you’ve kept up with them. This is a formality.)

* * *

 

The chase for 28 continues …

* * *

 

Deborah Walsh

* * *

 

I dropped the paper to the floor, and Tatiana quickly picked it up to read.

Her eyes widened with every word, and she let out a breath once she reached the end.

“Wow,” she said. “You’re totally doing this, right?”

“I need to think about it.”

“Why?” She crossed her arms. “This cements your legacy and gets you bragging rights forever, especially since Katie Folds will definitely get on that podium.”

“Exactly.” I sipped the coffee. “If the rule change is permanent, I’d rather coach someone I really helped to get there. It would mean more.”

She stepped closer and pressed her hand against my neck. “You know, I was about to check for a pulse, to make sure you’re alive, but—” Her lips curved into a smile. “There are red marks all over your neck, so I think this is the post-gala sex with Simon talking.”

“We can discuss what day you’re calling to accept their offer later.” She plopped down on a chair. “Give me all the dirty details with Simon, full play by play.”

“I didn’t have sex with Simon.”

“Ugh, come on.” She crossed her arms. “That’s how you want to play this?”

“It’s true,” I said. “I mean, I did have sex.”

“Clearly.”

“It wasn’t with him, though.”

She gasped. “You met some other guy that night? Who?”

“Hey.” Hayden’s deep voice suddenly filled the room and made me look toward the door.

My cheeks heated as he strolled inside, and my body reacted at the sight of him in dark grey sweats and a white T-shirt.

He set my keys down on the desk, and I had an instant flashback of hours ago when he was making me ride his hand in the shower.

“You might need those later,” he said. “Don’t you think?”

“Yes,” I said, clearing my throat. “Thank you for bringing those here, Hayden. As you can see, I am busy speaking with Tatiana at this moment.”

“I can see that.” His lips curved into a smirk. “You left me, so I was checking to make sure you were alright.”

“Yes, I left you at the coffee cafe—because that’s where we were earlier.” I tried to act natural. “I’ll call you later to discuss more coffee.”

He looked as if he was about to lean over the desk and kiss me—to kill my fumbling ruse on the spot, but he laughed and left the room.

“Okay,” Tatiana said. “Now, back to the guy you had sex with this weekend. You said you were never the one-night stand type, so—” She stopped talking and tilted her head to the side. Then she sucked in a breath. “You fucked Hayden, didn’t you?”

“No.” My cheeks heated again. “No, I did not fuck Hayden.”

“You did!” She saw right through me. “Did his entire cock even fit inside of you? Did it feel good? No, wait. Don’t answer that yet. Tell me everything—and I do mean down to every second, from the time Simon picked you up until now.”

“Can I tell you after I get done coaching my client?”

“Ha! No.” She pointed to the window behind me, where my “client” was coordinating her umpteenth TikTok video on the ice instead of doing a warm-up. “She’s only here because of her rich parents and you know it. Get to the sex recap. Now.”

Two hours later, Tatiana fanned herself with a binder.

“Well, damn,” she said. “I feel the sudden need to go home and have a date with my vibrator.”

“I didn’t need to know that.”

“Of course you did.” She laughed. “That way, you can go to his place and have more sex to tell me about later. Are you two an item now?”

“Yes.” I nodded. “But please don’t tell anyone.”

“Who would I have to tell?”

“Good point, sorry. I just want to make sure my brother doesn’t know until later.” Much later.

“I fucking hate your brother.” She stood to her feet. “He used to leave me ‘You’ll never outrank my sister’ and ‘How does it feel to be number two again?’ voicemails after every competition.”