I’ve landed it in drills, in slow practice runs.
But never at speed.
Today, maybe.
I gather speed along the boards, my arms tight against my body, keeping my breath even, and push into the rotation, but my toe pick clips the ice, and I go down hard.
My breath punches out of me as I slide to a stop.
I lie there for a second. Not because I’m hurt. Just… stunned. And tired. And maybe a little humiliated.
Coach’s voice cuts across the rink. “Maisie, get that right hip up! Think about getting your butt through the jump. You’re sitting back too early.”
I wince, nod, and push up from the ice.
“Nice one, Carly,” Coach calls out to one of the other girls. “Way to hold the landing!”
I stand, and try again.
Skating is a ton of repetition. You fail, you try again. You fall, you fix your edges, your timing, your damn hips, and you go again.
On the next attempt, I over-rotate. The landing is too wide. My blade wobbles, and I have to put a hand down to stop the fall.
I circle back into position. Breathe. Focus. Try again.
On the third attempt, I drive through the takeoff, push my hips forward, and remember Coach’s words. My arms lock in, core pulled tight. I spin once, twice, then half again and land clean.
I glide out, my pulse hammering, heart in my throat.
Holy shit…I did it. I actually landed it.
“Better,” Coach says, nodding once in my direction.
I blow out a breath, unable to keep the smile off my face.
I want to tell someone. I want to text Six and say,You won’t believe what I just did.
But I can’t. I can’t tell him I skate. That’s the rule. No names. No real details.
Just secrets. Just confessions.
And this? This is a piece of me he’s not allowed to know.
But still.
Maybe I don’t look like I belong here.
But I do. Even if I have to say it a hundred times to believe it—I belong here.
And I just proved it.
7
AUSTIN
Some days, I swear the world is out to wring me dry.
By the time I get home, I’m fried. Physically, mentally—whatever other kind of “-ly” there is. Classes, gym, and then practice on top of it. My head’s still spinning when I push open the door and step inside.
