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“I know. But I came out of retirement for Chandler. While I would love it if the IOC recognized same-gender pairs and allowed us to skate in the Games, that’s not happening this time. And I’ll be in my thirties before the next one rolls around, even if they do allow it. I don’t want to skate with anyone but Chandler, but I want her to skate in the Games if that’s what she wants. I’m very proud of her for going out as an individual again.”
“Well, I wish you both the best in whatever you decide to do after this competition, but you should get back now so you can get those scores, which, I’m sure, will be high.”
“Thanks, Kendra,” Chandler said.
Belle hadn’t known the reporter’s name, and now she felt bad for not using it, but they walked back to their seats and sat down just in time for their scores to appear. She wrapped Chandler up in her arms when she saw them.
“We’re in fourth place,” Chandler said.
“Way better than I expected,” Belle admitted.
“Me too.” Chandler pulled out of their hug, and Belle watched her smile and wave at both the camera and the crowd.
Belle followed suit. Then, it was time for them to leave and allow the next competitors to skate and find out their own scores. There was a big chance they wouldn’t end the night in fourth place with still a few pairs to skate, but they were the highest-ranked same-sex pair and had scored better than most of the other opposite-gender pairs, so Belle was pleased.
“How are you feeling?” she asked Chandler after they’d packed up their things and were on the way to the waiting car to get back to the hotel.
“Honestly? I’m feeling really good right about now.”
They walked outside, and Belle saw the SUV pull up, so she hurried to it to open the door for Chandler, who smiled at her and climbed into the car.
“I can’t believe we got fourth. I’m not waiting around to see if we lose fourth place and end up in fifth or sixth, but I’ll find out when we get back to the hotel. Either way, though, I’m really happy with how we skated. And I’m proud of our long program, so I think we have a chance to come in fourth, which will look good to the committee.”
“First would look better,” Belle replied as the car took off.
“Yeah, but they were never going to award us first place, Belle. We have to be realistic: we’re not going to medal. And if we do, it’s going to be because someone else messes up. It’s the first time they’re doing this. I think they’re still figuring this whole process out with people like us skating together now. And those judges are traditionalists. We should’ve chosen a sport without judges, huh?”
“I like hockey. No judges there. Want to join my team next season?”
Chandler laughed and rested her head on Belle’s shoulder.
“Can you honestly picture me in all that padding, trying to skate with hockey skates and a stick I could barely hold?”
“It would be really cute, so, yeah.”
“Maybe just for you.”
“What?”
“Maybe I’ll wear all of that just for you,” Chandler whispered into Belle’s ear so that the driver wouldn’t hear it.
“And I can take it off?” she whispered back.
Chandler nodded several times. Belle kissed her forehead and knew she couldn’t hold it in much longer. She wanted to tell Chandler how she felt. It had been on the tip of her tongue every time she’d leave Chandler to go do something at the Ice Park, or whenever they’d wake up next to each other, and especially when they were about to go to sleep for the night. It would’ve been so easy to say those three words, but she’d held them in because she wanted to say them after they were no longer competing as partners. The focus should be on their skating as much as possible. Besides, Chandler hadn’t said it yet, either, so there was a chance she wasn’t even ready for that. Belle wasn’t worried, though. She’d tell Chandler, and if Chandler wasn’t ready to say it back, Belle would wait. Chandler was worth that wait.
CHAPTER 36
“Babe, your phone.”
“What?” Chandler mumbled.
“Your phone.”
“What time is it?” she asked and rolled over. “God, I was having the best dream, too.”
She reached for her phone on the table.
“What were you dreaming about?”
