Page 31 of The Fall

I’ve been so stressed lately with our first competition of the season around the corner. I want everything to go perfectly, which I know isn’t realistic, but I want it nonetheless. There’s still one lift that Max and I are struggling to get just right. I’ve heard some rumors about our biggest competitors this season and how they’re looking better than ever. That adds even more pressure. Most days, I feel like I’m on the verge of a nervous breakdown, but I try my best to keep it together.

We reach the top, and Max finally stops talking. The three of us stand in a line and look out at the valley.

I take a deep breath in and let my shoulders relax.

“You’re awfully quiet today,” Logan says in a low voice next to me. “Everything ok?”

“Besides being rudely pulled out of my bed before I was ready? Everything is fine.”

“I really thought he’d already talked to you.”

I shrug one shoulder. “It’s fine. That’s just how Max is. I don’t blame you.”

“That’s a first,” he says with a laugh.

I gasp and pretend I’m offended. “I only blame you for one very major event in my life.”

“That’s fair,” he says. “That was actually my fault.”

“Maybe one day I’ll forgive you. Today is not that day, though.”

“Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help move the forgiveness process along.”

“There’s a pretty big backlog, actually. Might be a while.”

He chuckles and puts his hands in his pockets. His cheeks are flushed, and I swear I see a hint of a dimple. It’s cute.

“But really, are you ok?” he asks.

“Yeah, I’m ok. Just a lot on my mind.”

“Are you worried about the competition?” he asks. I look around for Max as I nod, embarrassed that I’m so nervous for this one competition when I’ve been competing for the majority of my life. I finally find Max, and of course, he’s in the process of climbing a boulder.

“I wouldn’t have you doing this if I didn’t think you were ready. It’ll be good to get the season started and get early feedback from the judges so we can tighten and improve.”

I know this. Of course I do, but it doesn’t make it any less stressful.

“I know. I think I’m putting too much pressure on myself.”

“That happens. Trust me, I’ve been there. But you’ve got this, Savannah. You are beautiful on and off the ice. When you smile—” He stops himself like he’s said too much.

I blink up at him and raise an eyebrow. “You think I’m beautiful?”

He looks into my eyes, and for a moment, it feels like we’re the only two people in the world. “I think you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

My heart stops.

What did he just say?

I’ve been called beautiful a lot in my life, but hearing it from Logan Sokolov feels different.

I don’t know what to do with the intensity of his declaration, so I lean into my sarcastic humor to get out of this. “It’s too bad I hate you.”

He smiles. Goddamn. Why is he so attractive? “That is too bad.”

There’s no denying it at this point: I’m attracted to my coach. My crush is growing, and I hate it. I don’t get crushes. I don’t have any mental capacity left for that, so this is all very annoying and inconvenient. It’s even worse when we finally decide to move on from this spot and his hand grazes against mine. Who knew a hand graze could electrify my entire body?

ELEVEN