Page 133 of Hate You Most

Viktoriya couldn't help but laugh too.

“You really mean it though? You’d do that?”

“Yes,” Viktoriya said. “If this is the life we are building now, then yes. We could do that.”

Dakota skated once around her in a quick half-circle that looked almost like a victory lap. “You hear that? My dream is getting funded by your rude attitude!”

Viktoriya shook her head. “Your dreams have always been too big for your own good.”

“Rude.”

Dakota slowed beside her again “Do you really mean it?”

Viktoriya met her eyes without hesitation. “Yes. I think I am done surviving in pieces. I want a life and a future with you.”

The ice shimmered under the lights, and Viktoriya felt, with a strange certainty, that Dakota understood exactly what she'd meant.

Dakota nodded once. “Okay.”

They kept skating.

A moment later, Dakota found her phone from somewhere inside her legging pocket and held it up toward her. “I’m putting on some music.”

Viktoriya immediately groaned. “No.”

She was already tapping the screen, there was no stopping her. “Yes, I am.”

“Dakota.”

“You need to have more fun.”

“I am having fun already, skating is fun!”

Dakota looked around the empty rink. “By yourself at midnight, reflecting like some miserable Victorian ghost?”

Viktoriya did not dignify that with an answer.

The first notes of a soft country-pop song burst through the speakers a second later, and Viktoriya stared at her in absolute betrayal while Dakota started laughing so hard she tossed her head back fully.

“Is that Taylor Swift? That is not skating music.”

“It is now.”

Viktoriya covered her face with her hands. “You are impossible.”

Dakota skated backwards in front of her, grinning. “And yet you still love me.”

Viktoriya lowered her hands and looked at her. “Dangerous to say things like that while I am armed with blades on my feet.”

Dakota only laughed harder.

Still, after a moment, she reached for Viktoriya’s hand, and they moved around the rink as the song continued. It was moving and beautiful and exactly what she needed.

Dakota moved away from her, tried to copy a spin she had no business attempting and failed badly. She nearly collided with the boards before Viktoriya grabbed her arm and steadied her.

“See?” Dakota said breathlessly, grinning. “That was intentional. Completely intentional.”

“Of course it was.”