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“Shit.”

Oh god.

I was supposed to be somewhere important at nine. I couldn’t remember where, but it was definitely on the schedule.

“Shit, shit, shit. Ren . . .” I shoved his shoulder. “Get up.”

He jerked, eyes going wide. “Oh god.”

“Yes, that.” I stumbled from the bed, found some underwear and staggered into them. Socks . . . socks . . . Drawer.

“What time is it?”

“Nearly nine.” One sock on a foot. Good. Sock two, going on. Pants. Where were my pants?

“Oh god,” he said again, launching from the bed, onto his feet. He grabbed his pants and walked into them, hopping from one leg to the other, then worked the fly. “My shirt?”

I tossed him his shirt and found my pants under it.

He got his shirt on, barely buttoned it, and grabbed his jacket from the closet. Then he kicked his shoes on. “How do I look?”

I found my sweater, pulled it on, and faced him. His hair stuck out at all angles, his eyes were wild, I was pretty sure the mark low down on his neck was my doing, and the clothes looked exactly like he’d thrown them on. I rolled my lips together. “I mean . . . definitely not like you’ve just rolled out of my bed?”

He faced the mirror. “Damn, it’ll have to do.” He headed for the door, then turned fast and jogged around the bed, and slammed a kiss on my mouth. “Later. Talk.”

“Yeah, later. Go.”

“Good. Yes.” He grinned, looking like a fucking mess, like my fucking mess.

“Go!” I laughed and pushed him off.

He stopped again at the door, turning to say something, and just smiled instead.

I laughed at him and waved him to go. He finally left, and I took a second to breathe. I had to get my shit together. To think clearly. I couldn’t be all distracted and emotional now. It was crunch time. Today, Zoe and I would go over everything we’d learned yesterday during the rhythm dance. Today was our final day of prep before the free dance, and the free dance would determine who won the medals. It wasn’t just Ren and Tamsyn we had to dance against. Eighteen other pairs were dancing for the podium too.

I closed my eyes and breathed. I was not going to leave, I knew that with certainty. Ren was right, Saga wouldn’t want that.

I’ve got this, Saga.

One of us has to be a winner, right?

I checked my reflection, tried to tame my crazy hair, gave up, grabbed my phone, and hurried out of the apartment.

Where am I supposed to be right now?

I sent to Zoe.

PR building. Miles is looking for you. We have press in thirty minutes.

Of course Miles was hunting me down. I’d probably missed something important this morning already.

Sorry I msseed up again,

I sent, with spelling errors, because I was typing while trying not to fall down the stairs.

It’s okay. Are you alright?

Will be