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He couldn’t seem to get out more than those few sputtered words.
Niko’s throat bobbed with a thick swallow. “Lou,” he started, his voice thin.
I shook my head at whatever he’d been about to say, letting the corner of my lips quirk upward in a teasing smile. “You came racing to the rescue like a knight in shining armor because you thought you broke Jasper with that kiss. But he’s still been struggling even with your help, right?”
“Jasper’s made a lot of progress,” Niko said quickly.
“But there’s still something off. And as far as I know, you haven’t been kissing him anymore since last year, huh?”
“No,” Jasper mumbled, looking like he wanted to vanish into a crack in the ice.
“Well, there you go.” I held Niko’s gaze firmly, aware of Jasper at the edge of my vision. “Obviously he’s dealing with a lot of things that have nothing to do with kissing. So you’re not to blame. No need to feel like you have to make up for any mistakes. You can go home with a clear conscience and get back to your own skating career.”
If I’d thought Jasper had been tense before, it was nothing compared to how rigid his body went at my last comment. Oh, he didn’t like that suggestion at all.
But Niko was already frowning, his bright eyes gone momentarily stormy. “No. That’s not the only reason— I made a commitment to see Jasper make it back into the competitive circuit. The world’s losing out by missing the performances I know he could give, andhemisses it too.”
He paused, flicking a tentative glance toward Jasper. “As much as he might try to pretend he doesn’t. I can tell, and I want to watch him shine the way only he can.”
“Grouchiness and all?” I prodded.
Niko’s expression softened. “That’s part of the package, so I’ll take it with the rest.”
Determination rang through his words… along with unmistakable affection. A triumphant grin tugged at my lips, but I held it in while the two men studied each other.
Jasper’s shoulders had come down with Niko’s declaration. How many of his spats of temper had spawned from insecurities not just about his interest in Niko but whether Niko would stick around at all? Wanting to push the other guy away first so he could say it was his decision, rather than watch Niko give up on him?
“I wouldn’t hold you to that commitment,” he said hesitantly.
“I know.” Something had relaxed in Niko too, having the tensions between them out in the open. “I want to be here, Jasper.”
From the warmth dancing in his eyes, I had the feeling he wanted a whole lot more than that too. But this didn’t seem like the time to push my luck that far.
Jasper ran a hand through his hair with a duck of his head. “Well… should we get back to work, then? I’ll try to keep the grouchiness to a minimum. And remember to breathe.”
The last remark felt like a peace offering. Niko nodded. “Why don’t we run through the whole routine from the top? It’s easier to get into the zone when you’re feeling how it all comes together.”
As Jasper and I skated into the middle of the rink for our starting position, I could feel the loosening of Jasper’s posture. He caught my eye and offered me a crooked smile.
“You really like to shake things up, don’t you, Punk?”
I grinned back at him. “Seems like some things come out better after a little shaking.”
“Well, here goes nothing.”
His freer attitude seeped into his movements from the first glide across the ice. The sense of his higher spirits buoyed me up too.
We whirled from one move into the next, only getting a little wobbly on that one tricky lift. I salvaged it without outright falling, and we skated on toward the end, but I braced myself after the song shut off.
“That was wonderful,” Niko said, back to his usual shiny self. “Just watch your right hand on that lift—you don’t want to loosen your grip until she’s most of the way down.”
To my relief, Jasper tipped his head in acknowledgement without any grumbling or snark. “Right. I can do that.” He swiveled toward me. “Let’s give it another go.”
The same energy carried us through three more run-throughs and some more focused work on specific jumps and lifts. My own chest felt lighter as we soared across the ice.
With our final attempt, I might as well have been flying. My limbs moved like they were one with the music—and with Jasper.
He hoisted me up and around like I weighed nothing at all, and we spun together with perfect balance. There was nothing but perfect control in his grasp as he lowered me, my body adjusting to follow his lead.
