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After an hour of them performing the same routine, they finally call it a day. Isabella and Justin grab a drink and talk rapidly to each other, while the director walks over to talk to the team.
They all nudge each other, then Eli leans forward to say something to Goran whose face immediately turns serious.
And then the director says something to Eli, and he shakes his head.
Isabella joins them, pulling her skates off as she shakes each of their hands. I can’t see her face, but I can see her talking to Eli and dammit, I’m jealous.
Stupidly so.
And also annoyed because this situation is down to me. I asked her not to tell the team we’re related. I also asked Eli not to tell them about our relationship.
Every time the team laughs at something Isabella says I feel like I’m poking at an open wound. All those years of therapy and success at work, yet I’m still jealous of my sister.
I hate that.
But it also tells me something I think I’ve known for a while.
I’m falling for Eli Salinger. And I don’t want to lose him because I’m an idiot and make stupid decisions about my personal life.
Goran is the first to take to the ice with Isabella. He’s wearing his full hockey gear, save for his helmet, which I assume wouldn’t look so good for the promos. He looks huge next to Isabella, like he’s Shrek and she’s Fiona. Somebody puts on some music and they skate around the ice.
Slowly Goran warms up. She shows him a move, and he replicates it perfectly. Then she takes his hands and puts them on her waist and they skate around together.
After he does an impressive toe jump, the rest of the team gets competitive. One by one, they dance with Isabella, some of them more effectively than others. Then they call Eli’s name, and he shakes his head again. Isabella beckons to him so Goran and Carter drag him onto the ice.
My phone rings. I grab it too late, and I know I’ve ruined whatever take they’re doing with the cameras, because everybody looks up at me, including Eli.
I smile apologetically and stand, whispering to the caller – Rachel – to wait, and I’ll talk to her in a second.
Then I leave and the music starts up again. Somebody cheers and I don’t look back because I can only imagine that Eli is dancing with Isabella.
I trust him. I know he wouldn’t do anything. But I still hate it.
“Sorry about that. What’s up?” I say.
“I don’t know. I just got a weird feeling and wanted to check that you’re okay.”
My sister’s dancing on the ice like a princess with my boyfriend that nobody knows about. My family is about to descend on the town and nobody knows I’m related to them. Oh, and I’m getting stupidly jealous when I should know better.
“I’m fine,” I tell her. “Really. Catch me up on what’s going on in New York.”
* * *
ELI
It’s getting late and I haven’t seen Mackenzie all day. Practice was nonstop – the team’s completely energized about the game on Saturday, and they pushed themselves harder and faster than I’ve ever seen them during a match week.
They’re making me proud. Even Goran and Carter calmed down after having fun on the ice this morning. And yeah, it was funny watching them try to dance with Mac’s sister, who by the way looks nothing like her.
But this afternoon was all business. They’re determined to give the All-star team a run for their money.
Once they’ve left for the evening I check my watch. I have an hour before I’m due to meet my brother and his wife for dinner and I want nothing more than to see Mackenzie for five minutes because it’s been a long damn day.
“Eli.” The voice that calls my name isn’t the one I want to hear. But Isabella is Mac’s sister so I smile anyway.
Even if she doesn’t know I know.
“Hi,” I say, stopping a few feet short of where she’s standing outside the locker room. “I thought you finished practice a while ago.”
