Taking the Ice (Ice Series Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

loves you as their own.”
    “They don’t even love their own as their own.” I shook my head. “At least Stephanie and I get along now. She’s been great with designing our costumes this year. I mean, I know she did it to get her name out there, but I think she genuinely wants Josh to be happy. I can’t say the same for his parents.”
    “I don’t understand people like that. I really don’t,” Mom said.
    “It’s good you don’t. I’d be worried if you did.”
    My phone dinged, and I pulled it from my purse to read the text.
    Josh: I’m contemplating stabbing myself with my fork to end this meal.
    I cringed and looked up at Mom. “Josh’s dinner isn’t going so well.”
    “Poor guy. I feel for him.”
    Me: Do you need more payment from me on my debt to you? :)
    Only a few seconds passed before my phone chimed.
    Josh: Yes, especially since this morning you benefited just as much as I did ;)
    Heat bloomed inside me, and I smiled and returned the phone to my purse.
    “Things looking up?” Mom asked.
    “Josh helped distract me after my bad practice, so I’m going to help ease his pain after dinner.” I lifted my glass to my lips.
    “From that smile I think I know how.”
    My throat spazzed as I swallowed, sending water down my windpipe. I went into a coughing fit that lasted well over a minute.
    “You alright?” Mom asked. “I didn’t mean to make you choke.”
    “I’m okay.”
    I cleared my throat and beat on my chest. Mom and I had gone my entire teen and adult life without any awkward sex conversations. I wanted to keep it that way.
    “In all seriousness, I think it’s wonderful how you and Josh are always there for each other. You make a great team.”
    I took a tiny sip of water and swallowed slowly. “We just have to be our greatest for two-and-a-half minutes on Thursday and four minutes on Saturday. Then we’ll be able to show the whole world what an amazing team we are.”
     
    ****
     
    W ITH THE BRIGHT LIGHTS of TD Garden shining overhead, I shaded my eyes and peered into the small crowd scattered throughout the yellow seats. Spotting my parents, I crept closer to the ice door and waved my arms to get their attention. Mom caught my signal and nudged Dad’s shoulder. They both waved back and walked through the seats to where I stood in the corner of the rink.
    “Hey, Dad.” I reached over the railing separating the stands from the tunnel.
    He hugged me and then stood tall, straightening his tie. “You hangin’ in, Kiddo?”
    I smiled and tightened my ponytail. “Be glad you missed yesterday’s practice. I promise today will be different.”
    “Better to work through the nerves now than during the competition.”
    “That’s what I told her last night,” Mom said.
    A loud boom came from the ice, and I jumped and saw one of my top competitors Roxanne sprawled against the boards. Her partner Evan helped her up, but she shook off his hands and glared at him. I hadn’t seen what had caused her fall, but my guess was the quadruple Salchow throw they’d been trying unsuccessfully all season.
    “That sounded pretty bad,” Mom said.
    “I remember when Em and Chris used to practice the quad,” I said. “Some of the falls Em took scared me to death.”
    “I bet she never gave Chris a death stare like that,” Dad said.
    I laughed. “No, but I wouldn’t expect any less from Roxanne.”
    Evan had won a few national titles with another partner, but Roxanne acted like she was the more accomplished one. She and Evan had narrowly won the championship over us two years ago, and her obnoxious screams in the kiss and cry had given me extra motivation to beat them the following year.
    “Hey, Mr. Carlton.” Josh emerged from backstage and shook Dad’s hand. He followed with a kiss on Mom’s cheek.
    “Look, they’re trying it again.” Dad turned to the ice.
    We all watched Evan fling Roxanne into the air. She spun four times but crashed on the landing, earning Evan another