BORROWED LOVE ON ICE

SSA'

at my cheeks as I walked up the stairs to my place. Third floor. Q

t plain, normal for the

e and that's a

e door and st

key medals, pageant crowns, and folded workout towels. One side of

ength mirror and a

ook like it

mehow,

el down. I placed my phone on the couch and

e that comes when I stare at all my medals and remembe

l I crave and no

ng numb and so I began to knead gently. My shoulders still felt the

ower, wrapped in a warm hoodie

i

phone on speaker and

could picture him dancing and grinding

loud?" I asked,

you should too but you're too comfo

idn't Coach l

Jay's voice cut in from the backgrou

scandal happens but like I said

bbing a clean pair of socks. "And trust m

said. "Everyone's here.

d that's something w

s." The pounding music from his end was sickening

bed. "I'm not

never

act

ne drink. One dance. Then we'll

'm definitely not in dist

iterally cr

s diff

it's

round. A bunch of them joined in, chant

ssure," I

Liam said

r my breath. "I'm s

oo

o the next o

ways sa

e the details for our next outing

f we just showed up at

I know he can be crazy but tha

wo

open th

e knock re

ed,eager to get him off the p

roaned dra

are childr

us," Lia

hat's something I'll

good e

still smiling a l

m." they

ung

htstand and went to the kitchen to microwave dinner. It was

ge. On it, I'd pinned one photo - me in a pageant g

said I looked confused and

princess or

, id

lling through my model

s. "Your face is in this week's feature,"

omed

That

. Hair slicke

nize myself -

oom,my body hummed at the sight of the be

hand along the fabric. Dresses. J

ves. O

I hadn't worn yet. It was a lovely dress

the mirror and

h," I wh

one box. Too cold to be a pageant queen.

e and it made people realize th

anym

e buzze

wn nu

at it,

it r

rang

ag

vered over

I s

el

le

ned. "

ckled through. Ca

s Br

tened. "S

portfolio... and