I’d fumbled for my clothes. Still unashamedly naked, he’d snatched them up from the floor, holding them high over his head like a playground game. I’d had to beg for my jeans and new sweater so I could escape his dorm room.

Enough!

This was the last thing I should have been thinking about. The men’s short program was underway with the first couple of flights complete. We still had an hour before the final flight.

We. I shouldn’t have been thinking of Theo and I as we. He shouldn’t have been texting me. Even if I was speaking to him, which I most definitely was not, this was the time we had to be utterly focused on our job. I had to be utterly focused on my job.

He shouldn’t have gone to Anton to find out what I had never wanted him to know. He’d promised. Not specifically about Anton, but I’d made myself clear. I had. Disappointment, anger, hurt—I vacillated from one emotion to the next.

I wasn’t sure precisely what Anton had told him, but it was enough. Theo’s pity was unbearable. How could I let go of the past when he knew? How would he want me again?

Enough!

I shouldn’t care if Theodore Sullivan wanted me. The only thing I should care about was winning. I was at the Olympic Games. I was going to win. I was going to beat him. I was going to skate the very best I could. I’d trained years for this, and I wouldn’t allow anyone to beat me.

Not even him.

Yes, it would be up to the judges in the end. His quad combination in the short was worth a few more points than mine. But I would execute every element to the very best of my ability and get as much bonus GOE as possible. And his skating skills score would be too high if he went clean, but I’d deserve every tenth of a point of mine.

I was going to win. I’d likely come second in the short program, but that was to be expected. I would beat him in the free skate. This was what I should have been focusing on all these months instead of letting myself be distracted. I’d let down my guard at the pivotal moment, but it wasn’t too late.

I would achieve this goal. Nothing or no one else mattered.

Manon caught my eye with a little wave and raised eyebrow. She was wearing her stylish designer best. Her gold earrings were shimmering jeweled feathers, her black pantsuit was tailored perfectly, and rich red lipstick complemented her dark skin.

I realized I’d stopped using the massage gun, but it still vibrated in my grasp. I switched it off and nodded to Manon before I closed my eyes and visualized my perfect short program.

Exactly on schedule, I changed into my costume for the six-minute warm-up. We gathered at the entrance to the ice, bouncing and fidgeting and shaking like a pack of sequined racehorses in the starting gate.