Page 82 of The Fall

Logan has already told me to stop several times. My moves are off. I missed a lift. My head is just not in it. I need to get this done and over with so my brain can focus on skating.

As if the universe agrees, Tati finally walks through the door. She looks happier, lighter, since she took a step back from coaching. I’m glad she’s getting this time to be with her grandkids. And I hope this new levity stays with her and she gives us some grace when we tell her exactly what’s been going on.

Logan calls us off the ice and tells us to take lunch and reconvene after, when my brain is hopefully working better.

Tati makes her rounds, catching up with a few people. I sit with Max at a table and try to focus on my turkey wrap, but I’m not really hungry.

“What is your deal today, Sav? I swear you almost sliced me with your skate on that last round,” Max says.

I sigh. “I know. I’m sorry. We’re telling Tati today, and I’m just really nervous.”

His eyes go wide. “So, it’s pretty serious then?”

I nod. “Yeah, I guess it is.” Logan and I spend almost every day together. In the past, that would’ve felt suffocating to me, but with him, I look forward to it.

Max nods and takes a bite of his food. Things feel weird between us, and I hate it. Every time Logan is around or if I mention something Logan and I did, Max gets all quiet. I understand it, but it sucks. I know Max is trying to act like everything is fine. That was our deal after all. If one of us decided to end our situation, we would go back to being just friends. No strings attached. Unfortunately, it’s not working out the way he promised.

Halfway through our lunch, Logan taps my arm and nods his head toward the offices. It’s time. I stand from the table, but before I can walk away, Max grabs my wrist. “You’re sure about this?”

Am I sure about telling Tati? Hell no. Am I sure about Logan? Yeah, I am. And I feel really good about that. “Yes.”

He sighs and lets go of my wrist. “Good luck.”

“Thanks.”

I follow Logan down the hall. I didn’t miss the glare he sent Max back there, but I don’t want to talk about it right now. We’ve got other things to worry about.

Logan knocks on the open door to Tati’s office. She smiles when she looks up from her desk. “Well, look who it is. The dream team.” She looks over my shoulder and then her brows furrow. “Where’s Max?”

“He’s eating lunch,” Logan says. “Savannah and I wanted to talk to you about something.”

She gestures to the seats across from us. “Alright. Have a seat.”

Logan shuts the door before he sits down.

Tati looks from me to him, and when no one says anything, she prompts us. “Ok, spill it.”

“Savannah and I are dating,” Logan blurts out. Thank god he said it because I’m pretty sure if I opened my mouth right now, I’d throw up.

Tati blinks and then sighs. “You know, that is not what I was expecting from you two.”

“We weren’t really expecting it either,” I say. “I mean, I hated him.”

“She did,” Logan adds.

“Then how did this happen?” Tati asks.

“We spent time together and got to know each other,” Logan explains. It’s not the best reasoning, but it’s probably better than telling her we started skating together and then couldn’t keep our hands off each other. “She’s the best person I know.”

I bite my cheek to keep from smiling.

“And what about Max?” Tati asks.

“What about him?”

“He’s ok with this?” She turns to me. “I know you two were more than just skating partners.”

In all the years she’s coached us, she never once mentioned knowing about Max and me. I actually believed she was just oblivious, but I guess I was the oblivious one.