Page 22 of Hate You Most

“Won’t happen again, coach,” Dakota replied, already taking her place at the end of the line.

This was fine—it was completely fine. So what, America's elite skating programs were not large enough to keep them separated. And, so what, they had kissed each other three months ago—that had clearly been an adrenaline fueled mistake. And… so what, Viktoriya had definitely not thought about Dakota when applying for this program, or when she'd boarded the plane. Viktoriya had definitely not thought about their kiss since then.

Even if she hadn't, she definitely was now—with her standing just a few feet away.

January 4th, 2012.

— Bloomfield Hills training center, Detroit, Michigan.

The coach clapped his hands once. “Alright, you will be assigned a skating partner—split the rink lengthwise. Jumps on the first half, choreography on the second. Ten minutes, then you'll rotate with another pair. Private lessons are every Monday and Thursday—you can book your timeslots after class.”

He glanced down the line, eyes flicking between names on a clipboard. “Sanchez and Volkova, you're up first.”

There it was. Fuck.

“Three months,” the coach continued. “Skate well.”

He skated off to the side of the rink but stayed on the ice.

Dakota pushed off first, gliding to the right side of the rink like she’d already claimed it. Viktoriya went to the left side.

They both stopped near the boards, just close enough to talk.

“So,” Dakota said lightly. “Guess we’re partners now.”

Viktoriya bent to tighten her laces, not looking up. “Do not call it that.”

Dakota smiled. “Fine. We're competitors then, forced to share the ice.”

Viktoriya straightened. “Don't get in my way, Sanchez.”

Dakota laughed under her breath. “Relax. I've been skating around people like you since I was ten. You can handle us sharing the ice for ten minutes.”

“People like me?” Viktoriya asked.

Dakota’s eyes flicked over to her once more. “Intense. Quiet. Planning to win no matter the cost. The kind that doesn't make friends with anyone.”

Viktoriya’s mouth twitched. “You talk too much.”

“And you don’t talk enough,” Dakota replied. She moved backward, away from Viktoriya. “Try to stay on your half of the rink, I'd hate to get cut because of you.”

Viktoriya took her starting position without another word. They pushed off at the same time.

They skated on opposite halves of the rink, but the space between them felt heavy. Dakota went for speed. Viktoriya went for control. They both tried to out-skate the other.

Then Dakota looked up and their eyes met. They stared at each other across the ice, near motionless.

Viktoriya finally understood why she had been paired against Dakota, and why that wasn't going to change anytime soon. Something happened when they skated against each other—something that was hard to explain but Viktoriya was sure Dakota felt it too. An electric feeling. They pushed each other, and it was that push Viktoriya needed for the next three months if she was going to qualify for the Olympics.

When they'd finished, Dakota skated away first, stepping off the ice and sitting down. Viktoriya followed.

“You didn’t tell me you were coming here,” Dakota leaned close and whispered into her ear the moment another pair stepped on the ice.

“You did not ask.”

Dakota let out a short laugh. “You moved across the world and didn't think that was worth mentioning? We text, you could've told me.”

“It was not your decision,” Viktoriya replied evenly. “And I didn't think you would be here.”