Chapter 7: As Long As I Want It

Aurora's POV

He was standing by the fence outside the rink in a black tracksuit.

I had no idea how long he'd been there, or whether he'd seen the whole sorry mess I'd just made of myself.

But I didn't have time to think about that.

It was like spotting a lifeline.

I pushed off the ice with both hands and got to my feet, then reset my stance and ran the backward-skating transition drill again, the way the man had told me to.

Open up the hips, shift the weight onto the foot, bend the knees.

Both hands tight on the stick, lean in, shoot, score.

It flowed like water, one motion into the next. Perfect.

I skated over to him and pulled off my helmet with one hand, fixing him with a grateful stare. "Thank you. Your advice really helped."

"Are you a coach at one of the clubs? Is there any chance I could—"

He shook his head and cut me off. "I just manage this rink. I came to pick something up."

He glanced at his watch. "And incidentally, you're over your time."

I dropped my eyes in apology. "I'd like to practice a bit longer. I can pay you extra for the overtime."

He didn't answer — just went around the fence toward the stands, and he really did seem to be here for something.

I turned back and ran the sequence again. Perfect again, and my bad knee didn't hurt as badly this time.

By the time I finished the set, the man had gathered his things and was on his way out. I looked at him gratefully again. "Thank you. If not for you, I don't know how long it would have taken me to get that sequence right."

He lowered his eyes. His slightly long hair fell over them, and I couldn't read his expression.

"Overtraining will do your bad leg in. If you don't want it ruined, leave."

I tested my injured leg and nodded, wanting to say something more, but he walked off without looking back.

Only after I left the rink did I realize my knee would barely move anymore.

Good thing I'd listened to him and hadn't kept pushing.

I drove to a hospital not far from home and picked up some ointment to bring down the swelling and bruising, and something for the pain.

Back at the house, Liam was on the couch with his laptop on the coffee table. His head was down, his fingers flying over the keyboard, blurry text reflected in his lenses.

He heard me come in and snorted without looking up. "Ethan waited for you forever. Your phone was off the whole time. Aurora, is there anything in your heart besides getting back on the ice?"

My phone was off?

I fished it out of my pocket, looked at the dead screen, and lowered my voice into an apology. "The battery died. I'll be more careful next time."

I changed into my slippers and started up the stairs.

Liam pulled his hands back from the keyboard and turned to look at me. His eyes landed on the bag of medicine in my hand.

He gave a cold scoff. "Aurora, what exactly are you holding on to?"

"Do I need to remind you how bad that knee of yours was?"

"You nearly lost the whole leg. You couldn't even walk."

"All these years later, and it still tortures you whenever it rains."

"And now, for something that can never happen, you're throwing the leg away?"

"When are you going to understand, Aurora — your era is over. You will never get back on the ice."

My grip tightened on the bag. My voice came out dry.

"I can. Maybe my era is over, but I can always get back on the ice. Thirty, forty, it doesn't matter, Liam. As long as I want it."

Liam stood up so we were face to face. "As long as you want it?"

"Aurora, you're not young anymore. You know hockey isn't a sport you can play on passion alone."

"It's brutal. It demands everything from an athlete."

"How long have you been training, and the old injury is already flaring up? Look at the state of you — and you're sure you can keep this up on the ice?"

"Aurora, stop being foolish. Give it up. Admitting you can't do it isn't that hard."

He paused, watching my face.

When he didn't find the self-doubt and defeat he was hoping for, he suddenly took a step or two toward me. "Aurora, what exactly set you off? Why are you so desperate to get back on the ice?"

I stared at him coldly — at this Liam who seemed to know nothing at all.

What was he playing at?

Did he really think he'd hidden it well?

Did he really think I knew nothing?

It was his betrayal that pushed me to the edge, that forced me, at thirty, to plan a comeback.

I had no other choice. Hockey is the only thing I've ever known.

If I want to get away from Liam as fast as I can, if I want to fight him for custody of Ethan, hockey is the only thing I know.

So I have no choice but to be desperate.

"Liam, are you scared?"

"Scared that once I'm really back on the ice, you'll lose your hold on me?"

"You know everything you have came from the halo of my Olympic gold."

"These ten years, my mother and I have lived on your money, true. But don't forget — half of what you have now is mine."

Liam's face changed. The hand at his side clenched into a fist. "Aurora, what are you talking about?"

"We chose to marry because we loved each other. I asked you to retire because I was worried about your injury."

"I have never used you for anything."

"Have the ten years of our marriage been unhappy?"

"Can't we just go on being happy? Do you have to use this comeback to tear apart our home and our marriage?"

Me, tearing apart our home and our marriage.

He's the one who's really guilty here.

But I can't say the truth. Not yet.

I know how Liam operates. Until I have solid ground under my feet, I can't afford an open break with him.

At least until I'm in a club, I have to keep playing the fool who knows nothing.

"I haven't. I just want a career of my own, the way you have one. I want to give myself a chance, and I hope you'll support me — the way you told me you would when we got married."

Liam stared at me for a long time — long enough that I'd turned and started up the stairs again.

Then his voice came from behind me. "Fine. I won't stop you from going back on the ice. But if you're not on a club roster in a month, it proves you don't belong there. After that you settle down and be a rich man's wife."

I didn't break stride. "I will stay with the club and get back on the ice."

Whatever Liam does behind my back.