Chapter 1

"I'm sorry, Maeve," my coach said. "But the final roster has been confirmed. There wasn't a mistake."

I found out on the last day of the public announcement.

My Olympic Training Grant, the one I'd nearly destroyed my body for, had been reassigned. To Lyla Voss.

I found Silas in the rink parking lot, leaning against his Porsche, flicking ash off a cigarette like it was any other Tuesday.

"Lyla's family is broke," he said, not even looking at me.

"Without the grant, she'd have to quit skating and get a job."

"You're talented enough to qualify on your own at Sectionals."

I stared at him. Silent. Jaw locked.

He frowned, pulled a black card from his wallet, and held it out.

"Fine. I'll cover your training costs for the next four years. All of it. Consider it me buying your spot. Happy now?"

I looked at the card in his hand.

So that was it.

The spot I'd bled for. The early mornings. The torn ligaments. The hours on ice until I couldn't feel my feet. All of it was just a price tag to him. A charity write-off.

I didn't take the card. I turned and walked away.

Outside, it started to rain.

Silas's voice went cold behind me.

"What the hell is your problem now? You bust your knuckles in that pro shop every day for cash. I'm handing you money and you're acting like you're above it?"

My steps slowed.

I turned my head. Looked at his face through the blur of rain.

Fifteen years of loving him. Fifteen years of thinking he was mine.

It all rotted through in that single moment.

So I smiled.

"Sure. Think whatever you want."

...

I'd barely made it back to the pro shop when Bree called.

"Maeve, did you see the roster? How the hell is Lyla on it? Did Silas do this?"

I let out a bitter laugh. "I talked to him."

"What did he say?"

"He said he bought my spot."

Silence on the other end.

Then Bree's voice came back, teeth clenched. "He's a piece of shit."

I said nothing.

"What are you doing right now?" she asked.

"Sharpening blades."

"Stop sharpening blades! Go to the federation office and raise hell! That spot is yours! Do you not remember what you sacrificed for it?"

I shook my head, kept working.

"It won't matter."

"How can it not matter? It's a federal program!"

"If Silas's family can swap it once, they can swap it again."

More silence.

Finally Bree said, "I just saw Lyla's Instagram. Silas booked the most expensive restaurant in the city to celebrate for her."

"Okay."

"Maeve..."

"I gotta go. Customer just walked in."

I hung up. A guy came in with a dull pair of skates.

I grabbed them and got to work.