Chapter 1
June's POV
Everyone says I'm the woman Jasper loves most.
But only I know that in his heart, I've always come second to Sadie.
Seven years ago, I shoved him out from under a collapsing rig and shattered my right ankle. I never skated competitively again.
He held me and swore that the day he won the Grand Slam, he'd marry me in front of the whole world.
I believed him. So I learned to be his support crew. I sharpened his blades, hand-sewed his costumes, dragged my bad leg around everywhere he went. I turned myself into the shadow that followed him.
Then Sadie came along. Young, healthy, able to do things I could never do again.
Tonight, Jasper wins the Grand Slam. The cameras circle him, the whole arena chanting for him to propose.
But he looks down at Sadie in his arms and smiles.
"Out of everyone, she's the one I want to thank most for this medal. I wouldn't have made it here without her."
That's the moment I stop wanting to stay.
The cheering inside the arena is loud enough to blow the roof off.
Stuffed animals and flowers rain down onto the ice.
I stand off to the side in the shadows, a bunch of daisies in my hand.
At center ice, Jasper holds Sadie in a tight hug.
This is his third world title, and the first Grand Slam he's won with her as his partner. Up on the jumbotron, his eyes are a little red, and Sadie's buried against his chest, crying too hard to talk.
"Thank you, everyone." Jasper takes the mic, still catching his breath. "There's someone I really need to thank for this one."
Every eye in the place lands on him. My fingers curl on their own.
"Thank you to my partner, Sadie." He looks down at her, his eyes going soft. "I wouldn't be here without her. She gets me better than anyone on this ice."
The crowd screams. Somewhere people start chanting "Marry her!"
I watch it happen, and strangely, I don't feel any anger at all. Just the cold of the arena, creeping up from my ankle and spreading through my whole body.
Now that Jasper's won the Grand Slam, everyone assumes he'll get down on one knee for me.
Only I know there hasn't been a place for me on his stage for a long time now.
Seven years ago, Jasper and I were the golden pair everyone at the club had their eyes on. We grew up on the same ice and promised each other we'd make it to the top together.
Then one accident ended my career for good.
He swore that as long as I stayed by his side, every medal he won from then on would be half mine. And the day he won the Grand Slam, he'd marry me in front of the whole world, no hiding it.
I believed him.
I dragged my bad leg around and learned how to be his support crew. Learned how to sharpen skates. Learned how to sew his costumes stitch by stitch. I became the quiet shadow that never left his side.
Then he got a new partner. Sadie was young, healthy, full of energy, and she could land quads I'd never be able to do again.
After that, Sadie mattered more and more. And I mattered less and less.
Tonight's celebration dinner is at a rotating restaurant on the top floor.
When I push open the door to the private room, the party's already in full swing. Coaches, teammates, sponsors, everyone with a glass raised.
Sadie sits on Jasper's left. On his right, where my seat should be, sits her puffer jacket instead.
"June's here!" one of the younger skaters calls out, and the room goes quiet for a beat.
Jasper frowns when he sees me. "What took you so long?"
"Traffic," I say, walking over and setting the daisies down on the side table.
"Sorry about that, June." Sadie sticks her tongue out and makes a show of reaching for her jacket. "Jasper was worried I'd get cold, made me take it off and put it there."
"It's fine, leave it," I say, pulling out the one empty seat at the far end of the table.
Jasper glances at the daisies in my hand, then at the bouquet of champagne roses sitting in front of Sadie. Something flickers across his face.
He ordered those roses two weeks ago.
I thought they were a surprise for me. Then this morning I saw Sadie's post — the caption said only the most expensive roses were good enough for a day like this.
"June, it's a happy day, quit making that face." Jasper picks up his glass. "Sadie took a fall earlier, she's got bruises on her leg. I'm just looking out for her a little more. Don't read into it."
"I'm not reading into anything." I force a smile.
"Good. You're family, and Sadie's my partner. You both matter to me." He seems satisfied with how well I'm taking it. He takes a velvet box from his assistant and hands it to Sadie.
"Open it," he says, his voice turning gentle.
Sadie tears it open, delighted. Inside is a pair of custom skates, crystals studding every inch, catching the light.
"Wow, Jasper, this is way too much!" She covers her mouth, her eyes welling up again.
"You deserve the best." He ruffles her hair.
I sit in my corner, watching it all play out, feeling people sneak looks at me from every direction.
I'm tired all of a sudden. Too tired to even feel hurt anymore.
"Jasper." I stand up and grab my coat off the back of the chair.
"What now?" His smile drops, and he frowns at me. "It's my Grand Slam day. Could you not make this hard?"
