Life on the Edge (46 page)

“I wish we could wait with you, but we have to get back to campus for a meeting,” Dad said.

“That’s okay. I’ll let you know when we get word.”

I headed to Sergei’s apartment, and he welcomed me in from the damp, chilly afternoon, giving me a tender kiss and rubbing his warm hands over mine.

“How was it?” he asked.

“He didn’t ask any questions, so I just talked. If they really listen to what we all said, there shouldn’t be any doubt as to the right decision.” I tried to sound confident, but even though we’d done nothing wrong and had done everything in our power to prove it, nerves tightened my stomach. I took a steadying breath as Sergei wrapped his arms around me.

“It’s going to be a long night,” he said.

I eyed the stacks of CDs covering his coffee table. “Alphabetizing your music collection to stay busy?”

“No, I thought we could try to find Courtney and Mark’s music for next season. Might help the time pass faster.”

“Good idea.”

I stepped out of my heels and padded over to the sofa. One by one, we went through the discs, listening to sonatas, concertos, operas, and movie soundtracks. Every time Sergei shuffled in a new CD, he peeked at his watch. We ordered takeout, but for once, Sergei didn’t polish off his half of the pizza and try to steal some of mine. He grew quieter the longer the night dragged on.

I was reading aloud from my notepad, recapping the list of pieces we liked, when Sergei’s cell phone rang. He lurched forward and snatched the phone from the coffee table, toppling one of the CD stacks in the process. Cases flew all over the carpet. My heart felt like it was suspended in mid-air, ready to either burst into fireworks or free fall and crash to the earth.

Sergei said hello, and after the caller spoke, he followed with, “Yes, I’ve been waiting anxiously.”

I put my hand on his thigh and observed his face, willing a smile to appear. He listened intently, not giving me any indication of what Brian was saying.

Finally, one part of him moved. His eyes closed, and when they opened moments later, they were moist. My fingers dug into his leg.

“Thank you for addressing this so quickly.” He paused and answered, “Yes. Yes, I will.”

The second he hung up, I blurted, “What did he say?”

Sergei gently grasped my face. His eyes gleamed at me as the lamplight reflected off of his unshed tears.

“He said I’m cleared.”

Fireworks exploded within me, and I flung myself onto Sergei’s lap. “Yes!”

He held me close as I laughed and cried at the same time.

“Thank you,” he said hoarsely. “You made this happen.” He pressed his lips to mine, and my tears wet both our faces.

“Brian said the support I received was incredible. Everyone’s statements provided indisputable evidence of my professionalism.”

“I didn’t tell them what to say.” I smiled and wiped my eyes.

“No, but you explained everything to them and asked them to speak for me. And I know whatever you said to Brian today also had a big impact.”

I threaded my fingers through Sergei’s hair. “I just told him how amazing you are and how much we all need you.”

“I am so lucky to be with you,” he whispered.

He kissed me again, fuller and longer, and my body hummed with a powerful sensation. I didn’t think I could love Sergei more, but my heart pounded with new and even stronger feelings. Every kiss we shared spoke of the promise of our future. We stayed locked in an embrace, not wanting our celebration to end.

****

After we shared the news at the rink the next day, Trevor threw together the party he’d wanted to give Chris and me since we’d returned from the Olympics. Sergei picked me up that night, and we headed to Trevor’s bungalow three towns away in Harwich. I blasted the radio in the car, bobbing in my seat to the music. Our friends and co-workers were going to see us as a couple for the first time.

The front door to the cottage was cracked open, so we let ourselves in and shed our jackets on the overflowing coat rack next to the door. The buzz of voices and laughter streamed toward us from the den, and we followed the noise down the narrow hallway to the back of the house. A few heads turned when we walked through the low archway.

Sergei reached over and took my hand, lacing his fingers through mine. His subtle gesture overwhelmed me with a range of emotions–from feeling like I could cry tears of joy to wanting to rip off his clothes.

I squeezed his hand and looked up at him through my lashes. “Can I tell you a secret?”

“What’s that?” he asked.

I leaned close to his ear. “I am so hot for you right now.”

He coughed, stifling a grin. “How long do we have to stay at this party?”

I laughed, something I had done a lot the past twenty-four hours. Chris and Marley came up from behind us, plastic cups in hand.

“It’s great to see you guys out,” Marley said. “We can go on double dates now!”

“What makes you think I want to spend more time with this girl?” Chris made a face and poked my arm.

I jabbed him back. “I’m already stuck with him for four more years. Isn’t that enough?”

Chris couldn’t hold in his smile any longer, and I began laughing again. We hugged, and I kissed his cheek. Sergei and I started for the kitchen, but Courtney swooped in front of us, bouncing on the heels of her sneakers.

“You two are
so
cute together!” she screeched. “Look, you even match!”

We glanced at each other’s outfits. Sergei wore a black long-sleeved knit shirt and jeans, while I had on a black
boatneck
sweater, jeans, and high-heeled boots.

“We did it just for you.” I pinched her pixie face.

“We need to talk about the wedding,
Em
. You have to let me be a junior bridesmaid.”

“Who else would I possibly ask?”

She squealed and peppered us with more wedding questions before running off to the group of young skaters huddled near the back door. Trevor hooked me up with a soda in the kitchen, and Sergei and I mingled our way through the den.

Aubrey popped up from the sofa. “Hey, Marley heard some scoop. The new dance coaches might be a married couple from California.”

“Having a female perspective could be cool,” I said.

“They’re Russian. Like we need more of those around.” Aubrey gave Sergei a toothy smile, and he laughed.

I tilted my head up to him. “I’m pretty fond of my Russian.”

He smiled and tightened his arm around my waist. “That’s good to know.”

Once we’d chatted with almost all the guests, Sergei rested on the arm of the couch. I scooted between his knees and wound my arms around his neck, while he settled his hands on my hips.

“This feels so good . . . being here with you like this,” he said.

I grinned. “It’s kind of a rush, isn’t it?”

He brushed a kiss on my lips. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“I was thinking.” He twirled a lock of my hair around his finger. “Tomorrow night we could go to dinner and a movie, maybe drinks after.”

“That sounds so ordinary.” I broke into a smile. “And so amazing.”

About the Author

earned a Master of Accounting from Tulane University and is a Certified Public Accountant in south Louisiana. While working for a Fortune 1000 company, she sought a creative outlet and decided to put on paper a story that had played in her head for years. That story became Life On the Edge, her first published novel.

When not working or writing, she is an avid follower of the sport of figure skating, travelling to competitions around the country. Those experiences allow her to see another side of the sport and serve as an inspiration for her writing. Jennifer is blessed with a wonderful family and many friends who have encouraged her to pursue her dream of being a published author.

Also from Astraea Press

The red convertible cut a path through the moonlight, its headlights dancing along the arched limbs of the trees above the road.

“Oh, Matt, it’s such a beautiful night,” Stacey declared with a sigh. “I’m going to miss you when you leave tomorrow.”

 
Matt reached for her hand and brought it to his lips. “I’ll miss you too, but if I don’t report on time, I’m in trouble with the coach.”

“That’s what I get for falling in love with a pro football player,” Stacey teased, her blonde hair turned to frosted silver by the light of the full moon above them.

Matt squeezed her hand that wore his engagement ring. “It’s too late to back out now,” he teased. “You’re mine.”

“
Mmm
, do I like the sound of that!”

The car rounded a curve, and without warning a deer bounded across the road.

“Look out!” Stacey screamed.

Matt braked sharply to avoid the animal. The tires slid on a patch of loose gravel in the road, and he lost control of the convertible. It fishtailed and started to spin in the road.

Matt hauled the steering wheel to correct the slide, but it was useless. The car turned around once more and skidded backwards for a short distance before it charged off the road. It jumped a steep ditch and went airborne. All Matt could see was a blur of trees and darkness as the car careened into the woods. It made a lazy turn in the air and came to rest bottom side up.

The last thing he remembered was the sound of Stacey’s screams.

****

Marilyn McCallum drew a deep, shaky breath and groped for her husband’s hand. “We’ve been waiting for hours now,” she quavered. “What could be going on in that operating room, Rod?”

Rod never answered. His face contorted and he sprang to his feet as a nurse approached. “Would you like some more coffee?” she asked.

“We’d like to know about our son,” Rod answered. “Is everything okay? He’s been in there so long.”

Nurse Whittaker patted him on the shoulder. “Please, don’t worry. Dr. Williams is the best doctor on staff. He’ll do everything he can.”

As she bustled away, Stacey Thomas, who sat beside Marilyn, dropped her head into her hands. Marilyn tried to ignore the smear of blood across the girl’s back. She swallowed hard against sudden nausea. Stacey was fine even though Matt’s fate was still up in the air. “Hang on. It can’t be long now.”

Tears slid down Stacey’s face. “This isn’t the way the day was supposed to end. Matt and I had a beautiful time, but now…”

A tall man in sweat-stained surgical scrubs approached them. “Mr. and Mrs. McCallum?” The doctor’s voice brought all three of them to their feet.