Chapter 14: Ice

The injury happened on a Thursday.

Not during a difficult lift.

Not during a dangerous sequence.

Just a simple landing.

One wrong angle.

One wrong moment.

Pain shot through Nadia's ankle.

She immediately knew something was wrong.

"Stop," Dominic said.

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not."

"It's nothing."

"Nadia."

"Dominic."

"Sit down."

"You're not my coach."

"Sit down anyway."

For once, she obeyed.

The physio delivered the verdict later that afternoon.

One week of rest.

No exceptions.

"One week?" Nadia repeated.

"Minimum."

"The competition is coming."

"Which is exactly why you need rest."

Nadia hated every word of that conversation.

She hated it even more when Dominic agreed.

"Take the week," he said.

"We'll lose progress."

"We'll survive."

"Easy for you to say."

"No."

His answer was immediate.

"It's not easy."

For a moment neither spoke.

"You'll still be here when I come back?" Nadia asked quietly.

Dominic looked at her.

Directly.

Steadily.

"Of course."

Something in his voice settled her immediately.

The way it always did.

And that realization was becoming harder to ignore.