Mel

Tammy asked everyone to stay after the last class was over to make an announcement. I thought I was going to hyperventilate when she told us that she had found a buyer for the facility. It felt too soon.

Is this really happening?

I gripped my knees to keep from falling over as Tammy launched further into her big announcement.

Please, please, please, let this be good news.

"The new owner said they planned on keeping everything running as is, meaning the rink is safe. It won't be turning into a concert hall or shopping venue. You won't have to change the way you do your lessons, and you all get to keep your jobs," she announced with a huge smile.

A collective exhale could be heard throughout the room as everyone in attendance let out the breath we'd all been holding. We get to stay. I don't have to find a new job. Thank goodness!

As Tammy filled us in on a few of the particulars of the arrangement, I eased my heart back to a normal pace. The stress of this situation has weighed on me since I found out Tammy was retiring. Now that I know my job isn't at stake, I can finally relax.

After the meeting, Tammy pulls me aside. "Mel, do you have a few minutes?"

"Yeah, what's going on?" I reply.

She waves me along as she heads to her office, shutting the door behind us as I filter in after her. "Please, take a seat."

My throat starts tightening as I sit in the empty chair in front of Tammy's desk, wondering what bomb she's about to drop on me.

Crap, this is probably where she tells me the new owners could only keep so many of us on, and I'm the unlucky trainer who's about to get fired.

I fold my shaking hand into a fist on my leg as I wait to find out my fate. "So, as you know, the new owner has agreed to keep everyone on in their current positions as part of the sales agreement."

I nod my head, waiting for her to drop the but...

"However..."

There it is.

"... with the current staff, there is no official manager after I leave," Tammy informs me.

It takes a full ten seconds for my brain to register that I haven't been fired. What is she trying to say?

Still feeling confused about why she pulled me into the office, I wonder aloud, "Okay... What does that have to do with me?"

I see my soon-to-be former boss smiling widely at me. "They asked who I would recommend to take on the role as manager here when I'm gone. And I suggested you."

My eyes blink rapidly as I try to understand if I just heard her correctly. I gaped at her, fumbling my words before I was able to form a coherent sentence. "Uh, I'm sorry, did I just hear that correctly? You told them I should be considered for the manager position?"

"That's right. If you're interested, you'll need to go through a formal interview with him next week, but I have no doubt you'll get the job." Tammy continues beaming at me as my brain continues to sputter.

My mouth opens and closes a few times as I sit there, shocked by what she just told me. "You're the best person for the job, Mel. With your background in skating and degree in management, there's no one I could think of better suited for the position. Plus, you're incredible with the staff and students. You could even suggest new programs to the owner if you wanted to."

I swallowed as I realized what she was offering me. This is how I get my dream to come true. I would be running this place under the new owner. I'd have the power to implement new programs- like free lessons for those who can't afford paid classes- just like I always wanted. And I could do it without a huge loan hanging over my head.

The realization made my breath hitch. Holy crap! This could actually happen!

I shook my head, trying to clear the noise as Tammy asked, "What do you say, Mel? Do you want this opportunity?"

I met her eyes and smiled brightly, confidently saying, "Yes. Yes, I do."

~

That night, I was preoccupied with swirling thoughts about my discussion with Tammy. If things went well with my interview with the new owner, I'd have a new job soon. The longer I thought about it, the more I wanted it.

There was only one thing standing in my way- the interview. I'm usually very good with people, and I interview well, but for some reason, my nerves are amping up at every passing thought regarding this one.

What if the new owner doesn't like me? What if I completely bomb the interview? What if they think I'm not the right fit for the position?

I'm gnawing on my lip, thinking about it as I wait for Liam to come to bed. I don't even notice when he comes into the room because I'm so lost in thought.

He slowly approaches the bed and tugs my lip from my teeth with a concerned look on his face. "What's on your mind, babe? It looked like you were about to chew your poor lip off."

I smile at him apologetically. Since I got home, I've hardly been present. "Tammy found a buyer."

He sits next to me, placing his hand in mine. "And you're worried about your job?"

"No, it's not that," I told him, shaking my head. "She said we would all keep our jobs, but she spoke with me privately today. She said once she's gone, the facility would need a new manager."

Liam nodded, still listening carefully to my explanation.

"She told the buyer that I should be considered for the position." I gave him a nervous look and sucked my lip back into my mouth.

Liam's lip curled slightly as he gently removed my lip from my mouth once more. "Are you worried about that? Getting the position?"

I dipped my head, unable to meet his gaze. "I'm worried that I'll mess up the interview. If I make a fool of myself, they won't want me to take on the role. If I really screw up, they may fire me altogether."

When Liam stays silent, I lift my eyes to meet his. He's studying me carefully with a contemplative look. His lips quirk, and he bobs his head, having decided something. "Practice on me."

"What?" I ask, shaking my head. "I can't do that. It's silly. I'm way more comfortable around you than I will be with a stranger. It wouldn't be the same."

Liam fixes his lips with my favorite smile, halting my protest. "Humor me?"

With a sigh, I relent, laughing softly to myself at how ridiculous I feel. "Alright. You win. Fake interview me, Liam."

His laugh loosens me up as he hits me with another dazzling smile. For the next several minutes, he asks typical interview questions, giving me time between each to take a breath. He asks a few things that make me smile, like how I got into skating and why I'm passionate about it. Then, he asks what kind of changes I'd want to implement to Tammy's current programs.

I answered everything smoothly, not fumbling my words and feeling completely at ease as Liam walked me through my fake interview. I told him in detail what I'd do regarding new programs at the facility- something I've talked to Liam about before in less detail- for the sake of the interview. By the end, I felt a bit more relaxed about the whole thing.

I know the actual interview won't be quite as easy, but I'm grateful for Liam's help. He's shown me that I've been overthinking it, letting myself get stressed over something that I shouldn't.

I feel better about the upcoming interview as Liam wraps things up. "Well, Miss Clark, it's been a pleasure. After speaking with you today, I think you're the perfect fit for the role."

His eyes softened as he looked at me. "The position is yours if you want it, Mel."

The sincerity of his voice caught me off guard. I couldn't help but chuckle. "Very funny, Liam. Though, I appreciate the extra effort. Thank you for this."

Liam's expression didn't change. "I'm serious, Mel."

My face contorted as I held back another laugh, shocked that he was still playing the part of the interviewer. As I stared at him, something in his eyes shifted.

My eyes narrowed as I studied him, trying to figure out what game he was playing. "Liam?"

He broke our stare, letting a soft smile form. "I mean it, Mel. The job is yours. This isn't a joke."

I blinked at him, thoroughly confused and unable to form a complete thought. What the hell is going on?

As I continued gaping at him, he explained, "I'm the buyer, Mel. I talked to Tammy after you told me what was going on. I asked her not to tell you."

His words hit me like a crash of waves. I shook my head, stumbling over my words before telling him, "Liam, why? I- I can't pay you back. This- This is too much."

He put his arm around me, pulling me close. "You don't have to worry about that, babe. It's a good business opportunity for me. When classes aren't going on, I have a few local teams already in line to use the rink."

A sudden thought clouded my mind. "Was it really Tammy's idea to suggest me for the manager position?" I asked, unsure I wanted to hear the answer.

"It was her idea through and through. I didn't have anything to do with it. However, I would have considered you first even if she hadn't. It was her idea. She has faith in you, Mel. You earned it all on your own." Liam's words were sincere, and another heartstring was tugged as a flood of emotion swept over me.

Holy shit!

I couldn't find my words as I looked at Liam. My eyes grew wet as I tried to tell him how grateful I was, but there were no words in the English language that could fully express my gratitude.

He smiled at me with nothing but love in his eyes, and I finally croaked out, "I love you so much. Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you." I kissed him with every thank you, hoping he would understand my gratitude for what he'd done for me.

After a while, I asked him, "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Liam kissed the top of my head as he explained, "I wasn't sure how you'd react. And I wanted to surprise you after the paperwork was ready to go."

"Are you sure about this, Liam?"

He lifted my chin, so I had to look at him. He said, with all seriousness, "I'm sure, Mel. I had the idea before you told me Tammy was selling her place. I found a community center with a nice rink for sale when I was out with the boys one day. I started looking into buying something like that. I had everything planned out with my financial team before you told me about your rink."

My heart fluttered. He was going to do this already? "You really did all that?" I asked in a whisper.

Liam nodded. "I did. It's a good opportunity for me. We can give back to the community with your program for free lessons. And most importantly, I get to help make your dream come true. You'll get to run the place how you want, Mel, just like you always dreamed."

The smile on my face grew soft as I looked at the amazing man in front of me. I don't know how I got so lucky, but I will forever be grateful for fate bringing the two of us together.

"I love you so much, Liam. Thank you for making my dream possible," I told him again with a loving kiss. "You're the most amazing man on the planet. I'm so lucky to call you mine."

Liam replied, "I'm the lucky one, Mel. And there's no need to thank me. You made my dream come true first. You did it by choosing me. Nothing in the world could repay what you did for me by doing that."

His words cut right to my heart as I fell even deeper for him at that moment. Words would never be enough to show how much I loved him. So, I tried showing him another way.

Ijoined our lips, hoping to convey how much he meant to me through action. Ipoured every ounce of love I had into our union that night. Once wasn't enough.I showed him over and over again how much he meant to me, letting Liam see howhappy he made me just by loving me, by choosing me. 

A/N:

Annnd there it is! Many of you guessed Liam was the buyer- kudos to you!! I want to thank you all for being so engaged with this story (as well as the previous two). But the series is coming to an end soon. Only a couple of chapters left 🙁

I hope you've enjoyed the story so far. And I'm working hard to give not only Mel and Liam the ending they deserve, but our other two main couples as well. 

See you tomorrow with another chapter.

Much love,

Laura 

❤️❤️❤️