“Nah, I’m good.”

“Okay, I have them if you change your mind,” she said, pointing to her bag. She went to grab it, but when she did, Mekena was in her face.

“Brie.”

With wide eyes, she backed up a bit. “What?”

Mekena lowered her voice to a whisper. “Markus said Franklin said you and Vaughn are doing it.”

Brie just nodded, and before she knew it, Mekena hit her hard in the arm. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she yelled, and Brie cried out before covering Mekena’s mouth. She felt like a teenager, and soon she was snorting with laughter. “Brie!”

“I don’t know, we aren’t really throwing it out there.”

“We’re friends!”

“I know, but you’ve been busy. Plus, it isn’t like you’re my best friend.”

“Well, that’s a jerky thing to say.”

“Love you,” she sang, and Mekena rolled her eyes.

“I care about you.”

“I know, but it happened so fast, and then we’ve been together.”

Mekena beamed, her eyes bright as she nodded. “Wow, I can’t believe it.”

“I can’t either, really.”

“I thought y’all hated each other.”

“That, or we really wanted each other.”

“That’s crazy, but so cool.”

“I think so,” Brie said softly, and she wanted to share more, but as Mekena had said, they weren’t best friends. Brie wasn’t mad, but she didn’t want to broadcast her business like she would have before. Vaughn was hers, and she didn’t want to share him. She didn’t mind sharing trivial things, but how he made her feel, other than happiness, and how their relationship started, she didn’t want to share.

“Can’t believe you didn’t tell me. Is it serious?”

“I think so,” she said with a shrug. “I’d be really upset if it ended.”

“Aw, how sweet,” she exhaled. “That’s good. I’m happy for you.”

“Me too, thanks.”

Looking back to her, Mekena looked kind of hurt, and a wave of guilt rushed over Brie. “You’re mad?”

“Not mad, but when you said we aren’t best friends, it kinda stung a bit.”

“You’re the one who said it to me first, Mekena.”

“I know, but I still thought we were almost best friends.”

Brie’s heart ached. “I’m sorry. I thought you dumped me.”

“How can I dump you? I love you!”

“Wanna hug it out?”

“Yes, you jerk.”

They wrapped up in an awkward hug that just made them both laugh. Mekena pulled back and shook her head. “Be happy, Brie. You deserve it more than anyone.”

Brie’s face split in a grin. “Thanks. Wanna go out when we get back?”

“I do.”

“Good, maybe I can tear you away from Markus.”

“Oh, I thought Vaughn would come too.”

Brie beamed. “I guess he could. That’s exciting, I’m not the third wheel anymore.”

Laughing, they parted as they sat back, grins on both their faces. Brie had been upset with Mekena. But, then, had she reached out? No, so she was in the wrong as much as Mekena was. Plus, the girl had her head up her fiancé’s ass with good reason. Maybe Brie had to fight for their friendship if she wanted it. She did. She cared for Mekena.

Looking over at Mekena, Brie went to say something, but she found Mekena was watching her as she asked, “But do me a huge favor?”

“What?” she asked a bit warily. She wasn’t sure what Mekena was going to ask, and the grin on her face worried Brie.

“Can you hit him in the head with the mic one night during an interview before the end of the season? I don’t want to lose twenty bucks.”

“Excuse me?”

“I have twenty bucks in the pot that says you will by the end of the season.”

Holding her friend’s gaze, Brie couldn’t help it, she snorted. “What in the world?”

“I know it’s stupid, but we all thought it would happen!”

So did she. Wow, how things changed… With a small grin, she nodded. “Yeah, I got you, but don’t tell anyone about him and me.”

“No, I wouldn’t. Ain’t my business.”

“Cool.”

“But I’m happy for you.”

Meeting Mekena’s gaze with a grin, Brie nodded. “I am too.”

She really was.

More than she ever thought she could be.

With a shocked face, Brie fought back the laughter that was bubbling in her chest.

“They named the rink after you?”

Looking over at her with a “Duh” kind of expression, Vaughn scoffed. “Do you even know who you’re dating?”

“I’m aware of the man, but apparently, I wasn’t aware of the legend.”

She felt him grinning at her as she reread the sign above the doors of the rink that Vaughn had grown up in.

The Vaughn Johansson Skating Complex.

The rink that gave the world “The Legend.”

Looking over at him, she couldn’t hold it in, she lost it. Bending over at the hips, she was laughing so hard as she shook her head. “Who calls you ‘The Legend’? What the fuck? That is by far the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. It’s like calling Lundqvist ‘The King.’ Come on, it’s so fucking cocky. No wonder your ego is so big. I can’t. I can’t even.”

“Well, obviously, the nickname has been dropped since I left here.”

“Obviously? Thank God because that is the silliest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Hey, I was a—”

“Legend?” she snorted, and he knocked his hip into hers.

“You’re an asshole.”

“I know, I’m sorry,” she said, still laughing as they climbed the stairs. “No, I’m not sorry, I can’t help it. This is awesome. Let me take a picture.”

He pushed her phone away as he walked a little faster, shaking his head. “Girls would die to be here with me.”

She snorted. “Wanna call them? I’ll take pictures for the walls inside as they all cry out—” she paused to start waving her hands in the air “—‘Oh my God, the legend wants me. Give me your big legendary cock.’”