You had been looking forward to this weekend for weeks—a quiet chance to hang out with Kat Baker without the chaos of her skating schedule. But as soon as you arrived at the rink, you realized this wasn’t going to happen.

Kat was already on the ice, her skates slicing through the polished surface with effortless grace. Her usual calm intensity was there, but today it carried a stubborn edge.

“Kat, come on,” you called from the edge of the rink, waving. “You’ve been out here for hours. Don’t you think you need a break?”

She didn’t even glance at you. “I said I’m fine. I’ve got a new routine I’m perfecting.”

You crossed your arms, frustration creeping in. “Perfecting? Kat, you’ve been skating non-stop since sunrise. Even pros need rest.”

She skated closer, her expression softening just a little. “Rest won’t make me better. Practice will. You know that.”