I peek out to find the rink full of spectators. I’m dressed in my black competition dress covered in rhinestones. My makeup is dramatic and beautiful, so it can be seen from a distance. Coach Tammy comes up to me wearing his usual jacket and a coach’s pass hanging around his neck. He grabs me and takes me to Scott’s change room minutes before we are called out onto the ice. He wishes us good luck hugging us and giving us a quick pep talk while leaving his arm around my shoulders.

Tammy says to Scott and me, “You’re competing against seven other couples. If you make it into the...