Page 60 of Peach Blossom Hollow

“You better get back on the ice,” someone said, firmly pushing the thick padding of his equipment, directing him away from the scene, the stands and Violet.

She was moving up the stairs to the next level, waving and blowing kisses as if nothing had happened. But inside the dragon costume, Leo knew she was crying.

And it was the worst feeling in the world.

Violet didn’t know if the team had won or lost. But she guessed that unless a miracle had occurred, the game was not only over, but the Dragons had endured another big loss.

She sat on the bench in her changing room, unable to pull herself together enough to leave. Nobody out there would be spitting on her, squaring up to her or challenging her, like they had when shewas in costume. She’d be an anonymous employee in street clothes, wearing an ID badge.

Still, she couldn’t force her legs to lift her from the bench, to move toward the door.

While in costume she knew enough to avoid the area behind the opposing team’s box. Knew to avoid the aggressive calls that would draw her over, the type of spectator who would try to spit on her or trip her. But behind her own team? That had taken her by surprise.

“Security said they’ll walk us out when you’re ready,” Daisy-Mae said. She’d locked the door as soon as they’d been deposited there by the guards. She’d helped Violet out of her costume with shaking hands and a pale face, voicing a stream of apologies for not being a better lookout.

Violet wasn’t ready to leave the room or even process what had happened. She felt like she was going to vomit. Or run.

Courage.She drew a deep breath and stood.

“Do you think Leo will get in trouble?” she asked.

Daisy-Mae shook her head, then shrugged.

He’d busted right out of the players’ box and raced up the stands to protect her during the game.

Who did that?

And what did it mean?

A million thoughts swarmed her brain, from how the press was going to portray him as a crazy hothead, to whether Family Zone would drop him, to the kiss he’d given her at the gala.

She hadn’t told Daisy-Mae about that because she feared her friend would read too much into it. He’d been excited, and the kiss had meant nothing.

She wanted it to, though. But she was also wiseenough to know he was looking for something different, despite them being great together as friends.

Violet sank down on the locker room bench again, needing another minute before facing the outside world.

“That was pretty sexy, him running up to help you like that,” Daisy-Mae commented. She’d figured out Violet was crushing even though she didn’t know the full extent of it.

“Yeah.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Shaky.” Violet held up her hands, which were trembling.

“That was really scary, Vi. I’m so—”

“You don’t need to apologize again. I felt the shift in the crowd and ignored it, too. I thought I could change their mood. We’ve done it before.”

“I’m the one not hidden inside a big costume. I should have pulled you out of the stands earlier. And of course you’re shaky. You were attacked! That’s not supposed to happen. Ever.”

Violet nodded, knowing the unexpected aggression aimed at her wasn’t the only reason she was shaky. She’d been shocked, sure, but Dezzie’s thick, soft exterior had protected her from any physical harm. That and Leo’s timely arrival.

Her tears of surprise, shock and fear had quickly dried, the threatened feeling overshadowed by several facts. One, Leo had noticed her in the stands. And not somewhere easy, like across the rink, where he might glance up from the game and see her. She had beenbehindhim. Two, despite being locked into the players’ box, he’d done something about the aggressive fan.Him. Not security or anyone else. He’dbroken past barriers, skates and all, to rip the man off her. And then he’d looked through her costume’s eyeholes and seen her. He’dseenher.

And he’d been livid. He’d been so scared that she was hurt.

How could she not turn those things into a familiar story she loved—the one where the man she liked was crushing right back at her?

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