Page 30 of Snow, Ice, and Spice
I purse my lips and stay quiet, even though I’d love to cuss out this annoying paparazzi. I don’t want to end up trending on social media for acting like a hothead. That would interfere with my plan of reforming my image.
“Just having a quiet night with friends,” I say as the three of us walk ahead.
“Theo Thompson acting like a quiet little choir boy? Oh man, I never thought I’d see the day,” the paparazzi says. “Guess you’re a changed man then?”
“Yup,” I say curtly while staring straight ahead. I notice Isaac and Dylan giving me sympathetic looks, as if to silently tell me I’m doing a good job of not going off on this guy.
“Ah, I see, trying to act like a good boy so you can play for your team again, right?” the guy taunts.
Isaac stops and glares at him. “Dude, don’t be a dick.”
“Whoa, hey. No need to get testy. I was just asking some questions,” the guy says with a smirk.
We continue walking but he keeps following us. “What’s your backup plan if the new good boy act doesn’t pan out? Opening up an orphanage? Maybe an animal rescue?”
When the paparazzi guy cackles, it singes my last nerve. Maybe it’s because everyone from my friends and teammates to this stranger thinks it’s a complete joke that I could be good at anything other than hockey, partying, and fucking.
I stop walking and turn to face the guy. His brow hits his hairline and his eyes go wide as he looks at me.
“I’m doing volunteer work now.”
“R-Really?” he says.
“Yup.” Out of the corner of my eye, I see Dylan and Isaac exchange a look.
“Oh. That’s…unexpected.” The paparazzi guy stands there awkwardly with his camera aimed at me for another few seconds before walking off.
“You were joking, right?” Dylan says to me.
I turn to him and Isaac. A wave of raw determination pummels my insides. It finally registers: maybe it’s time to show people that I can be different. That I can be better than what I was.
“I’m dead serious. I wanna start a hockey camp for kids,” I say to my former teammates who are both staring at me like I’ve sprouted a third head. “And I’m gonna need your help to do it.”
Chapter13
Maya
“Hey. I have a favor to ask you,” Theo says when he walks in the front door.
I look up from scrolling on my phone while sitting on the couch, wrapped in a fuzzy blanket. “No ‘hello?’”
I take in his uncertain facial expression as he tugs a hand through his sandy blond hair.
“Oh, uh, sorry,” he mumbles. “Hello.”
“I was kidding. What’s going on with you? Is everything okay?”
He hesitates. “Yeah, fine. Actually, that’s a lie. It’s not fine. I’m going to ask you something and I really, really need you to say yes.”
I scoff. “I’m not agreeing to that. What happened tonight? I thought you were just going out for a catch-up with your teammates. You look all panicked and flustered.”
He rips off his parka and hangs it in the nearby coat closet before walking over to the couch where I’m sitting. He lowers himself onto the arm. “Okay, listen. I have this idea. You’re gonna think it’s ridiculous. But I need you on board.”
He rests his palms on his knees and takes a breath. It catches me off guard. I’m not used to seeing Theo like this. He’s normally so smug and cocky and smooth. Right now he looks…nervous.
“I want to start a hockey camp for kids,” he finally says.
“Oh…” I don’t say anything for several seconds. “Wait, you’re serious?”
