Page 59 of One Good Puck
I raise my eyebrow. “Or hockey.”
Abby chuckles, her melodic laugh like music to my ears.
“I don’t know about that. Hockey can be pretty rough,” Abby says.
“They don’t allow body checking or fighting for kids Emma’s age who play.”
“Ah. Then maybe.” Her lush mouth curves up in a soft smile. My breath gets stuck in my throat at how beautiful she looks when she smiles. Will I ever get used to how pretty she is?
I already know the answer to that.
“There are a ton of people here,” Abby says as she glances around the rink. “These are all the family and friends of the team?”
“And the team staff, too,” I say.
“She looks familiar,” Abby says as she watches a young woman skate by.
“That’s Madeline Macer. The figure skater.”
Recognition flashes in Abby’s face. “Oh my gosh…she won bronze in women’s figure skating at the last Winter Olympics, right? She’s the one who had that breakdown on camera when she didn’t get gold.”
I glance over at Madeline as she glides around the rink on her own, a blank look on her face.
“Yeah, I heard that was a pretty rough moment for her,” I say.
I think back to her meltdown, all of which was caught on camera because it was live, the whole world watching. She was sobbing and yelling at her coach, then stormed off. When she made it out for the medal ceremony and to stand on the podium, some of the crowd booed her.
“Do you know her?” Abby asks.
I nod. “She’s the daughter of the Bashers’ team owner,” I say.
“Wow, really?”
“I’m surprised she showed up today. She hardly ever comes to team events. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her at a Bashers game.”
Just then, Dakota skates up to us.
“Hey! I didn’t know you’d be here.” Dakota hugs Abby, then looks at Emma.
“Whoa, look at you go,” Dakota says.
“I love ice skating!” Emma says.
“It’s her first time. She’s doing so well, isn’t she?” I say.
Dakota’s brow lifts, clearly surprised. She looks back down at Emma. “Wow! Great job.”
She high-fives her. Sam comes over and says hello to Abby and Emma, then skates with us.
After another lap around the rink, Sam and Dakota say they’re going to get some hot chocolate.
“Can I have some too?” Emma asks Abby.
“We can take her with us,” Dakota says. “That way, you and Gavin can skate a bit longer.”
I could swear I see a glint in Dakota’s eye when she smiles at Abby.
Abby just chuckles. “Okay, thanks.” She crouches down to retie Emma’s ponytail. “Dakota and Sam will take you to get hot cocoa. You be polite and say please and thank you, okay?”
