Page 138 of Desperate Pucker
I don’t miss the wonder that flashes in her eyes. I can tell she’s so touched by how these girls went out of their way just to see her.
She blinks quickly and lets out a flustered chuckle. “You guys are going to make me cry.”
They ask for a photo, and I offer to take the picture.
“Are you a figure skater too?” one of them asks me.
“Nah, I’m her assistant. And bodyguard.”
All three of them go “oohhh” with identical surprised expressions. Maddy chuckles, then poses for a photo with them.
I hand them back their phone, and they say goodbye after hugging her.
“I was going to introduce you before you took the pic,” Maddy says.
I shake my head, smiling. “They’re here for you, not me.”
Maddy beams. Two college students come up to her table with a poster and T-shirt for her to sign.
“Our friend Carly met you,” one of them says excitedly. “She said you were so nice!”
“And so pretty too!” the other young woman says. “She said you have the best hair.”
Maddy blushes. “She’s the best. It was really fun meeting her.”
She chats while signing autographs. Carly runs up to join them, and Maddy hugs her. They ask for a photo together, and I take a bunch for them. When Maddy asks if they want to exchange Instagram handles, they look like they’re ready to pass out from joy.
The little girl in the skating costume walks up with her mom next.
“Amelia wanted to ask you something,” the little girl’s mom says while smiling down at her.
Maddy leans down and smiles at the little girl. “What’s that?”
Amelia’s blue eyes are big as she looks at Maddy. “Um, can I have a hug?”
Maddy chuckles, hops up from her chair, and walks around the table over to Amelia. She crouches down and hugs her. Amelia wraps her little arms around Maddy’s neck. Her mom snaps a bunch of pictures on her phone. I offer to take one of all three of them, and she happily accepts.
She sets a poster of Maddy skating on the table for her to sign.
“I was a figure skater for almost twenty years,” she says.
“That’s incredible.”
“I even skated for most of my pregnancy with Amelia.”
“Oh my gosh, you’re amazing,” Maddy says.
She chuckles. “Funnily enough, ice skating was the only thing that helped the pregnancy nausea go away.” She glances down at her daughter. “Amelia just started skating lessons.”
“That must be so special to share your passion with your daughter.”
Amelia’s mom’s expression turns tender. “It really is. If you have kids someday, do you want them to figure skate too?” Shelooks at me. “Your kids are going to have some incredible genes. You’re a hockey player, right?”
I cough, caught off guard. “Oh, um…yeah. I’m surprised you could tell.”
“My husband’s a big Bashers fan. He’s rooting for you in the playoffs.”
“Tell him thanks. I’m gonna need it.”
