Page 62 of Her Goal
Breezing past what I tell myself was a case of trauma bonding and not us becoming friends as I defined it earlier, I ask, “Do you have your Palace pass?”
He nods. “In the glove-box.”
“Follow me and if you don’t, I know where you live, so no evasive maneuvering.”
His eyes light with amusement. “You do?”
Realizing that sounds like an admission of guilt given my recent gnome delivery, I say, “The Badaszeks’ newest neighbor on Golden Bantam Lane.”
“Yep. Right across the street. The house comes complete with a garage and a hot tub.” He waggles his eyebrows.
Is he suggesting that I already know this or that we take a dip? Not wanting to know the answer, I hastily get in my car.
Hunter calls to me, “Are we going on a side quest?”
“More like the main mission.” I realize how absurd this might seem, but guilt is powerful. I gave up on one brother, I won’t letthis one wash his career down the drain. I’ve spent most of my life around hockey and as a superfan. Hudson has true talent and skill, which is a combination that’s tough to come by and even harder to cultivate.
Resolved, I add, “Coach wanted me to give you figure skating lessons and I think I know why.”
Biting down on his smile, he says, “I kinda sorta can’t wait to see what happens next.”
I slam the door and take off for the arena as a stupid little surge of excitement follows me all the way there.
19
HUDSON
I cannotfathom why Leah thinks Coach Badaszek wanted me to take figure skating lessons aside from making me more limber—or as a humility test—but I’ll play along.
As I pull away from the duplex, following Leah in her beat-up Toyota that she drives like she’s operating the Batmobile, I could see her in a sleek black luxury sedan. I’m afraid she’d hiss at me if I told her this, but retiring from skating and living in a sketchy neighborhood, it’s like she’s dimmed her own glow. But why?
As the distance from my old street grows, I feel like I’ve truly left the past behind. Talking with her helped a lot. I wonder if she carries around any baggage.
I don’t pray often, but I send one up, hoping that Hunter gets his life figured out, finds success in his band or whatever he’s doing now, and … I’m not sure how to finish the sentence. I want to say that he finds happiness, but more like something meaningful and true fills up the emptiness that’s always haunted him.
At the same time, a strange, buzzing warmth flows through me that’s different from the electric current I experience at Leah’s touch. The thought that randomly pops into my head isthat maybe my twin and I aren’t as far apart as I thought. Not that he’s here in Cobbiton, but that we share a connection.
It gives me hope.
I meet Leah in the empty parking lot of the Ice Palace and follow her around the side of the building.
Hustling behind her, I say, “Don’t tell me we’re breaking and entering.”
“Of course not.” She wears a defiant smile.
“Do you live a secret life of crime? Is robbery a hobby of yours?”
She hastens her pace. “I don’t know what you’re talking about?”
“Care to comment on Howie?” I hint.
She bristles. “Let’s stay focused.”
“You’re a cat burglar!” I could expose her crime, but there’s also the slim possibility this fierce woman could steal my heart. The time we’ve spent together, while slightly adversarial at times, has sparked something I haven’t felt in a long time and certainly not as intensely.
“We’re not breaking but we are entering.” She holds out her hand at chest height, palm up. I pass her my Palace pass and she taps it against the electric lock on the metal door.
When the little light turns green, allowing us access, I hesitate. “I signed but did not read the Knights team member guidelines booklet, Leah.”
