Page 15 of Her Goal
Badaszek’s laugh is dry. “No, I mean that we ask for a thousand percent participation on the ice. One hundred percent off.”
The math doesn’t math, but I get the sense the Knights are my last stop before my contractisn’trenewed, so if Badaszek wants a thousand percent, I’d better dig deep and find two thousand. That means I need to show up or show myself out the door. Not that I’d ever admit this to anyone.
Badaszek gazes into the distance. “Some players don’t look much beyond the ice. That won’t keep you warm when the storms of life come.”
“I’ve already been through enough of those,” I mutter.
He catches my gaze. “Maybe so, but remember that sometimes, just when you think you have it made, the floor, the rink will drop out from underneath your feet.”
Is this his way of reminding me I’m third string and on thin ice? Pun not intended.
The corners of Badaszek’s lips lift ever so slightly. “Other times, it’ll rise up and meet you.”
Clearing my throat and intending to be respectful, which I’ve been told comes off as cocky, I ask, “So what are you saying?”
He claps me on the back. “Figure skating lessons.”
I sputter my electrolyte sports drink, having moved on from the Dr. Pepper. “What?”
“Think of it like how football players train with ballerinas.”
“With all due respect?—”
He shakes his head as if anticipating what I’m about to say. “You don’t understand my calculus.”
I nod slowly, trying to make one plus one equal five—or a flying lutz as the case may be, which is the extent of my non-hockey ice sports knowledge because my once brother tricked me into telling Leah she was a klutz.
Badaszek says, “You already know how to skate.”
The up-and-down movement of my head continues.
This time, he winks and guesses, “But you don’t know how to dance.”
“Coach …” I lived in Miami. With its nightlife scene and clubs, on the contrary, I do know how to dance. Though not while wearing hockey skates.
“It’ll be good for you.” With that, he shows himself to the door.
After a cordial, if not slightly confusing, goodbye, I lock it behind him and let out a long breath.
When I go to the kitchen, preparing to spend the next hour cleaning up, I find my new space as spotless as it was before a team of hockey players besieged my home. I expect the garage to be filled with empty pizza boxes, cans, and trash. Apparently, the Knights adhere to a carry-in, carry-out policy like when visiting a state park.
I hardly believe it and start opening doors and cabinets. When I get to the coat closet, I find the gnome. Thankfully, someone must’ve stashed it.
The guys did get weird about the whole gnome thing and with good reason, since my brother stole it from my new coach.
I never expected I’d be Coach Badaszek’s neighbor.
Taking Howie down from the shelf, I wonder if Badaszek noticed the fuss about the gnome earlier. And if so, perhaps he’s using the figure skating lessons as punishment.
But the real question is why Leah brought Howie back here in the first place.
Before I go to bed, I make sure all the windows and doors are locked, just in case someone else decides to show up unannounced.
6
LEAH
I go downa rabbit trail on social, reading posts about a new concept to me called “Revenge Bedtime Procrastination.”
