Page 120 of Thrown for a Loop
“I like your style, Bernie.”
When he smiles at me, his mustache twitches.
Darcy and I watch the Legends dominate Montreal from row G, while we drink soda and devour a plate of nachos. Meanwhile, I fill my notebook with ideas for my players.
On the one hand, I’m excited to see the team playing so much better than they were in January. Their win-loss record is greatly improved, and they’ve climbed up to second in their division.
But it hurts me to admit that Montreal needs Chase, too. Their offensive plays could use more flash and creativity—which is his specialty.
During the first intermission, I google their coaching staff. They already have a full-time skating coach, unfortunately.
I also field angry texts from my mother. And as I read them, I think of what Chase said this morning. Tolerating assholes isn’t working for me anymore.
Mom:I can’t believe you fired Bruce. It’s short sighted! Nobody else will want you now!
Zoe:Do you realize how mean that sounds? I won’t regret firing Bruce. Not even for a minute. You can keep taking his calls if you want to, but I’m done.
Mom:It’s like you’ve lost your mind since you went toNew York. It’s HIM, isn’t it? He has control of you again. You acted like an idiot the minute he showed up in your life. I never should have hired him.
I make a sound of rage just as Darcy plops back down in her seat, a beer in each hand. “I got you this, even though you said you didn’t want it.”
“They cost ten bucks!” I yelp.
She sets it into the cupholder beside me. “But I get paid a real salary, and you look like you need it anyway. Why are you clenching your phone like it personally offends you?”
Because sometimes it does.I look down at the screen again and see that my mother is still typing something that is unlikely to be an apology.
Maybe it’s time to swing back.
“All right,” I announce to nobody in particular. “This ends now.”
Zoe:Stop it Mom.
Zoe:Just stop.
Zoe:I don’t need to listen to you question every choice I ever made.
Zoe:Chase is twice the man that Bruce ever was. Maybe I should have listened to you about Bruce. But please consider that I married him partly to get out of your house.
God, it feels good to admit that.
Zoe:You and I are going to take a break now. I don’t want to hear your critique of my life, just like you probably wouldn’t like to hear my critique of yours.
Zoe:This week I fired my agent because he wasn’t working for me anymore. And now I need to fire my coach, too.
“Hey,” Darcy says, touching my sleeve. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” I stash my phone. “Yes, I really am.” I pick up my beer and touch the glass to hers. “Thank you. I appreciate you more than you know.”
“Oh, I do know,” she says. “Now maybe Chase can score a goal, and we can appreciate him, too.”
He doesn’t get a goal, but he skates like wildfire and bags three assists. And the Legends win 5–3.
“Maybe he couldn’t score today, because he already scored,” Darcy suggests at the buzzer.
“You shut up.”
She snickers. “Heading over to his place now?”
