Page 75 of Thrown for a Loop
He’s quiet for a second. “Why is hockey your thing now? Serious question.”
I stare at the floor and keep my voice down. “After I left skating, and I left my husband, I needed a fresh start. I did some technical training, which I really loved, but I don’t want to work in figure skating anymore. So I started working with hockey players one-on-one, and I loved that, too.”
He gives me a sideways glance. “Why didn’t you want to work in figure skating anymore? You could get choreography jobs.”
Great, now he’s going to become my career planner just so he can get rid of me. “If you must know, I got sick of being everyone’s big disappointment.”
His expression turns incredulous. “Didn’t you win a goddamn Olympic medal? Do I have that wrong?”
“You followed my career?”
“Didn’t have to. It’s in all the cutesy news items about the Legends this week.”
“Oh, of course,” I say grumpily. “Sure, I won a medal. In the wrong color. Everyone was expecting me to be a big comeback story for the gold four years later, but then I dropped out at the last minute to have surgery. Water under the bridge. But figure skating is so claustrophobic. I don’t want to work for my mother, and she’d expect me to.”
“Ah.That I can understand. Not a big fan of Sister Walsh.”
“I bet.”
At the front of the room, Veena has moved on to outlining the show part of the jamboree. She’s taking volunteers for the various on-ice games, and her rapt audience is eagerly raising their hands.
“I realize,” I say quietly, “that I’ve been a huge distraction for you. And this jamboree is just more of the same. But I have to see it through. If you get your contract renewal and your sponsors back onboard, maybe I can leave the Legends, your contract,andyour pelvis a little better off than when I arrived.”
He makes a choking sound. And that’s the moment Veena chooses to look back at us and smile. “Now on to our most exciting event—a figure skating number from Zoe and Chase!”
The entire room breaks out into cheers and wolf whistles, and I press my back against the wall as if I could disappear into it.
Veena beams in our direction. “Guys, your performance will be the grand finale of the evening. What music will you be using?”
It’s a fine question, but we haven’t discussed it yet. I’m preparing to explain that we’ll need some time, but then it occurs to me that I don’t want to be the de facto spokesperson of this little venture. If I assign myself that role, I’ll have to make all the decisions, all the plans, and I’ll have to hunt Chase down just to schedule each practice.
So I lock my jaw shut. If Chase really wants to do this, he’ll have to step up and own it.
“‘Free Bird’!” yells one of the players into the silence, and there’s a round of laughter.
I look over at Chase only to find that we’re wearing matching defensive poses. “You’re the music guy,” I mutter. “So what’s it going to be?”
“The music hasn’t been decided,” Chase finally says.
Veena purses her lips. “Wow, okay. There isn’t a lot of time to pull this all together. I’ll need to hear from you by Friday. We need to get the rights to the song, whatever it is.”
He gives her a jerky nod.
DeLuca raises his hand. “Can I make a suggestion?”
“Of course,” Veena says brightly.
He turns around in his chair. “Just do the same routine you guys did ten years ago. That’s what everyone will want to see. Plus, isn’t that just easier?”
Chase gives his buddy a surly look. But Veena loves this idea. “Good point,” she agrees. “That’s what I want, too, if I get a vote.”
Sure, Veena. We’ll skate to “Wicked Game,” and I’ll just die slowly of a broken heart. No big deal.“We’ll talk it over,” I say, hoping to move on from this subject.
Alexei raises his hand. “I might need more tickets this year. Can I buy extra?”
“Yeah!” O’Connell chirps. “Both my girlfriend and my sister want to come. Help me keep the peace.”
Veena makes a note on her legal pad. “Okay, sure. But this is a charity gig, so every ticket has to be paid up at full price. Anyone who wants an extra pair of tickets has to email me by Monday.”
