Page 76 of Thrown for a Loop
Weber raises a hand next. “Is there a costume committee for the figure skating portion of the evening? If so, I’d like to join up.”
The whole roster laughs.
Chase sighs.
“And you’re getting this on video, right?” someone else wants to know. “This’ll never get old.”
“What about special effects?” yells another player.
Veena tackles every question, reassuring the team that there will be video. But, no, they cannot put Chase in a low-cut sequined bodysuit. “Zoe and Chase can handle the costumes themselves.”
“Hear that?” I say under my breath. “I get to choose your costume.”
“Only if I can choose yours,” he fires back.
Touché. I raise my hand. “May I make a suggestion?”
“Of course!” Veena smiles broadly.
“Hear me out—since the figure skating portion of the program is set for last, and since it’s soooo popular…” I give Chase a glare. “I think the whole team should take a musical curtain call afterward. Why should Chase and I have all the glory? I’m picturing the players linking up like the Rockettes. Wouldn’t that be fun?”
The room falls absolutely silent, except for Chase’s low chuckle and Weber’s “Oh shit.” I give the rookie a glare that reminds him not to fuck with me.
“Iloveit,” Veena shrieks. “Excellent impulse, Zoe. Will you need to schedule extra practices for that?”
“Just one,” I say, because I don’t want to make any new enemies.
She claps her hands. “All right, team. Good work today, and thank you for your time. You’ll soon be receiving a slew of email reminders from me about your commitments. The Legends’ owner is going to be thrilled with the effort you’re making this year. We’re going to raise a lot of money for those children!”
We’d better, damn it. Because this is going to be so hard.
The meeting ends, and I head down to the staff lockers to get my skates when a new message pops up on my phone.
Chase:You free at 1p? After practice? We could skate some and discuss the program.
I’m not ready for this.
Zoe:Do you even have figure skates?
Chase:Bess just bought them. She’ll drop them off.
Zoe:I’ll have to see if the rink is available.
Chase:It is. I just checked. And we’re on a road trip after this so it’s now or never.
Now I’m really out of excuses.
Zoe:Okay. See you at 1p.
Chapter 27
After my coaching sessions, I have barely enough time to run home to my apartment for my figure skates and apply more deodorant. But maybe it’s better this way—just getting the first rehearsal over with. Like ripping off a Band-Aid, if Band-Aids were the same as holding Chase’s hand for the first time in a decade and staring into his eyes as we spin together.
I’m probably the only person alive whose favorite foreplay was practicing camel spins, but I’ve always been a little weird.
Back at the Legends’ headquarters, I carry my skates into the equipment room.
Bernie, the equipment guy, looks up from the sharpener. “Afternoon, Coach Carson. You need something?” He’s a white guy, late twenties if I had to guess, with an unfortunate mustache. But he’s got one of the coolest jobs in sports—taking care of all the players’ skates and equipment. He spends each game behind the bench, with extra sticks, repair tools, and duct tape at the ready. Like hockey’s answer to Tony Stark, but without the metal suit.
