Page 41 of Thrown for a Loop
His expression turns thoughtful. “Not bad for a drunk man. But forget it, okay? It doesn’t matter what I said last night.”
“Oh, itdoes,” I insist. “And blowing up your life was never myintention, okay? I loved you like you were the last slice of mushroom-free pizza on Earth. You were the only person who ever liked me just for me, which is why I gave you everything. Like my heart. And my virginity…”
He stares at me, his blue eyes shocked. “Jesus, Zoe.”
“I know, I know. Too much.” But I’ve been waiting years to tell him how hurt I was, and I can’t seem to shut up. “Just trying to be honest here. And the honest truth is that I want to help you get your game back. For purely professional reasons.” I pause. “Okay, it’s also an ego thing. But I’m really good at what I do.”
He sighs. “I have no doubt. But let’s just keep a little distance, m’kay? I was already having a hellacious year before last night’s disaster.”
“Chase, I canhelp,” I insist. “Please work with me. Even if it’s only ten minutes at Sailor’s pony show.”
His blue eyes flash with irritation. “I said I’d be there, didn’t I?”
“You agreed to a publicity stunt. But it could be more than that, if you’re willing to try. I have a theory about your skating.”
“Everyone does. Take a number.”
“But what if I’m right? You’ll score more goals, you might keep your sponsors, and everyone will stop being mad at you. Then it won’t matter if the two-asshole rule is true.”
He snorts, and the corners of his mouth twitch, and I feel a zing of victory.
“What’s the worst that could happen?”
His eyebrows lift. “Besides public humiliation?”
“Please. You’re wearing a five-thousand-dollar coat. You can handle a little humiliation. And maybe this never occurred to you, but you were a fireball in my life, too. Then you left town and blocked my number.”
He squints at me. “It was the other way around—I blocked your number before I left town.”
God.I fling my arms apart. “See? The least you can do now is spend one hour of your highly paid time skating for me.”
He actually smirks, and even this hint of a smile hits me in the solar plexus. “Fine. Whatever. You can have your hour.”
“Yes.Thank you.” I’m practically vibrating with relief. “Shake on it.” I stick out my hand formally.
He takes it, and the warmth of his skin sends a jolt through my entire nervous system. Our gazes lock, and his is… confused? I’m trying to understand why, which means we stand there for a moment too long, hands clasped, before I remember myself and pull away. “Uh, okay. As soon as Sailor books a time…”
He sighs. “I’ll be there, Ice Princess.”
Ice Princess.My heart does a pirouette at the sound of my old nickname, and I stare up at him with unfiltered surprise.
He looks suddenly uncomfortable, though. Like he never meant to say that. He takes a step back and checks the street again. “Hey, that’s my Uber.” He points at a Toyota skulking at the curb. “I have to go.”
A moment later I’m still standing in the bitter cold, as alone as ever.
“Are you okay?” Darcy asks, arriving at my side. “That looked intense.”
“I don’t even know what that was,” I admit. “He said he’d work with me, though. I just hope he meant it.”
“Hmm.” She takes my arm. “Come on. We need a cupcake. And you need to tell me more about that meeting.”
“Oh, it was delightful. I begged forgiveness, and everyone thinks I propositioned a bartender.”
Darcy gasps. “This sounds like a fun story.”
“Like everything else in my life, it’s not quite as fun as it sounds. I need a cupcake.”
“Oh, buddy.” She links her arm through mine. “Atleastone.”
