Page 94 of Merry Mayhem
“We have snow and ice in Nebraska,” he says. “Makes more sense for me to play hockey than all these boys down here in Louisiana.”
Muriel cackles. “It does, doesn't it? And yet here we are in a little town on the bayou with an ice-skating rink and a hockey team.”
I look down at Josh’s feet. “Where did you even get skates?”
He lifts a foot. “Beckett.”
Of course. Makes sense that the guy who actually plays hockey and gets paid for it might have an extra pair or two lying around.
“That was nice of him,” I comment.
“See?” Muriel says. “I am leaving you with a very capable partner.”
Patty elbows her, and Muriel coughs.
It is possibly the fakest cough I’ve ever heard in my life.
Josh looks at me. “We’re partners again, huh?”
Even standing this close to him is hard on my heart rate. I had prepared myself for seeing him today, probably even talking to him at some point. But I’m not sure I can be his partner.
I look back at the two older ladies who are very settled into their seats in their cozy coats, sipping hot chocolate.
But I don’t really have a choice.
“I guess,” I say.
He gives Patty and Muriel a wink and says to me, “Then it’s just you and me.”
I narrow my eyes. “Did you plan this with them?”
He turns to face me. “I have no idea what you mean.”
I look at the two older women who are volunteering nothing. “Did you ask them to sit this out so we had to be partners?”
“I didn’t. But I’m not going to say I’m upset about it.” He looks at Muriel and Patty. “No offense.”
“If you were upset about being her partner today, you’d be a dumbass. And you’re not a dumbass,” Muriel says, taking another swig of cocoa.
He shrugs and looks at me. “You can’t argue with that logic.”
Jingle bells ring out, and Nora’s voice comes over the mic. “We have a last-minute change, everyone. Muriel and Patty are feeling under the weather, so Josh and Thea will be partnering up again. We’ll…figure out the points somehow, later. Josh and Thea, we need you at center ice with Max and Mitchell.”
I find Nora across the ice from us.
She’s decked out in an oversized hockey jersey from the local team, the Rebel Rebels—of course—paired with leggings, a sparkly Christmas garland around her neck with a gigantic whistle attached, and a headband with reindeer antlers on her head.
I shake my head.
Someday, Nora is going to dress the way Muriel does now. I just know it.
Maybe I can be the Patty to her Muriel. I slide a look at the older women again. There is something very appealing about just doing whatever the fuck I want to. In faux fur and sparkles.
“You ready?” Josh asks.
Fine, I can do this. This event is very fast-paced, and it’s not like we’re going to have time to talk. We are literally on the ice, being watched by everyone. We have fifteen minutes, so we can’t mess around—not like that stopped us yesterday during the obstacle course, but today we’re going tofocus.
We’re going to get this event done, then we’ll build a stupid gingerbread house, and then we’re done.
