Page 17 of Ice Ice Maybe
I shot a glance at him, and sure enough, his left eye was in full-blown twitch mode, as if he were trying to send an SOS in Morse code. I’d seen that twitch before, but only on the ice, usually right before Mitch laid someone out with a bone-crushing check.
I leaned closer and whispered back, “I’ll tell you what happened later, but don’t worry.”
“Nolan—in case you didn’t know, I’ve always wanted to ride the Zamboni,” Mrs. Dalton said out of nowhere.
“Really?” I raised an eyebrow. “Well, say the word and I’ll give you the VIP Zamboni tour. We can even attempt the world’s slowest two-person donut if you’re feeling adventurous.”
She smiled in delight. “Oh, count me in! After years of stuffy high-society events and board meetings, a spin on the Zamboni sounds like just the ticket to add some zing to my life. Someone will need to take a video, of course. Special events are worth recording, so we can relive the excitement of the moment again in the future, don’t you think?” She winked.
I had a sneaking suspicion Mrs. Dalton had seen the kissing video, but it was good to know she did not have a problem with it.
“Absolutely,” I said. “I’ll make sure it happens.”
It was clear where Zena got her joyful and sassy spirit from, and I looked forward to that promised Zamboni ride with her.
I leaned toward Zena again and kept my voice low. “Speaking of videos, I hear there’s one of us kissing.”
“You didn’t see it?” Zena asked, a hint of color rising in her cheeks.
I shook my head. “Your father mentioned it in the bathroom after Mitch walked out. Is it on social media?”
“It most certainly is, and I would like to apologize in advance. Brace yourself.” She pulled her phone from her purse, keeping it near her lap as she found the video and showed me.
I watched with a grin. “Well, well, well. Look at us go. I’d say we deserve an Oscar for that performance.”
Zena bit her lip, looking slightly embarrassed. “You’re not mad?”
“Are you kidding?” I said, leaning in closer. “That is a mighty impressive kiss. Can we watch it again? This time, put it in slow motion so I can see the exact moment you tried to climb me like a tree.”
Zena laughed, her cheeks now a delightful shade of pink as she bumped my shoulder with hers. “Stop it.” She quickly stuffed the phone back into her purse. “It was just a test. Don’t make it any more than it was.”
“Oh, of course,” I nodded solemnly, before leaning in to whisper, “Can I retake the test? If you’re willing to be my study buddy, I’m sure I can do better next time.”
Zena rolled her eyes, but I caught the hint of a smile playing at her lips. “You’re incorrigible.”
As the staff efficiently cleared away our dinner plates, a server approached with dessert menus. After a brief perusal, we placed our orders.
Mrs. Dalton’s eyes sparkled as she looked between Zena and me. “You two ordered the same entrée for dinner, and now you’ve both chosen the mud pie for dessert. It’s like you’re always in sync.”
I nodded, shooting Zena a warm smile. “It’s rather cute, isn’t it?”
“Adorable,” Mitch interjected with enough sarcasm to fill a hot tub.
“Hey now, don’t feel left out, big guy,” I said to him. “Tell you what, next time we can coordinate as well. How about we bothshow up to the game tomorrow wearing tutus? I bet you’d rock a pink one. We could pirouette our way right into the playoffs.”
The table erupted in laughter, except for Mitch, who looked like he was contemplating the pros and cons of strangling me with the tablecloth. As the amusement subsided, I had decided I was done poking the bear for the evening. Mr. Dalton’s pointed gaze confirmed the feeling in my gut, a silent command for me to stand down. We’d pushed Mitch to the edge, and now the real test loomed before us, with the game against the Sharks.
As I lifted my spoon, the weight of tomorrow’s stakes settled on my shoulders. Each bite of mud pie marked another second ticking away, bringing us closer to the moment of truth. The Sea Lions’ season, my job, this entire charade—it all hinged on Mitch’s performance on the ice.
No pressure, right?
Chapter Six
Zena
The energy at the San Diego Arena was electric as our Sea Lions led the San Jose Sharks 2-1 after the first period, with a goal and an assist coming from Mitch Redding. Our plan was off to a fantastic start, but I knew better than to count our chickens before they hatched. Two entire periods of play stretched ahead of us—an eternity in hockey time.
I turned to my best friend, Jing. “Ready for some food?”
