“Sorry, you’re probably busy,” I said through the tears.
“I’m never too busy for you Aimee. Where are you? Do you need help?”
I wiped my eyes and took a deep breath. “I’m on vacation with my family.”
He let out a sigh of relief. “Your mother told me about the trip.”
“I…I just wanted to hear your voice.”
I leaned my head back, letting my eyes fall shut. I could see him…almost. The tension dropping from his shoulders, muscles loosening when he realized I wasn’t in danger. That I was okay—physically.
“Do you know Madison started skating?” He asked, and my lips stretched into a wobbly smile.
Brennan had always understood what I needed—a lot of the time before I even realized it myself. He’d watched me for so long, had been in my corner for so long—training, all the ups and downs. He knew how to read my body, my expressions, mood, tone and he gave me what I needed. In this moment, he knew I just needed a distraction. A distraction from someone who never thought I was weak or broken, someone who thought I could handle whatever the world threw at me. Maybe that was an unfair assumption of the other people in my life, but while Brennan was practically family, he also wasn’t. I could always count on him to be objective, and right now, that’s what I needed.
I needed him to take my mind off everything roiling inside of me.
“Oh yeah?” I asked, my voice still thick with tears.
“Yep. She’s gunning for all your stats. Says she’s going to beat them all.”
A laugh bubbled out of me. Madison was Brennan’s eight year old daughter. She’d grown up in the rink—on skates. I remember when she was born, and then the first time Brennan brought her out onto the ice in her little toddler skates, holding her hands above her head as he helped her ‘skate’. Up until that moment, I didn’t know figure skates could come that small. She was feisty and fun. I knew she’d go far.
It wouldn’t be hard for her.
“Tell her she has my blessing,” I said.
“She’s going to make you come to all her competitions—she’s demanded it actually.”
“Demanded? Well, I guess I have no choice.”
Being back at the rink—the idea didn’t thrill me. I’d only set foot in it twice since the accident. The first time was for a memorial service, and it had nearly killed me. The second time was to clear out my locker…and that had been terrible.
I blinked.
I remembered that Orion had taken one look at me, cursed, took a deep breath and then had lifted me into his arms. I’d ended up in the ER—the fall having fucked up my knee. Mom and Dad had pressed charges, and Amalia could have no contact after that.
“Brennan…” I started.
“One of these days, it won’t hurt as bad,” he said softly. “Plus, on the bright side, Brittney no longer skates here, so you don’t have to worry about her.”
I let out a low chuckle. I wished Brittney was my biggest concern, but I appreciated the levity
“What about Nicola and Louis? Are you still coaching them?”
“Yes, since I know you’re not offering,” he said, slightly teasing.
“Ha, you always were incredibly funny,” I deadpanned back. “Have you heard of a skater named Zara Fraiser?”
He was quiet for a minute, and I listened to the sound of birds chirping off in the distance.
“No, the name doesn’t sound familiar? How old?”
“Maybe fifteen or sixteen? I’m not really sure, but I would guess she’s not any older than that.”
“And she can skate?”
I nodded, “Yeah. She’s had some shit coaches—all of them dropped her. None of them thought she could or would amount to anything because she started skating so late. She seems to be mainly self-taught. There’s talent and drive there, but I think if another coach fails her she’s either going to quit altogether or seriously injure herself trying to prove them wrong.”
