She was an adorable scrap of a girl, with big blue eyes that seemed to take in everything.
“Wow, you’resix?” I asked. “That’s how old I was when I started skating!”
“We just began private lessons,” her mom said proudly. “They say she’s showing real promise.”
My chest tightened a little at the reveal—thrilled that a young skater had found her calling, and terrified about what the machine could do to the magical little creature sitting beside me. Did her mother take away her stack of pancakes before she could finish? Was she already missing birthday parties because of weekend practice?
“If you’re such a good skater already it means you know how important it is to have the best gear out on the ice, right?” I asked.
Addie nodded solemnly.
“I need to get some new leg warmers for practice because my favorite pair is falling apart. I can’t decide between these two colors, so can you help me make up my mind?” I grabbed my phone and navigated to the photos. “There’s this pink tie-dye pair I like.”
Which was a lie, but I knew my usual basic black wouldn’t fly based on her glittery rainbow hair ties.
“Or this pair with the sparkly snowflakes on top.” The gray knit pair I showed her was closer to what I normally wore.
“Pink,” she replied, as predicted.
“Pink it is! Thanks for your help, I couldn’t have made such a big decision without you.”
I made a mental note to suck it up and buy them, so I couldwear them on the show during on-ice segments. I knew how excited she’d be to spot me on TV in the leggings she picked.
“Honey, we need to leave Miss Quinn alone now,” the woman coaxed. “I’m sure she has lots to do today. Can we get a quick photo, though?”
“Of course! Bring it in, Addie.” I opened my arms to her.
We were now besties, so the little girl snuggled up against me and pressed her cheek to mine, beaming.
“Aw, that’s a good one,” the woman said when she glanced at the image. She held her phone out to show me. “You look like twins!”
My throat caught when I saw the photo. It did indeed look like I was hugging the childhood version of myself. My hair had been the same color as Addie’s until my mom decided that I’d be more memorable as an icy blonde, We’d started coloring it when I was twelve.
I was surprised at my almost feral urge to protect this little stranger. She’d already been pulled into the “beginner with raw talent” current, so I had to toss out a lifeline.
“Addie, I want you to make me a promise, okay?” I said to her as she started to slide off the bench.
She paused to nod solemnly at me, eyes wide.
“Make sure that youalwayshave fun skating. And when it’s not fun, remember that it’s okay to take a little break.”
It was a risky bit of advice if she had a limelight-starved parent like mine. If I could do anything for the next generation of skaters it would be to make them remember the feelings that got them on the ice in the first place, before the politics and deprivation could steal the joy from it. I now knew firsthand that it was possible to find balance in the sport, but I felt like the exception.
Addie nodded as if she understood, but my message wasn’t just for her.
“Thank you so much, Quinn,” the woman said. Her broad smile signaled that she was in fangirl mode and couldn’t process what I was saying. “Good luck in Italy! We’ll be watching every second of it.”
“Thank you.” I smiled back at her. “And good luck toyou, Miss Addie.”
She was too busy pirouetting back to her booth to hear me.
I watched the two of them fuss with each other once they were both seated again, so wrapped up in trying to gauge their dynamic that I forgot to be vigilant about scanning the parking lot. I glanced out the window to watch for the most obnoxious rental car one could get from Hertz.
“Hey, you.”
I jumped at the sound of the voice.Damnit, he’d managed to sneak in without me seeing.
Ben slid in the booth across from me. He smiled, and every little thing I’d worried about bubbled up to the surface.
