He sits upright and picks up his phone, grinning.
An hour later, I’m in my uniform, skating off the ice after warmups. Theo’s waiting for me in the tunnel. He’s all business now as he claps me on the shoulder. “She’s on her way. I told her there was a VIP suite here with top sponsors I wanted to serve her cookies to, and to bring whatever she had.”
“Brilliant,” I say.
“I know.”
“Was she…annoyed?”
“Not with me. Will she be annoyed with you? Guess we’ll find out.”
“Dickhead,” I mutter.
He cups his ear. “Did you say ‘world’s most amazing friend’?”
“Actually, I did.”
“I thought so. And she was excited, so you’d better make this more attractive to her than serving cookies to my top sponsors.”
“I appreciate you.”
“I know,” he says, then walks off.
As I return to the locker room, Remy intercepts me in the hall, a can-do smile on her face, and a tablet tucked under her arm. “Lake told me the plan,” she says, nodding behind me, and I guess Lake just came off the ice. “I’m all set.”
Lake arrives next to me, saying to her, “Let me know if you need any help.”
“I’m good, but thanks.” She meets my gaze again, waggling her tablet. “Mabel messaged me a few seconds ago. She should be here in twenty minutes.”
I breathe out a sigh of relief.
I pulled that off—getting Mabel here. Time to finish Operation Win Her Heart.
50
LOUDER IN THE BACK
MABEL
Theo’s waiting for me at one of the side doors to the arena, and I’m so grateful I don’t have to go through security.
“It’s good to know the boss,” I joke as I slide past my brother, nodding to the long lines outside the arena, queuing up for the game. I’m glad Aisha and Audrey were at the bakery today so they can close up in an hour.
“It’s good to be the boss,” he says, then reaches for the pink boxes I’m carrying. “Can I help?”
“You better,” I say, unloading a couple dozen samplers of lemon shortbread, seven-layer bars, sweet and salties, and all flavors of my cookies. “I even included some smash cakes.”
“Your signature dish,” he says, then guides me through the concourse, past the expansive wall covered in all kinds of foliage, then to the bougie section of food vendors peddling artisan pizza, honey-roasted pretzels, and gourmet popcorn, among other treats.
“Hey, you should carry Afternoon Delight treats here,” I say, feeling a littleWhy the hell not.
He gives me an approving nod. “We should.”
When we reach the suite level, he looks down at his phone in his free hand, then says, “Want to come with me?”
But before I can answer, the sound of someone running up behind me intensifies. I spin around and jerk back in surprise. It’s not that it’s strange to see Remy here, but I wasn’t expecting her to be racing toward me in jeans, knee-high black boots, and a soft cowl-neck sweater. Her brown hair is loose tonight, waves curling over her shoulders.
“Mabel! Theo mentioned you were coming tonight, and I need you right now.”
