I narrow my eyes on it. “Who’s it from?”
“Another athlete.”
“Who?” I cross my arms and don’t take the bag.
“They asked me not to say, just that it’s from an old friend. But I assure you it’s just a good-luck gift.” They ruffle the tissue paper and pull out a bag of Werther’s Original butterscotch hard candies. The kind you would find in a bowl on your grandmother’s coffee table. “See? Just sweets.”
I take the bag of candy from him, flipping it over and checking the seal. It seems harmless enough.
“They didn’t say anything else?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “Just that they were an old friend and wanted to congratulate her.”
“Alright, I’ll make sure she gets it.” I don’t bother taking the gift bag.
Just as the guy walks away, Raven slides up to the edge of the rink in front of me and sees the familiar package in my hands. “Oh my gosh! I used to love those. I ate themnearly every day freshman year of high school. I haven’t had them in years. Coach doesn’t approve of sugar.” Her excitement dims a little with that last statement.
I open the bag and hold it out to her. “Good. Why don’t you take a little trip down memory lane,principessa.”
Always a people pleaser, she looks around for her coach before taking one, clearly not wanting to be caught. The wrapper crinkles as she tears it open and quickly pops it into her mouth. Her eyes roll back, and the moan she lets out has something entirely unprofessional happening below my belt. The way she hollows her cheeks to suck the candy before flipping it around with her tongue doesn’t help matters. I lean against the railing to hide the evidence. Once I hear her crunch the last bit of the treat, I offer her another.
She shakes her head. “I don’t want to eat all your candy.”
“They’re not mine. I don’t like them.”
“How can you not like these? They’re a classic!”
I shrug and shake the bag at her. Truthfully, it’s not that Idon’tlike them. They smell pretty great, but hard candies aren’t really my thing. Plus, I’m not about to take something from the little omega that obviously brings her joy. “Have another before Ana comes over and takes them away.”
I like seeing Raven enjoying herself. Apart from when she’s on the ice, she’s usually so reserved, like a tight little flower bud, self-protective, curled in on herself. Then she steps out on the ice and blooms into something powerful and stunning. I want to see her like that always.
“So, whose candy is it, then?” She looks around again, rolling the crinkly edge of the candy betweenher fingers.
“Yours. Someone sent it to you as a good-luck gift.”
“Is there a note?” She pauses with the piece she just unwrapped halfway to her lips.
I shake my head. “Apparently, they wanted to stay anonymous.”
Raven’s forehead crinkles in thought.
“It’s from another athlete, though. An old friend, they said. Do you know any skiers?” I haven’t seen her hang out with anyone but Ana, Harriett, and me. She’s shy around the other athletes and only talks about one friend from home. A beta named Sadie who’s apparently an equestrian.
Raven looks no less confused than before. She stares at the bag for a minute, but doesn’t take another. “I should get back out there.”
“Okay, I’ll hide these for later.”
“Raven!” Ana yells as she storms over. “You’re supposed to be practicing not socializing.” She glares at me before turning all of her attention back on Raven. “That camel spin was sloppy. I expect better from you.” She leans her hands on the railing, knuckles white. “Kelly would never have messed that up,” she mumbles under her breath. “I need to get us more practice time. Keep working. And if I see you sneaking sugar again, I’ll make you skate laps for an hour.” She looks Raven up and down with a scowl before walking away.
It’s a good thing she left, because if she’d said one more thing to Raven I might have lost it on her.
“Who’s Kelly?” I ask watching the coach as she snags a technician and yells at them for something.
“I don’t know.” Raven drops her head and fiddles with the zipper on her sweatshirt.
“You shouldn’t let your coach talk to you like that.” It’sprobably not my place to say something, but I hate seeing Raven look so dejected.
Rather than responding, she gives me a sad sort of smile as she skates backwards away from the railing. Once again, I’m unable to take my eyes off her.
