We aren’t. I doubt we’ll ever be, and yes, the team has pointed out on several occasions that I’m being petty. I’m not. I’m protecting myself and any future girlfriends I have from embarrassment.
“If by 'injured' you mean 'missing the net completely,' then sure, I can see why you’re behind me,” I respond, skating faster to put some distance between us.
Erik laughs and thankfully gets distracted by a kid trying to use his hockey stick as a limbo pole. “Hey! Jackson! That's not what those are for! Keep it on the ground.”
Sometimes I wish he wasn’t so good at everything. Maybe then I wouldn’t have to be around him as much.
I loop around the rink, watching all the kids practice and adjust a few of their sticks as I pass. These kids are in the advanced hockey program for their age, and I’ve been nothing but impressed with their abilities.
“Hey, Hendricks,” Brooks calls as he skates up beside me, looking at his clipboard. “We’re running the passing drill next.”
“Sounds good,” I nod, ushering the kids to line up along the boards. “I figured we’d—”
Smack!
I stop mid-sentence, my attention caught by the noise, worried it’s one of the kids. Nope. They’re all good.
There are a few more grumbles, and that’s when I turn to glance at the public skating side of the rink. There’s a woman there, on her knees and crawling to the boards. I look around to see if there’s anyone here to help her.
By the time she reaches the side, and pulls herself up, her feet slip underneath her, and she’s falling again.
I wince, not wanting to look, but it’s like a car accident. I can’t stop myself.
She pulls herself up one more time, and her arms are visibly shaking.
That girl can’t skate.
Hell, she’s doing so badly, I’m not even sure she can stand.
Still, there’s no one coming to help her.
Did she come here alone?
I glance around the rink again, but the only other people here are the parents for our class. No one seems to be with her.
Her whimper echoes across the rink, and I’m the only one who seems to have noticed.
Then she moves again.
What’s she doing?
She uses the boards to pull herself forward, inch by inch. Her beanie is shoved so far down it’s basically a blindfold, but I’m guessing if she lets go of the boards to adjust it, she’ll slip again.
Is she trying to get off the ice? At this pace, she’s gonna need a rescue team, because she’s not making it off this rink anytime soon.
Her front skate slides out, her whole body pitching forward in this tiny, panicked flail. One more second of this and she’s going down hard. Yeah, okay. I’m definitely not leaving her. She needs supervision.
“Earth to Scotty,” Brooks waves a gloved hand in front of my face. “You with us?”
“Yeah, sorry. I just…” I shake my head. “Will you close out the session for me? I need to sort something out.”
“Where are you going?” Brooks calls after me.
I point my stick in the girl's direction. “She looks like she's in a little trouble.”
“Always the white knight,” Brooks teases.
“Yeah, well, I've got to get to her before Erik does.”
