“Our bet is still on, girlfriend. You land that axel, and one concession stand slushie for you,” I called after her. I always kept that bet with my girls, and it really seemed to work. It was something my mom always did for me with new jumps, and I was happy to carry on the tradition.
I skate-ran onto the ice and then smoothed into glides. I always entered this way.
I breathed in the cold air and settled into my edges while I made my way across the ice to where I usually coached. All of us coaches had our unofficial spots where we usually stood or sat on the boards. I always sat on the boards by the far blue line.
I hoisted myself up into a sitting position and observed the rink around me. The older girls started to pile onto the ice and begin skating warm-up laps, the bleachers were practically empty besides two or three mothers sitting on their own, and above the bleachers, the windows that peered into the off-ice workout room were filled with strong, grown men stretchingout.
It was just another busy Monday with multiple worlds simultaneously working in this building.
_____
After my private lessons were finished for the day- sadly no axels were landed- I left the rink and grabbed some Tim Horton’s iced coffee and a couple croissants for myself, Nikki, and yes, TJtoo.
I was still mulling over giving TJ a chance as I opened my apartment door to reveal Nikki seemingly waiting for me in the kitchen.
She started in on me before I was evenly fully inside. “Why can’t you just have a fling and see where this goes? He’s clearly interested in you!”
I shrugged. I wasn’t comfortable discussing my issues and didn’t have any other reasons that would legitimately tally a negative for TJ.
“I like being alone,” I said simply.
She threw me a look that said, ‘seriously?’ and crossed her arms over her chest. “Okay, well how about the fact that you were looking all envious and shit at Jules and Grey during their whole weekend? How about the fact that in all the time that I’ve been your roommate, you haven’t once let anyone stay over, but then you let him. You obviously like him,” she pointedout.
“I was not envious! And he forced his way here!” I tried to argue, but she just shook her head.
“I think you’ll keep missing out if you don’t go for it one of these days. And this is a perfect opportunity! I say have fun while he’s here. Don’t worry about the long term. I know that’s what you’re doing, Ellie,” she looked back at me with worried eyes, and I wished I could shove her gaze away. “You’re pushing him away before he can do that to you. But you know what- just have fun with him! You’re in your twenties! Have a fling, damnit!” she said, throwing her armswide.
I clamped my jaw shut. The more I thought about it, the more I knew she was right. What was wrong with a fling? He’d be leaving for Detroit in a week anyway, and then I could tell Jules I gave it a shot as well.
And, what I’d only admit to myself, was that maybe I could use the practice in trusting someone. Maybe I could use a friend, a guy friendspecifically.
Plus, he’d already seen me at a low, so it’s not like I’d have to try to act perfect. Either way, I resolved I’d try to just go with it and not overthinkthings…
…I started to overthink things as soon as he came in thedoor.
Where I had always thought he was way too handsome for his own good, with a hat turned backwards and wearing his hockey warm-ups it just wasn’t fair.
I reactively took a bite of the croissant I bought for him. I felt too insecure for him to know I got him something for some reason. And… I was mad that I was so damn attracted to him.
“What’s that?” he asked when he finished locking the door.
I took a swig of my iced coffee and cleared my throat. “Croissant,” Imumbled.
He pouted his stupid, cute lip out in response making him look like a man-child. “I’mhungry.”
I let out a frustrated sound and started to head back to my room to abandon the fling plan. It would be too hard.
“Wait! Ellie, I need you,” he said.
I paused and slowly turned to look back at him. He took that as permission to plow through with asking the favor.
“The guys invited me over to have a boat day and barbecue and I don’t want to go alone. Please come?” He fake-cringed, waiting for my answer.
I felt my face crack in disbelief. A boat day? Guys? Did he seriously think I’d throw on a bikini and prance out of here to some stranger’s house? He clearly didn’t know me at all if that were the case. While I felt sympathetic toward not wanting to go somewhere alone, he was totally playing me by saying that. He had showboat confidence for days and I doubted he’d ever been nervous to go anywhere.
“Please! You have to come! I said you would and now I’ll look like a liar,” hecontinued.
I pushed a finger into his chest. “Well, that sounds like a personal problem now doesn’t it, buddy?”
