Willow’s laugh echoes across the frozen lake. “Yeah, thatwas hilarious.”
“What was I supposed to do? Walk up and introduce my dual personas?”
“That would be one way to do it.”
“You’re not helping.”
She skates backward in a slow curve, arms still outstretched like she’s performing for an invisible audience. “I’m helping in my own way.”
“And what way is that?”
“By reminding you that this situation is actually kind of like a movie storyline.”
I shake my head, but I’m smiling. “It’s my actual life!”
“And it makes me want to grab the popcorn!”
We reach the far edge of the lake where the ice meets the snowy bank. Willow stops, breathing hard, her cheeks flushed pink from the cold.
“So, what’s the plan?” she asks.
“For what?”
“For everything. Grant is supposed to come back eventually, right? Then what?”
“I don’t know.”
“Have you thought about it?”
“Every day.”
“And?”
“And I still don’t know.”
“Do you want to keep playing? Even after Grant comes back? Even if it means-”
“The risk?” I shrug. “Yes, more than anything. But I don’t see how that would be possible.”
“Even though there’s no future in it? I mean, it’s not like you can go pro as Lee Shaw.”
“I know.”
“So why?”
I think about it. Really think about it.
“Because when I’m on the ice,” I say slowly, “I’m not Leonora whose dad died. Or the girl whose brother is famous.”
I look at Willow. “I’m just a player. And I’m really fucking good at it.”
Willow holds my gaze for a long moment.
Then she skates forward and pulls me into a hug, right there on the frozen lake.
“Okay,” she says quietly. “Then we figure it out.”
19
