“Blake!”
I pivot just in time to avoid slamming directly into the boards.
Coach stares at me.
“You planning to join us today?”
“I’m here.”
“You’re thinking about something else.”
“I’m thinking about positioning.”
Jake nearly chokes laughing behind me.
I skate faster. Mostly because I suddenly need somewhere to put the energy in my chest.
After practice, I’ve decided waiting is stupid. Planning is better.
Lisa said she didn’t have her life together. Lisa said she needed time. Lisa basically said she needed proof I could be a gentleman. Fine. I can do proof.
Step one: coffee.
Step two: flowers.
Purple. Obviously.
Step three: logistics. This is where things get complicated.
“Absolutely not,” Josh says when he answers the phone.
“I need a favor.”
“That sentence never ends well.”
“I need lobby screen access. You know the doorman.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“It’s romantic,” I try to convince him.
“It’s suspicious.”
“It’s both.”
He sighs.
“What are you doing?”
“Asking Lisa out.”
“You’re insane.”
“I’m committed.”
