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“You owe me information first. How did you find out that I’m skating again, and how are you here at six in the morning.”
This is one of the best surprises I’ve ever had, but there is a huge piece of information missing. Toby didn’t just stumble out of bed in North Carolina and end up in Seattle before the sun is even up to come skate with me, especially since we've lost touch over the years.
“I got a call out of the blue from Jenny yesterday. She said that you were skating again but that you didn’t have a partner. She wanted to know if I would be interested in training with you again. Then, I got a call from none other than Slade Matthews, the man we love to hate. He told me that he was booking me a flight with all expenses paid trip to Seattle for a week to come try skating with you again.”
Slade called him?
“You talked to Slade?”
“Yep.”
“And he bought you a ticket?”
“Yep, and put me up in a rental condo that’s walking distance to the stadium. It must have cost him a fortune but I’m not complaining.”
I have more questions than my brain can keep up with.
“I don’t get it, why?”
“I was hoping you could shed light on that. He told me not to call you either. He wanted it to be a surprise this morning. Are you surprised?” he asks with jazz fingers.
I laugh.
“I have never been more surprised in my life. I’m so happy you’re here! And I'm getting you the whole week? Your husband won’t mind?”
“He's the first chair on some major deposition with his firm this week, so he won’t even know I’m gone. Plus, I couldn’t pass this up! He’s going to come out the following week for a little vacation. We’ve been talking about moving back to Seattle. So, who knows, you might get to keep me,” Toby winks.
“You’re kidding?” I squeal again.
“Let’s see how this week goes. What should we do first?”
Toby and I spent the rest of the morning discussing our week of practice. The smile I had the moment I saw him walk through the tunnel stayed plastered on my face the entire time we practiced together.
I tell him about Win's sudden return and how I’m going to meet him for the first time tonight. Then we part ways so I can get showered and head to work. I have no idea how I will focus on work while I watch the clock tick down to seven.
After I get up to my office, there’s a chai waiting and a sticky note.
“You two looked good out there.”
Slade was here this morning.
And he called Toby and spent God knows what to make this happen for me.
The only thing I can ask myself is…
Did you pick the wrong guy?
It’s just after six-thirty, and I’ve tried on everything in my closet.
“You look gorgeous in everything you’ve tried on,” Tessa says.
“But nothing feels right,” I tell her, spinning side to side to look at the violet blouse I’ve already tried on three times. Not that it matters since I'll be wearing a rain jacket.
“Do you want to go upstairs to my place? You can try on anything you want. Harmony and Chelsea keep sending me new samples for the summer line coming out, to see what I like best before they make their big order for the boutique. I bet they sent me stuff you would look amazing in.”
Her offer is tempting but I need to just settle on something.
“Thanks, but I know I’m just overthinking it, and I want to get there before him and skate for a few minutes to settle my nerves. I’m just going to wear this and call it good.”
