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She has every right to be pissed off at me and I can’t fault her for that.
I consider calling up Seven to grab a beer, but we have to leave in the morning for our away games for the final round. If we win this round, we’ll be headed for the Stanley Cup.
As much as I want to figure out how to make this right with Penelope, I have to keep my mind focused and the things I can control. And right now, the only thing I can control is how I play out there and the teammate that the Hawkeyes deserve.
What does or doesn’t happen between Penelope and I will have to wait, even though I’m fucking tired of waiting.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Penelope
The next morning, I showed up to practice with Toby after Autumn let me use her under-eye anti-puff cream that worked like a champ after a night of crying in Tessa’s penthouse.
I’m a few minutes later when I walk through the player's tunnel. I really would rather curl back up in a ball and lay in bed all day than have practice with Toby, who is going to kick my butt all around this ice rink, but he’s only here for a week, and I need to take full advantage.
The second Toby comes into view on the ice already, I see a second figure.
Jenny McPherson.
“Jenny!” I yell out and skate quickly over to the pair waiting for me.
“She was feeling left out so I told her she could join us,” Toby smirks.
Jenny smiles at me as I get closer.
“I called Toby to see how things were coming along and he said it’s like the old days. I had to come by and see for myself,” she says, rubbing her black gloves together to warm them.
“You came out to watch us skate?” I ask, my eyes widening.
Jenny is a very busy and highly sought-after figure skating coach in the Northwest. Toby and I were lucky to skate under her guidance for as many years as we did. It means a lot that she carved out time to be here this morning.
“Yes. And if Toby is right about you two being in tip-top shape, I would like to invite you to come back to my rink and practice with me.
I look over at Toby, and Toby grins.
“You want to coach us again?” I ask. I had never even considered getting back into competitive skating, but Jenny is suggesting that, or she wouldn’t waste her time asking Toby and me to take up valuable ice real estate on the rink she coaches at.
“I’d like to see you two in action first, but yes, if you two skate together even half as well as you did before Toby’s accident, I’d like to discuss coaching you again. With nationals coming up, you two have to show you're worthy to enter.”
I flash a look over at Toby and I can see that determined look in his eyes already. He wants to do this.
“You want us to compete and place during nationals so we can get an invitation to the Olympic tryouts?” I ask, almost not believing this.
“Why not? Toby has been a solo skater at the top of his game for the last three years, and from the sounds of it, you haven’t lost your step, either. What would it hurt to try?”
I’m almost too giddy to skate at the thought that I might get one more shot. It’s still a longshot, as Toby and I haven’t been in the pair skating world in forever, but what do I really have to lose?
“So… where do we start?” I ask.
Jenny looks at Toby and then me.
“Let’s skate.”
Slade
Getting on the jet this morning is the last thing I want to do right now but giving Penelope space for the next three days is necessary. She said she never wants to see me again, so space is the one thing she needs the most.
When we get to the hotel, I flop onto the bed with a grunt.
