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Her face lights back up, and now we’re back on track.
“My dad took me ice skating when I was two, and my mom said she’s never been able to get me off the ice since.”
“That sounds like you,” I say.
And then the next fifteen minutes, Penelope tells me all about her career in ice skating. Every competition she’s won, when she and Toby became partners… and I eat up every moment of seeing her smile at me like she did that day at the frat house.
She might not be smiling because of me but I’m just happy to be in proximity of it again.
Chapter Sixteen
Slade
I walk into the stadium for training with Penelope when my phone dings.
I’m not expecting anyone to be messaging me this early in the morning, but maybe Seven or Briggs need to change our meet-up time this morning.
SkatrGirlPen: How’s that project coming? Any closer to finishing.
Shit, I knew she’d ask again. I just need more time.
I guess I’ve been holding out hope that she would forget about wanting to meet Win the closer we get and maybe even forget him altogether. But that’s wishful thinking.
I can’t show up to a meeting spot and out myself until there’s a really good shot that she’ll forgive me for lying to her all this time.
WinTheDay067: I’m getting closer, I promise. I just need a little more time.
I just need more time with you.
I could feel her walls coming down yesterday when we skated together and the look in her eyes when I broke her fall after the failed attempt at that lift.
I saw it again when she told me about her family over breakfast.
Seeing the pity written on her face for me about my dad wasn’t fun though, but I had to open up to her if I want her to do the same.
SkatrGirlPen: Ok. Going to practice with Slade. Wish me luck… and no broken bones.
WinTheDay067: Are you worried he’ll drop you?
I don’t like the idea of Penelope thinking I’d ever drop her; on purpose or on accident, but I still haven’t established trust with her.
Something I’m trying to rectify now.
SkatrGirlPen: The funny thing is… no, I’m not worried that he’ll drop me, though I’ve been dropped before. It’s part of the risk.
Relief hits me that she at least believes I won’t let her hit the ground.
WinTheDay067: How was skating with him yesterday?
I stop short of the gym.
I’m sure she’s already inside, and it’s fucked up that I’m right outside messaging her as a different guy. I know I just need to come clean.
SkatrGirlPen: Shockingly not terrible. He’s not as graceful as Toby but I can’t expect a lifetime of training like Toby had to show up in a hockey player overnight. You might be right about us burying the hatchet. I don’t have to be ok with what happened in our past to move on and be civil with him. Trying to avoid Slade around the stadium was only giving me unnecessary anxiety, worrying for the unexpected moment I might be caught in a hallway at the same time… awkwardly passing by.
SkatrGirlPen: Thanks for the advice. You always know what to do.
WinTheDay067: I’m here for you. Always. No matter what happens in the future. I’m not going anywhere this time.
