In all four years we’d been practicing at the rink, this had never happened.
Reece and I used to go to a different rink when we were still skating together, but then he quit to focus on ice hockey and so I ended up with Erik at this place. To be fair, Reece was never interested in figure skating, he only did it because of me. I really appreciated it, though.
Back when we first started learning how to skate, he joined my figure skating class so we could spend more time together. Sometimes I wished he never quit, but I understood why he did it. Hockey was more important to him, and that was okay.
I used to play hockey for him as well until I was eight, then Dad said I had to choose between hockey, figure skating,and ballet because all three of them at once weren’t good for my health or grades. They were all very time-consuming hobbies.
Reece decided for me because I couldn’t, and he knew that the only reason I didn’t want to quit hockey was because I didn’t want to hurt him.
He was okay with me quitting, so when he told me he was going to quit figure skating, I wasn’t allowed to get mad. And Reece deserved to focus on what he truly loved, so even if I was upset that we’d no longer skate together, I was happy that he did whathewanted for a change.
By the time Ilya got off the phone, Erik was standing with us, staring at the half-melted ice. “What the hell are we going to do now?”
Ilya looked at Erik, sighing. “The dance studio is booked tonight, so you can’t practice stunts there, which means your only options are going to the gym or going back home.”
“We’re going to the gym,” Erik said. “But I was more concerned about this whole situation.” He pointed at the ice. “It’s going to take at least a week until we can skate here again.”
“Way longer,” Ilya muttered. “They need to replace some pipes and now that the ice is already melted, they’ll repaint the lines, which they should’ve done over the summer but didn’t. I’ve also been told that they’re updating the security and the entire cooling system, as well as making some other renovations. This rink will be out of order for at least a few months.”
That wasn’t good at all.
If we couldn’t practice, how were we supposed to get ready for competitions?
“Maybe we could use the rink at Madison Square Garden,” Erik suggested.
Ilya laughed. “Yes, and share the ice with the Rangers, great idea, Erik. Do you know their training schedule? Do you know how difficult it’ll be to findanytime for you to have at least an hour to practice? Both of you have classes to attend, so your only free time is in the evening! The hockey season just started, so they’ll be at the rink as much as they can when they’re not on the road.“
He wasn’t wrong, but their schedule also wasn’tthatinhuman.
“Okay, but maybe we could get thirty minutes of ice time tonight,” Erik said. “Who even cares about ice hockey?”
I pulled out my phone and checked the time. “The Rangers start practice at nine tonight. I bet half of the team is already at the rink, so it’d be useless to check if we could have at least thirty minutes for us tonight.”
Erik rolled his eyes, then laid his hands on my shoulders. “Nobody gives a fuck, Brooklyn. Your stupid knowledge about the Rangers’ schedule is embarrassing. Frankly, it’s creepy, you stalker.”
“Fuck you.” I ripped myself away from his grasp and left the arena as quickly as possible. He tormented me enough for this week.
14
REECE
Mi Princesa
Are you still at dinner with your parents?
Iwas thinking about not replying.
No matter how many times I told myself that her refusing to go to dinner with my parents, who lived in a whole other country than me, was less important to my girlfriend than a second round of skating practice with that god awful Erik guy.
I understood skating was important to her, but if she asked me to go to dinner with her and her family, I would’ve canceled any other plans I had in a heartbeat. Fuck, I would’ve skipped hockey practice for her.
Yet, the thought of ignoring her text was almost unbearable.
A couple of years ago, I ignored her message because I was mad, and the next day I found out that she’d been crying all night long, and all she wanted was to talk to me, but I didn’t reply. I didn’t even pick up my phone when she called. So when I found out why she tried to reach me, I promisedmyself I’d never ignore her again, no matter how upset I’d been with her.
Me
The whole family, but yeah
