I should have known Maddie’s energy wouldn’t let me be. With her hold on me, she steered me through the social niceties, asking me questions under her breath in between greetings, until she had the full story. She had an uncanny ability to know when I was going to break, and she’d take a deep breath and call out someone’s name in a cheerful voice, dragging me along to give air-kisses and polite niceties, forcing me to get my emotions under control.
And then, once they were gone, she’d grill me some more.
The gala was well underway by the time Maddie was satisfied. Well, actually, she was completely pissed off at the League, just as I was, and that was comforting.
“Why didn’t you tell your father about this?” she finally murmured, even as she faked a smile and waved to a donor across the room.
My shoulders slumped. “I will. I was just thinking that I had to get through tonight first.”
“He’ll help you sort it out,” Maddie said firmly. “What did Kardok say? I don’t see him here.”
No, and most of his teammates were mingling already, huge orcs dressed in huge tuxedos. My nerves were shot from keeping my senses on alert for him, but he hadn’t arrived.
“No, I think…” A tug came from somewhere beneath me. “I think he’s in the locker rooms. Maybe he’s getting dressed.”
Maddie sent me a look I couldn’t read, perhaps based on the fact I just located my ex-boyfriend without seeing him. “Dressed for the skating. Heisskating with you, right?”
Don’t cry, don’t cry. “I don’t know,” I whispered. “I don’t know anything anymore.”
My friend’s smile seemed more fixed than sincere, and she slid her arm through mine again, squeezing it tightly against her side.Nothing to see here. Just two ladies, thrilled to be here, smiling at everyone.
From the side of her mouth, Maddie hissed, “Lila, all these people have spent a ridiculous amount to see you skate. I mean, the exhibition game and the youth ice dancing will be nice, butyou’rewhy they’re here.”
“Kardok is the reason they’re here,” I corrected dully. They likely all wanted to see him make a fool of himself, and that thought made me scowl.
“They’re here to watch you skatetogether.” Maddie exhaled. “You have to, Lila.”
“Skating is so emotional, there’s so much joy in it.” I shook my head and squeezed her arm. “How can I skate if I’m feeling this anger and hopelessness?”
“Put it into the routine, how should I know?” When she peeked up at me, there was a mischievous glint in Maddie’s eye. “I’m not a skater. Can’t you skate angrily?”
“Actually…” I murmured, eyeing the couple strolling our way. “I’m about to get a good reason.”
“Oh, Mr. Albright!” Maddie’s cheerful greeting sounded fake to my ears, as she slid her arm from mine to welcome the newcomer. “And you must be Miss Cole?”
Yes, indeed.
The dark-haired, elegant young woman clinging to the arm of the gentleman old enough to be her father was Kristin Cole, one of my rivals for many years. She’d continued her ice skating career, and the last I’d heard, had made the national team for the next worldwide competition.
“Lila, darling!” she announced, grinning as she reached for my hands. “You’re looking positively peaked. Do you miss skating so much?”
I returned her air kisses and matched her false smile, which looked more like the threat from the viper in the Terrors’ logo than a real grin.
It was Maddie who saved me from having to figure out how to reply to that. “Lila is still skating magnificently, of course. She’ll dazzle us tonight.”
Kristin hummed noncommittedly, one elegant eyebrow twitching, before Maddie could move the introductions along.
“Lila, this is Matthew Albright, one of the Vice Presidents of the Orc Hockey League. Matthew, Lila Fairbanks, our celebrity skater.”
I had just enough time to watch Kristin’s expression darken with jealousy, because Mr. Albright shook myhand stiffly. “Yes, our HR department sent me a memo recently with your name on it.”
No doubt about thepersonal relationshipthat was putting the Terrors’ franchise at risk.
Kristin immediately hummed and shifted her hold on the vice president’s arm. “Oh yes, I was so sorry to hear about your breakup,” she cooed. “No wonder you look so miserable.”
Bitch.
Her smile was falsely sweet. “Orcs don’t belong in our circles anyhow, Lila. It’s bad enough we have to share a world with them; we shouldn’t have to share theicewith them. Or our galas or clubs or performances.”
