“Fine. Don’t expect to come to me when you need a house, money, or a job. What will you even do?” She sneers.
I have zero idea, except try not to freak out.
Footsteps draw close.
“She can stay with me.” The words are firm and sincere. I don’t need to turn around to know the voice is Faye.
She drops her hand on my shoulder.
“Are you sure?” I murmur to her.
“Yeah,” she says with a nod. “I should have asked you years ago. You are more than welcome to move in.” She must see something in my face because she adds, “It will be fun.”
“Okay,” I nod. I don’t want to get in her way or overstep, but I know I’ll be happier there.
“You don’t want to do that, Faye,” Vienna threatens. “You’ll lose your job if you help her.”
“That’s okay, because I quit. I only wanted to work with Ella, anyway.”
My heart grows at Faye’s confession. I’ve suspected that she stuck it out with Vienna for me—and maybe Harry too—especially since she’s so smart and talented as an instructor. I think this was her way of looking out for me, especially since she was always friends with my family. How did I get so lucky to have her in my life?
“Yeah, I’m out too,” Harry says, as he edges closer to Faye and me.
“You can’t leave! Who’s going to sharpen the skates!”
“Not my problem! I’m not the owner of this joint.” Harry shrugs.
The three of us disappear off the property as Vienna continues to rant and rave in the parking lot, more former employees filtering past her.
Chapter Eighteen
Dallas
I can’t help but feel like I fucked up.
After the jumbotron incident, the vibe in the arena was weird. Everything was off, including me.
I played like shit.
We ended up losing by four in a shutout.
I didn’t stay in the locker room any longer than I had to tonight, so I could search for Ella immediately after the game.
No such luck.
I tried to inquire about her whereabouts to anyone I could, but that was also a dead end.
Do you ever feel like you are missing something?
That’s how I feel now, even though I officially know the name of my mystery Cinderella. Not only do I know her name, I actuallyknowher. At least, I thought I did.
But I can’t seem to find her anywhere now.
I figured once I knew her name it would be so easy to locate her, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
She hasn’t been to the ice rink or to any classes, including the biology class we apparently had together. It’s finals week on campus, which could account for the eerie vibes and such, but Ella didn’t show for her biology final. I even asked the professorto confirm, and the only thing he could tell me was that he hadn’t seen her.
Does she not want to see me?
