It also wasn’t the first time Vienna saw a copy of the will. She just conveniently forgot about it. Apparently.
However, the courts didn’t take her word for it, especially since her signature was on the documents. They were as kind to her as she was to me all these years.
It turns out that ignoring and destroying my dad’s will all these years wasn’t her only crime.
Do you remember the BBU’s hockey rink that mysteriously caught on fire over the summer, and brought the men’s ice hockey team to our arena instead for all practices and games?
Yep. That was Vienna. Not directly, but she paid someone to do it and then shorted him after he finished the job. Apparently, the ice arena was shitting money and deep in the red. A few ice-skating lessons and youth hockey games don’t rake in dough.
Her solution? Rent it out to the college and make bank on rental fees as well as food and beverage.
It wasn’t a terrible idea, until she got caught.
The person she hired was an idiot, not covering their tracks enough. A formal investigation confirmed arson, and the person was quick to rat out Vienna and her entire scheme.
It turns out that arson, on top of other crimes like bribing for college admission for her two daughters, will land you in jail for a while. We are still awaiting trial, but I know I won’t have to worry about Vienna for at least a decade.
As for her daughters? I don’t really know. After I figured out they were the two behind the jumbotron stunt, revealing my innermost texts to everyone, they got kicked out of college and left the state. All I know is that they haven’t bothered me since.
Unlike my so-called family, Dallas’ dad did end up coming around. His dad helped unravel the mess of my life, and I returned the favor to him. Kind of. I just reminded him how amazing his son was and that he would lose him completely if he didn’t support him. His dad hasn’t mentioned the transfer portal or other options since.
As for me?
Well, I’m the proud owner of my family’s ice rink, and I can skate anytime I want without any guilt. Well, mostly anytime the ice is free, which isn’t a lot actually.
I promoted Faye and Harry as co-managers to run the place while I complete my degree. They were hesitant at first, but they ended up disclosing their feelings for each other, and we all became on the same page at the rink. We’ve brought back more youth hockey programs as well as still hosting BBU while their construction finishes up.
It’s been busy.
“Show me what you got, Simmons,” Dallas taunts as we face off on the ice. The puck drops, and I win, soaring to the net before Dallas thwarts my attempt. We go back and forth on the ice until one of us calls for a stopping point. We’re the only two in the rink, and the owner won’t stop either one of us.
How cool is that?
I’m panting hard as I break away from Dallas and rip the puck in for an easy goal.
“Okay, game,” Dallas wheezes next to me as he holds his right side.
“Can’t take the heat?” I tease.
“Oh, you know I can,” he winks. “But that’s not for today.”
Dallas skates towards the exit, and I trail him. He stops at the door where there’s now a woman in a navy polo with a clipboard in hand.
Where did she come from?
“Wow, Miss Simmons. You skate really great for someone with an ACL tear.”
“Excuse me?” I ask. What did I just hear? I tore my ACL?
“Coach T thought you were ineligible to play this year due to injury,” Dallas pipes in.
Oh? What?
“Yourmothertold her this,” he explains further with a hard emphasis on mother.
“Ah,” I say, bile in my mouth. “Perfectly fine. No injury that I’m aware of.”
“Good.” Her brown eyes sparkle. “Listen, I apologize for not digging in deeper. Yourmothertold us it was a sensitive topic and not to approach you, which sounded reasonable at the time.” She pauses for a second and eyes me up and down. “I would love to offer you a spot next year on the team.” At my slight hesitation, she adds, “Full scholarship.”
