“Thank you,” she replies bluntly as she catches her breath. “I didn’t land my Lutz as good as I did in practice but it’s fine. I think. Did you meet my mom up there?”
Her words come out in a weird breathy clump. “What? Uh, no. I didn’t know she was here.” I look around the stands as people watch the duet on the ice.
She makes ahumphsound as she sits down at the bench outside the rink. She sits there for a long moment, not saying anything until all the performances are over and everyone surges out of the stadium. Even when Kennedy and Scarlett come over to say well done, she gives them a smile before dropping it and turning to face the empty rink. They don’t make a fuss and they walk away. I don’t know what to do. She’s not said a word since they left and she just stares out into the empty space, her eyes fixed on something unknown.
“What’s wrong? Is there anything I can do?” I ask when more silence fills the stadium. I put my hand on her back reassuringly. Her mouth opens and then she shuts it. She shakes her head as if to get rid of whatever she was about to say. Heels click behind us, and we both turn around.
“Mother,” Wren says curtly as she stands up. She turns and walks towards her mom who is rather dressed up for the occasion “Glad you could join us.”
I stand up, brushing myself off as I walk toward her, standing next to Wren. I didn’t know I would be meeting the dean as the guy who’s dating her daughter. If I did, I would have worn something that isn’t jeans and a shirt saying how much I love her daughter.
“Yes, well, I had to take a phone call,” Ms Hackerly says with a waft of her hand.
“Yeah, I noticed. It was hard to miss since it was right in the middle of my performance,” Wren mutters. It takes me a second to put the pieces together.
That’s why she’s been so distant.
Why she stopped smiling at me.
“Speak up, darling,” she drawls but Wren stays silent, practically shrinking away in her presence. I shift next to her, not knowing what to do with myself. “Isthisyour boyfriend everyone has been telling me about?”
What is it and everyone asking that question likethattoday? Like I'm a disappointment. As if I'm not good enough for her. First Augustus, now her mom.
Wren nods as I swallow the distaste in Ms Hackerly’s tone. Her dad might like me but her mom doesn't. I don't think she likes anyone. “Hi, I’m Miles Davis. We had a meeting a few weeks ago. I play hockey here. Sort of,” I ramble as I extend my hand. She gives it a weird look before shaking it.
“Yes, I know who you are,” she says.Okay. She turns to Wren. “Listen, your performance was good. I know I was distracted but it doesn’t take a genius to point out your Lutz needs more work.”
“Of course, you found space in your busy schedule to critique me. You’re unbelievable,” Wren scoffs. She hooks her arm into mine. “We’re going.”
She tugs at my arm, looking up at me with teary eyes before walking in the other direction. I don’t say anything because what am I supposed to say? I knew they had a shifty relationship, but I don’t think it’s my place to step in. She doesn’t need me to save her. All I can do just follow after her like the lost puppy I am.
“You said you needed to speak to me about something, Amelia,” her mom shouts after us. Wren stops walking and turns around, her cheeks red as if she’s been caught. What the hell is going on?
“It’s nothing. It’s fine. I’ll call you,” she stutters.
“Okay, fine. If you want to be like that. I was going to go away to Palm Springs after Christmas and into the new year with Mike,” her mom begins but Wren interrupts her.
“Great. Have fun.”
“Buthe has an important surgery coming up and he doesn’t want to disrupt his schedule. That’s why he called me. We were going to reschedule but he suggested that we let the two of you go. If you’d like,” Ms Hackerly explains, not seeming happy about the idea at all.
“I need to practice,” Wren says, her voice somewhere between surprise and anger. I look down at her and her face is hard. Unmovable. I put hand around her waist and pull her into me.
“I think we should go. You need to take a break,” I whisper into her ear. She tenses at the way my breath tickles her skin as she inhales a shaky breath. “You deserve it, Wren.”
“Okay. Okay, fine,” she murmurs before turning to her mom, her voice stronger. “Thank you. We’d like that.”
*
“So, what are your Christmas plans?” I ask Wren as we eat in her living room, sat on the floor around her coffee table. We ordered Thai food. Well,Iordered Thai food, and she took a salad out of her refrigerator.
“Uh, nothing. My mom said that our flight to Palm Springs is on the 26thso I guess I’ll spend Christmas Day here with Kennedy and Scarlett. My family aren’t very Christmassy people,” she mumbles between chews.
“Oh yeah? How come?”
“Since the divorce, it’s just felt kind of unnecessary. Especially after my mom remarried because her step kids are, like, ancient, so we’ve not bothered with it much.”
“Doyoulike Christmas though?” I ask, nudging her under the table with my foot. A smile creeps up her face. She’s more chilled out than before. I think the whole pressure of the performance got to her but since she’s eaten, she’s lightened up. Food always solves Wren-related problems.
