“It’s forty-two degrees. What could be worse?”
“I’m also aware.” He doesn’t look cold. This is physiologically improbable and somehow completely consistent with everything I have observed about Maxwell Stevens in three weeks.
“Explain to me. How is this situation capable of deteriorating further?”
“It could be Friday instead of Monday.”
“Why is the day significant?”
“Because the garbage truck switched out last week’s dumpster for a new one early this morning.”
My head turns, and my face instinctively grimaces when I acknowledge the dumpster.
“You could come stand closer,” he says. “Body heat. Professionally speaking.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re in a blazer.”
“I run warm.”
“Toni.” His voice carries the specific quality it getswhen he’s done performing. Flat. Real. “Come stand near me before you actually freeze.”
I cross the dock. Stop approximately three feet from the chair. The wind off the loading bay is cutting and direct, and I absolutely do not move any closer. “The folding chair,” I say. “Where did it come from?”
“Hendricks leaves it here. He comes out for lunch sometimes. Doesn’t want anyone to know.” I file this information about the referee away for later. “Sit,” he says, standing.
“I’m not taking your chair.”
“I’m offering it.”
“You’re in a towel. Sit.”
He sits. Studies me for a moment. “You could sit on the armrest.”
“I am a professional.”
“The armrest is twelve inches wide and made of plastic. I’m not propositioning you.” I sit on the armrest. It is, in fact, twelve inches wide and made of plastic and slightly elevated from the dock, which means the wind hits less. The heat from him hits instantly. Immediate. My shoulders drop half an inch before I catch it. And I do not comment on it. We sit in silence for approximately four seconds.
“So,” he says.
“No.”
“I haven’t said anything.”
“You were about to say something insufferable. I could hear it forming.”
“I was going to ask how the on-ice program is going.”
“You were not.”
He tilts his head. “I was going to ask about last night.”
“We had a deal,” I say.
“Your hour was up at seven forty-five a.m.”
I check my watch. It is nine twenty-two. “I needed more time.”
