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He cringed like he knew he just stepped in a land mine.
“Besides, what the fuck does that matter?” Addie asked pointedly.
“For real, Dad.” That didn’t sound like him at all. Throughout our entire lives, he beat into us just how important it was to be strong and independent women… and that was a very helpful mindset. Because Iwantedto have someone, I wanted a boyfriend, I wanted a life outside of skating, but I never felt Ineededit. His words suddenly struck a hurt chord inside me, telling me that being alone and fine had an expiration date, and that I wasn’t good enough by myself– which I knew was untrue. And what the actual fuck was right, because he’d never said anything like that at all… Suddenly Duke shows back up and he starts changing his tune? I knew he loved Duke like a son, and he would’ve had to be absolutely oblivious not to realize we liked each other growing up, butcome on. My dad was way too transparent.
“I’m just saying,” he lamented. “I worry about you guys.”
“Wouldn’t you be more worried if we werewithguys?” I asked.
He pondered the thought for a minute, then rubbed his jaw to cover a small smile. “I guess I’d be more worried for them. You two can handle yourselves just fine.” He chuckled to himself before cutting into his steak. “I just want you two to be happy,” he added.
“I am happy,” Addie said. She curled up on her chair, tucking one leg under her and hugging one knee to her chest. She was now 27, but I couldn't remember a dinnertime when she didn’t sit that way. She turned her attention to me. “So, how’s it going with the French skater guy?”
I groaned and dropped my fork. Thinking about him made me lose my appetite. “He’s good, but I don’t think it’s going to work out. We just don’t really match up.”
Addie gave me an apologetic look. “Well, it could take a bit of time to really tell. You and Matty skated together for years. It’s going to be hard to find anyone that fits as well unless you give it time.”
“Yeah,” I shrugged. “He’s just kind of…”
“An asshole,” Dad finished.
I cringed. “He doesn’t have the best attitude.”
“No, he does not,” he agreed. He kept his head low and pretended to be paying very close attention to his food. I knew he was trying hard to keep his opinions to himself, and I did appreciate that.
“And he has some kind of hand issue,” I told Addie. “His thumb pops out of place during lifts, which makes me shift in the air, then he blames me.” I turned to my dad. “I mean, really, have I ever messed up that many lifts in one day?”
Dad frowned. “Have you told Igor?”
Igor was my coach and had been my whole life except for the years I trained in Canada in order to skate with Matty. After Matty and I went our separate ways this past spring, it felt pointless to stick around there. I missed Addie and Dad, and I missed home. Igor was probably just as ecstatic to have me back in Northfield, Minnesota as my family.
“Yeah… he said to give it time.”
Addie shot me a ‘told you so’ look.
“Well, it’s slightly difficult to hear his obnoxious voice in the lobby,” Dad added. “Thought Duke was about to crack his teeth,” he said with a laugh.
Addie’s eyes flashed to mine.
I shook my head and shoved a forkful into my mouth so I wouldn’t be forced to comment.
______
After Dad took off, I started helping Addie with the dishes, and that’s when she started in on me too.
“Okay, I’m going to preface this by saying that he totally deserved the treatment you gave him earlier today, but do you think maybe…” She reached to place the dirty forks in the dishwasher.
I side-eyed her, waiting for her to stand back up. “Maybe what?”
“Maybe Duke still likes you?” she asked with hesitant eyes.
My heart stupidly skipped a beat in my chest, hoping that she was right—- but ugh! No!
“Nope, not going there,” I said firmly.
“Well, he was obviously feeling defensive over you today,” she pointed out. “And I just don’t believe in coincidences.”
I fished the wine bottle out of the fridge. “This isn’t a coincidence,” I said dryly.
