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Okay, wait…I know this stuff kind of means something to you, so if I come, can we both leave early?
I debate mutingher for the day when an unknown number calls.
“Hello?” I answer.
“So you blocked my other number?” Travis’s deep voice comes over the line.
“You mean the othertwentynumbers you’ve tried this week?”
“Twenty-six, but we don’t need to count.”
“Yes, I blocked you,” I say. “I think that’s quite obvious.”
“That hurts my feelings, Tati.” There’s a smile in his voice. “I’ve been in a lot of pain about it.”
“Don’t ever call me that.” I scoff. “We aren’t friends, and if you’re the slightest bit hurt, it’s what you deserve.”
“Why haven’t I seen you at the SportsPlex this week?”
“Please hang up so I can add this number to my block list.”
“I was hoping you’d finally let me apologize.”
“For what?”
“For whatever you think I did to make you mad at me last weekend. I’m very sorry.”
“Apologyunaccepted.”
“Fair enough.” He’s still smiling; I can tell. “Then let’s start over and pretend like you and my sister aren’t enemies.”
“What? Never.”
“Okay, okay.” He lets out a low laugh. “Let’s pretend you’re meeting me without any ties to her, then.”
“So you’ll just be the asshole who left me messages about how I’ll never beat my top competition?”
“You should consider those as motivational mantras or keepsakes.” He pauses. “You can also re-listen to them on your loneliest nights if you like. I’ve heard my voice can be quite the turn-on.”
I end the call and block him again.
* * *
An hour later
I’m spinningat the center of the ice with Tchaikovsky’s notes floating around me.
My ruby red dress is fluttering in the air, and I know without a doubt that I haven’t made a single mistake over the past two minutes.
As I’m raising my arms above my head to complete the second to last camel spin, I open my eyes and notice that the entire crowd is already standing to its feet.
The final note hangs in the air, and my body comes to a complete stop.
The entire arena erupts with applause.
“TA-TI-A-NA! TA-TI-A-NA!” They scream my name and toss roses and teddy bears onto the ice.
Smiling, I look over to where my stepsister and father should be—where my mother used to sit when she was alive—but their chairs are empty.
