Chapter 30
EVIE
Evie arrived early to the ice the next morning. Her mother had already texted her to come over for breakfast, but she just ignored it. She tried to put everything she had into coaching.
"Nice job Jenna, remember to really dig in for that axel at the end of your program. You're going to be tired, so you have to make sure your entry is clean. Why don't we do the footwork portion one more time?"
She watched as Jenna skated out into center ice to start the combination. Evie missed competing and skating, but she really enjoyed this. Jenna was going to nationals, and she had never had a student at that level before. It was exciting. Watching a student she’d been coaching for years out there on the ice perfectly executing a tough footwork sequence and the knowledge that she and Cash were in the starting of a real relationship seemed to ground her. This could be her life. She wanted this to be her life.
"Good skate, Jenna."
"Thanks, coach," said the girl as she skated over to the gate. "I'm going to go get ready for class, but I'm wondering if you're around during free skate maybe we can work on that pass again."
"Yeah, that sounds good."
Evie turned to go back to her office, but as she got into the lobby she groaned as she saw her mom walking in.
"Evie, I was hoping to catch you. It looks like you just finished up your coaching session. Let's go get a bite."
"No."
Her mother looked at her and cocked her head like a dog trying to figure something out. She had let her mom have control over her life for so long. When she finally did take some control, she just tried her best to keep her head down and stay out of the way. That clearly wasn't working any more. It was time to be direct.
"I don’t have time today. I won’t have time before the wedding. I’ll see you at the rehearsal dinner tomorrow." She said it with such finality it left no room for her mother to argue. Then she turned and left for her office. She expected her mother to follow behind her, but to her pleasant surprise she didn't.
When she walked back into the lobby, she still expected her mother to be there waiting to push this again, but she was gone. That had to be a good sign, right?
The buzz from her pocket came, maybe her mother was texting her, but there was an even better chance it was someone else.
Cash - Hey, we’re having a team dinner with the guys from prospect training camp tonight, but I wanted to check in if you needed anything before the rehearsal dinner tomorrow?
Looking at the text made her smile.
Evie - Nope, everything is all set. Rehearsals tomorrow at the hotel at six.
Cash - I'll pick you up at five so we can get all settled into the hotel before.
Evie - Perfect, see you then.
Cash - I can't wait.
"Well, someone is grinning at her phone," a friendly voice said.
Evie looked up to see Sasha standing in front of her with a knowing smile. "I know that smile, and it can only be because of one of the players of the Glendale Magic."
Evie just shook her head with a defeated smile on her face. She was done fighting all of this. She was with Cash Hawthorn. As unlikely as it was, it was absolutely everything.
"What are you doing here?" she asked Sasha.
"I was dropping off some schedules and swag for the hockey program, and I was hoping I would run into you."
"Oh yeah? what's up?"
"Are you busy tonight?" Sasha asked.
"I don't think so, why?"
"There's a team dinner, so a few of us were thinking about going out to dinner and I wanted to invite you. Well, me and Kate McPhee."
"Conner's sister?"
"Yeah, since Wes and Conner were both busy we thought we would get together."
"Yeah, that sounds fun."
"Awesome!"
Life had taken a turn ever since Sasha came into her life. She had a good group of friends. Not only that, but friends who she had things in common with and who saw value in what she did. She didn’t know how much she had missed that. And of course, Cash. Because of Sasha’s auction idea she had met Cash. While he had completely upended her life, she had never been happier.