Chapter 28
The puck hits my stick wrong, ricocheting off at an awkward angle instead of landing clean. I feel like it’s mocking me as it skitters across the ice. This is the fourth time it’s happened today.
Muttering a curse under my breath, I chase after it, feeling the frustration burning hot in my chest.
“Hendricks, you good?” Alex calls from across the ice. As per usual, he’s the only one with the guts to actually point out how badly I’m doing in practice today.
“Yeah. Fine,” I throw back.
It’s a lie. An incredibly obvious one.
I’m not fine. I haven’t been fine since yesterday.
Since watching Laura fall. Since seeing the judges' faces. Since she walked away from me with tears streaming down her cheeks and I couldn't do a damn thing to fix it.
I finally gain control of the puck, and fly down the ice as fast as I can, ignoring the tight knot in my chest from not speaking to her.
I tried texting her last night. Called twice. Nothing.
Radio silence.
This morning I finally got a single message: I’m okay. Just need some time.
But she’s not okay. Not even close.
I know exactly what she’s doing right now. She’s spiraling. Picking herself apart. Telling herself she’s not good enough, that one mistake defines her. Comparing herself to her gold-medal-winning sister and convincing herself she’ll never measure up.
It kills me, knowing she’s sitting there drowning in those thoughts when they aren’t true.
“Hendricks!” Coach McKibbon’s shout slices through my head. “You planning to join us today, or just skate in circles?”
“Sorry, Coach.”
I force myself back into the drill, and push myself harder.
I skate faster, and try to focus, but it doesn’t work.
Laura’s face keeps flashing through every play.
The way her voice broke when she said she'd fucked it up, the way her eyes looked hollow and broken, the moment I realized nothing I could say would fix it.
I dig in, sprint harder, and even though my lungs burn, nothing shakes the feeling loose.
By the time Coach blows the final whistle, sweat is dripping down my neck and my legs feel like lead. I’m exhausted, spent, and still no closer to figuring out how the hell to help her.
“Hendricks, got a minute?” Coach calls as everyone starts heading off the ice.
“Sure, Coach.”
I skate over to him at the bench where he’s standing with a clipboard tucked under his arm and his eyes fixed on me with that look—the one that says he sees straight through whatever bullshit excuse about my performance I’m about to offer.
“You want to tell me what's going on?” he asks.
“Nothing. Just an off day.”
“Right.” He doesn't believe me for a second. “How'd the audition go yesterday?”
My jaw tightens. “Not great.”
“Your girlfriend didn't get it?”
“No.” The word comes out harder than I mean it to. “She was incredible. Her voice was perfect. But she fell during the routine. Judges said her skating wasn’t at the level they needed.”
Coach is quiet for a moment, then he claps his hand on my shoulder. “That’s rough. I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Yeah.” I study a beat-up patch of ice near my skate. “Me too.”
“And, hey.” He nods, then jerks his chin toward the tunnel where Erik is still half-dressed in his pads, goofing around with the freshmen.
“If our ratings drop any lower, I’m gonna need you and Erik to moonlight as the entertainment between periods.
Something flashy enough to keep the cameras interested and save my job. ”
I snort despite myself. “Yeah, I’ll let him know.”
“You do that.” Coach claps me on the shoulder and starts walking away. “Might save me from the wrath of my daughter every time she’s forced out there as an Ice Girl.”
He’s halfway to the locker room when something clicks.
An idea.
A stupid, reckless, but possibly brilliant idea.
Entertainment. Crowds. The spotlight… a voice that deserves to be heard.
I know exactly how to help Laura.
I skate to the exit to catch up to him. “Coach—hold up.”
He stops mid-step and glances back. “Yeah?”
“Actually, there is something.” I skate closer. “The national anthem for Friday’s game. Is it still the instrumental recording?”
“Yeah—” He stops, and I can see him processing my idea without having to be explicit. “Uh, actually, you know what? We’re having technical issues with the audio clip.”
“We are?” I ask with a slow smile forming across my lips.
“Yeah. Might need a live singer.” He tips his chin. “Do you think your girl would be able to help me out?”
“I’m sure she’d love to.”
“Great. Then we’ll set it up.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” he says. “If she freezes up in front of five thousand people, we’re both in trouble.”
“She won’t.” I don’t hesitate. “Give her a stage and a microphone, and she’ll blow everyone away.”
Coach watches me for a beat, then nods. “You’re in deep, huh?”
A humorless laugh slips out. I’ve been in deep with this girl since the fountain incident. “Yeah. I guess I am.”
He raises his clipboard. “Well, then. Let’s help her out. I’ll figure out the logistics. You worry about getting her here.”
“Yes, sir.”
I skate off the ice and head toward the locker room, my mind already racing. This has to work. It has to. It’s the first thing that’s felt right since yesterday.
The second I push open the locker-room door, I hear the thud of someone slamming a locker shut, and right in the middle of all the laughter and shouting is Erik, obviously.
He’s reenacting yesterday’s routine.
Fully. Dramatically.
“—and then an invisible Ice Troll comes at me, but Mr. Nibbles fears NO TROLL.” He executes a high kick that almost takes out a water bottle. “Pow! Bam! Tail swish of justice!”
The team is wheezing. Brooks is barely holding back a smile, while Alex is doubled over.
Erik straightens up proudly. “Honestly, I think the fox suit brings out my athleticism. I might wear it to warm-ups. Maybe even during games. Would really confuse the opposing team, don’t you think?”
Brooks shakes his head. “Man, you’re too comfortable in that thing.”
Erik shrugs. “Some people find their calling early in life. Mine just happens to involve fur.”
“And nutcrackers,” Alex adds, barely able to get it out.
I drop onto the bench and start unlacing my skates, shaking my head. “You’re unhinged.”
“Thank you,” Erik says with a little bow.
Before he can continue his monologue on the joys of fox cosplay, Brooks sits beside me and nudges my shoulder with his. His expression shifts. It’s still warm, but gentler.
“Hey… Erik mentioned Laura’s fall,” he says. “We’re really sorry, man.”
Alex nods. “Yeah, that sucks. We know you worked really hard on your routine.”
“Thanks.”
“I still think she’s going to get it,” Erik says seriously.
“The judges were pretty clear. She doesn’t have the skating skills she needs.”
He shrugs. “I don’t care. When she started singing, her voice slapped me harder than Hendricks’ dick hit her during the Freshman Fun Run. I’m still recovering.”
“Please stop talking,” Alex says.
Erik ignores him. “She’s amazing. That’s all I’m saying.”
“Yeah,” I say quietly, picking up my phone. “She really is. Hopefully, you’ll all get to hear her soon.”
Brooks studies me for a beat, then nods slowly. “Good. I’d like that.”
Alex pushes off the locker and grabs his towel. “Same. If she can get Erik praising her like that, she must be good.”
“Speaking of…” Erik interrupts. “I haven’t finished my rendition. Do you guys want the rest?”
“Absolutely not,” Brooks cuts in.
Erik shrugs and heads toward the showers, mumbling about “artistic suppression.” Brooks follows him, tossing his tape into his bag. The locker room noise shifts back into the usual shuffling and half-finished conversations.
I finally get a moment to breathe.
I look down at my phone again and brush my thumb across the screen to unlock it.
The first thing I see is the message from Laura.
Princess<3: I’m okay. Just need some time.
Right. All I need to do is convince her to come to my game. That can’t be that hard…right?
I start typing.
Scotty: Come to my game Friday night?
I delete it and try again.
Scotty: Hey, Princess. I know you're going through it right now, but I need you Friday night. Big game. Could really use you in the crowd.
Delete.
Scotty: I miss you. Come to the game Friday?
Fuck, none of these feel right.
Finally, I just go with honesty.
Scotty: Come to my game on Friday night? Please? We need all the support we can get. Bring Lyss and Reign too if they want to come. I know you're hurting right now, but I miss seeing your face. Even if you're still mad at the world, come be mad at the world in the stands where I can see you.
I hit send before I can overthink it again.
The three dots appear almost immediately, then disappear, then appear again.
Princess<3: Scotty… I don’t know if I’m the best company right now. I don’t want you worrying about me during your game.
Scotty: I’ll play better knowing you’re out there.
Princess<3: Maybe leaving the house wouldn’t kill me…
Scotty: Buttercup jumped off a castle wall and was fine. I think you can handle watching a hockey game.
Princess<3: Only if you’re there to catch me.
Scotty: As you wish.
Princess<3: What time?
Relief floods through me. I’ve got her.
Scotty: 7pm. I'll leave tickets at will call for you.
Princess<3: You don't have to do that.
Scotty: Please. I paid for season tickets to shoot my shot in freshman year. This is nothing.
There's a longer pause this time.
Princess<3: Okay. I'll be there.
Scotty: Thank you. And Laura?
Princess<3: Yeah?
Scotty: You're still the most talented person I know. One audition doesn't change that.
I want to type the words I’ve been feeling deep in my chest since I saw her world fall apart, but she still managed to persevere.
I love you.
But she deserves to hear it in a better way than through a text.
She doesn't respond, but I see that she's read it.
She’s getting there, and that’s all I can ask for.
As I finish changing and head out to my truck, I allow myself a moment of hope.
Friday night, Laura's going to walk into that arena expecting to just watch a hockey game.
Instead, she's going to get a chance to remind herself—and everyone else—exactly how incredible she is.
I just hope Coach can convince her to take it.