Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 113072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 565(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 565(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
He squints at me. “It was the other way around—I blocked your number before I left town.”
God. I fling my arms apart. “See? The least you can do now is spend one hour of your highly paid time skating for me.”
He actually smirks, and even this hint of a smile hits me in the solar plexus. “Fine. Whatever. You can have your hour.”
“Yes. Thank you.” I’m practically vibrating with relief. “Shake on it.” I stick out my hand formally.
He takes it, and the warmth of his skin sends a jolt through my entire nervous system. Our gazes lock, and his is… confused? I’m trying to understand why, which means we stand there for a moment too long, hands clasped, before I remember myself and pull away. “Uh, okay. As soon as Sailor books a time…”
He sighs. “I’ll be there, Ice Princess.”
Ice Princess. My heart does a pirouette at the sound of my old nickname, and I stare up at him with unfiltered surprise.
He looks suddenly uncomfortable, though. Like he never meant to say that. He takes a step back and checks the street again. “Hey, that’s my Uber.” He points at a Toyota skulking at the curb. “I have to go.”
A moment later I’m still standing in the bitter cold, as alone as ever.
“Are you okay?” Darcy asks, arriving at my side. “That looked intense.”
“I don’t even know what that was,” I admit. “He said he’d work with me, though. I just hope he meant it.”
“Hmm.” She takes my arm. “Come on. We need a cupcake. And you need to tell me more about that meeting.”
“Oh, it was delightful. I begged forgiveness, and everyone thinks I propositioned a bartender.”
Darcy gasps. “This sounds like a fun story.”
“Like everything else in my life, it’s not quite as fun as it sounds. I need a cupcake.”
“Oh, buddy.” She links her arm through mine. “At least one.”
Chapter 16
Nine and a Half Years Ago
Chase: Hi. It’s me. Your super fun skating partner.
Zoe: Hi?
Chase: So let’s discuss my favorite thing.
Zoe: I’m afraid to ask. Whatever it is, it’s probably illegal in several states.
Chase: That’s a good point. So let’s talk about my second favorite thing. Music. As in, what are we skating to? I seem to remember that I have veto power.
Zoe: Don’t let it go to your head. Okay, just spitballing here: something from Gershwin.
Chase: Gershwin? I haven’t been to one of their concerts. Good mosh pit?
Zoe: Sometimes I can’t tell if you’re joking.
Chase: I’m always joking. What from Gershwin?
Zoe: Rhapsody in Blue has good rhythm.
Chase: I say this with love, but what is it with figure skaters and dead-guy music? If I wanted to fall asleep skating, I’d hit myself with my hockey stick.
Zoe: Gershwin is jazzy! It’s fun.
Chase: Like I said, we have got to work on your concept of fun.
Zoe: What do you suggest, then?
Chase: So glad you asked! I have three ideas here. **Link, link, link.**
Zoe: Hold please
**Five minutes pass**
Zoe: So you feel like being rebellious.
Chase: Always. But is this so rebellious? There aren’t any judges at this thing, right?
Zoe: True! I’m just not used to having creative control. Okay, let’s do one of yours. But I get to choose.
Chase: Deal!
Zoe: See? I like fun.
Chase: If that’s true you would swing by my room and kiss me goodnight. I promise to make it fun.
Zoe: You know I can’t do that.
Chase: Fun to think about, though. Now go pick a song.
Chase is loading his cooler with snacks later that week when his phone chimes with a text from Zoe. Don’t come up here! Mayday!
Hmm. Their rooftop clubhouse must have some unwanted visitors. Roger, Roger. I’ll wait for the all-clear.
He finishes loading up their snacks. Now that their rooftop meetings are a regular thing, he’s taken to sourcing the food from the cafeteria and different shops in town, depending on his mood and his budget.
It turns out that he and Zoe have all the same tastes. They both love kettle chips. But not flavored chips, because those are disgusting. They both love cinnamon-sugar doughnuts but not glazed.
Tonight they’ll be dining on chips with guacamole. Zoe loves dip. It’s magical, she said the first time he brought some up to the roof. And we’d never have this at home. As usual, he kept his thoughts about her diet to himself. But it must suck to have your parents in cahoots with your coach.
He has a deep understanding of shitty parenting, though. In fact, there’s a call on his phone he’s deliberately not returning. The old man only wants to complain. He calls Chase only when nobody else will listen.
Zoe: Okay! It’s safe now.
He grabs the goods and heads out of the room, finding Joon-ho stretching in the hallway after a run. The kid narrows his eyes. “Why do you always go up to the roof alone, with a cooler?”