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 even likes the extra-long twin mattress, which fits his six-foot-two frame.
“Where do you compete?” Joon-ho asks as they cross the green campus. “I never heard your name before.”
He chuckles. “Yeah, I haven’t entered a skating competition since I was twelve. These days I play hockey. Coach Pat’s brother is my coach.”
Joon-ho gives him the side-eye. “Wait, you’re not even a skater?”
“All hockey players are skaters, my dude.”
“It’s not the same thing. Do you do triple jumps?”
“Not a chance,” Chase says, holding the rink door open for him.
He groans. “Then what good are you at a figure skating camp?”
“For triples? None,” Chase admits. “But I’m fast. I’m fearless. I’m as serious an athlete as you’ll ever meet. I’m also great in the weight room, if you’re into that.”
That perks the kid up. “Can you help me build muscle? It doesn’t matter how much I eat. I just stay this way.”
Chase eyes the kid’s lean frame. “More protein, for starters. And we’ll look at your workout…”
He forgets to finish the sentence, because Zoe is seated in a sun patch on the bleachers, under a skylight, her hair shining like an angel’s. Her thick braid falls heavily over one shoulder, and she’s worrying the end of it between two fingers. But it’s the look on her face that stops him in his tracks. Earbuds in again, she’s listening to something. And she’s listening with her whole soul.
Without even realizing it, he’s steering himself in her direction.
Joon-ho stops him with a tug on his elbow. “You can’t just sit with Zoe.”
“Why not?”
“Because she’s Zoe,” the kid whispers with clear exasperation. “She’s, like, royalty.”
“Even royals need friends, kid.” He walks over. “Morning.”
She looks up, startled. “Hi?”
He sits down and waves Joon-ho onto the bench. “What are we starting with? My schedule says takeoff clinic. And that’s cool and everything. But I have to wonder how many layers Coach Pat wants me to take off?” He shimmies a little, like an exotic dancer.
Joon-ho puts his head in his hands. “Duuude. No.”
But Zoe’s lips quirk up at the corners. “Yeah, I’ll give you twenty bucks to ask her that question.”
“I’d do it if I thought she’d get the joke.” He unzips his bag and pulls out his skates.
“Oh my God, where did you get those?” Joon-ho asks, staring at the battered boots. There’s duct tape on one of them.
“Goodwill,” he admits. “But I sharpened the blades myself.” He also put custom footbeds into them, because he wasn’t born yesterday.
“He can’t even jump,” Joon-ho says to Zoe.
“I can too jump,” Chase argues. “I just can’t do triples. Or most doubles.”
“Then what are you even doing here?” Zoe asks.
“People keep saying that,” he says, lacing up one skate. “But I’m the only one on this bench who’s putting skates on. Are we going to warm up or what?”
Ten minutes later, all three of them are stepping out on the rink. Chase strokes cautiously to center ice, trying to remember how figure skates are supposed to feel. After all, that whole “toe pick” scene from The Cutting Edge is a real thing that happens to hockey skaters who try figure skates. And the elevated heel pushes his center of gravity forward by a degree, which requires an adjustment.
On the other hand, the longer blade means a longer glide, which feels like flying. It takes him only a minute or two to find his stride. He pumps past the other skaters, whips his body into reverse, and then glides neatly into back crossovers. He takes a deep breath of chilly rink air and pictures his mom chasing him, a big smile on her face, her hand-knitted scarf flying in the breeze. That’s it, Chasey! Now try it on your lazy leg, too.
He switches sides a couple of times until that feels natural. And then, what the hell, he throws a toe loop and lands it cleanly. It feels like time travel, with his mom’s voice reminding him to keep a soft knee and extend his arms. Hot pretzels from the concession stand. Cocoa with tiny marshmallows.
He glides to a stop and finds both Zoe and his pack of boys watching him. “Is that all you’ve got?” Ethan asks. “A single?”
It totally is, but Chase smiles. “Just warming up, kid.”
“He looked hot doing it,” Joon-ho mumbles.
Zoe lets out a startled laugh, and when he turns his head, he catches her following their conversation.
She looks away.
“Listen,” Joon-ho says. “Just don’t offer to demonstrate.”
“Why not?” he asks, wondering how he can make Zoe laugh again.
“Dude,” Ethan says. “Just don’t. She’ll eviscerate you.”
The coach’s whistle blows, and all conversation ceases. Immediately. He’s kind of impressed.
“Good morning,” Coach Pat says briskly. “We have ninety minutes to cover all six takeoffs. We’ll start with the toe loop and work our way up. Who’s going to demonstrate first?”