Lines in the Ice

Chapter 25

Dan looked up. We held each other’s gaze before I ran to his counter. I slid over the top. I’ve done this a couple of times in the past. He was smart enough to move. I gave him a big hug. My tears dampened his shirt.

“Dan, I missed you,” I mumbled.

“I missed you too, Bree.”

He held me an arms length away. He looked tired. I haven’t been here in forever. I haven’t skated either. To be honest I almost totally forgot about Dan. Other things have been in my head. Yes, Michael has been one of them. Maybe if he hadn’t occupied so much space up there I would have had more time to think about Dan.

“Are you here for the game. Is Michael with you?” he asked.

I frowned. “Uh, no. I’m here with Preston. My boyfriend.” I motioned towards the lost Preston in the lobby.

“Where’s Michael?” Dan asked.

“We had a fight, I haven’t seen him in, oh, three months.”

“I see,” Dan muttered.

I gave him another hug before climbing back over the counter. I grabbed Preston’s hand and pulled him into the rink. There wasn’t much for a climate change. It was as cold in here, if not warmer, than outside. I pulled Preston over to the bleachers to find a spot.

“It’s kind of cold in here,” he said.

“You just want to cuddle,” I joked.

“Yeah, I do.” I laughed. I need Preston, he’s good for me.

The game wasn’t supposed to start until a bit later. Most of the guys were probably already in the locker room getting ready. Preston’s hand held onto mine tightly. The boys skated out onto the ice when I leaned onto his shoulder. Coach came out last. There was a clipboard in his hands that he was looking at.

Coach looked towards the bleachers for a mere second. In that second, he managed to notice me. He also motioned for me to come see him. I rolled my eyes and glumly got up. Without Preston’s hand to keep mine warm I noticed how cold it really was.

“Yeah, Coach?”

“Brenna, why don’t you show me what you got,” he said while pointing towards the ice.

“I’m not sure,” I said with uncertainty.

“Think about it at least,” he muttered.  He really wants me on the team.

“Yeah, definitely.”

I walked back towards Preston. My hands tucked into my back pockets. He looked away from the guys on the ice to look at me. When he saw me coming back he smiled. I noticed he was always brighter when he saw me, that his eyes sort of twinkled, and his smile was amazing. He wasn’t like that with other girls.

“What’d he want?” Preston asked.

“Someone,” cough, “Will,” cough, “may have said something to the coach about me being a good skater. Actually, it may have been Tod. Either way he wants me to show him what I’ve got.”

“Wouldn’t that be weird?” he asked.

“Yeah, I don’t want the popularity,” I mumbled.

“I was talking more about you being a hockey player. Normally the guys are the hockey players, or both the guy and the girl,” he said.

“That’s a bit sexist,” I scoffed.

“Only saying what I think,” he retorted.

“What if I wanted to actually be a hockey player?” I asked him with all curiosity.