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)
But when I gaze down at the lobby atrium during the jamboree cocktail hour, I realize that I’ve underestimated her. The whole place has been transformed into an elegant reception space, with clusters of high cocktail tables draped in Legends blue and red and topped with ice sculptures. Elaborate, glittering icicles hang from the soaring ceiling above the crowd, and uniformed servers weave through with trays of champagne and hors d’oeuvres.
There’s a snaking line of partygoers queued up for the photo booths, each one featuring a different Legends player. For an extra donation, visitors can pose for a photo with their favorite player. And the CHASE MERRITT line is one of the longest. The charity will definitely clean up tonight.
In a half hour, twelve hundred ticket holders will drift toward their seats in the rink. When I was in there for our dress rehearsal earlier, the transformation had already begun. The metal bleachers have been covered with plush temporary seating in deep red velvet, each seat bearing a cushion with an embroidered Legends logo.
And at one end of the rink, an elevated stage has been constructed, with a DJ booth and enough space for a live seven-piece band plus our special guest vocalist. The tunnel where players usually enter has been transformed into a glittering archway framed with thousands of tiny white lights. Even the penalty boxes have been reimagined as VIP viewing areas.
It’s really impressive. I’m proud to be part of the Legends family tonight, even if I’m viewing the whole thing through a filter of unease. It’s been almost two weeks since Nolan Sharp handed me a job offer, and I still can’t decide how I feel about it.
I haven’t told Chase, either. I’m just not ready.
From the railing, I take one more lingering look at the party. There’s Chase, wearing a Legends jersey and posing with a fan. It’s too far away for me to see his smile, but I can picture it. It’s becoming almost impossible to imagine a future without him. I want it so much. But I don’t want to make him choose me, either.
I’m so confused. And I don’t have anyone to discuss it with.
Walking away, I head for the women’s bathroom near the staff locker corridor. It’s empty, as I knew it would be, and I get to work. The first order of business is changing into my skating costume, a sleek little black number with a halter neck.
With the dress on, I carefully style my hair into a bun, just the way I wore it in our ten-year-old video. Then I do a heavy makeup job because the lights will wash me out. Red lipstick. Glittery eye shadow. Rouged cheeks.
When I’m done, I stare at myself in the mirror. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve seen this version of myself—the ice princess look. Sleek hair, maximum makeup, lots of skin showing.
You have to wear a short skirt, Aiden the snake said. I don’t make the rules. He wasn’t wrong. Throughout the history of figure skating, women who tried to challenge the status quo were rarely successful.
When I was a girl, though, I couldn’t see any of this. The aesthetic rules of skating were just a pre-existing condition that I lived with. And I planned to dominate skating anyway. Everyone said I would.
And then I did. Sort of. But then I convinced myself I hadn’t, with the help of my ex and my domineering mother.
Things are better now, mostly because I’ve held my boundaries. After several ignored calls and a few terse text exchanges, I made it clear that I’ll no longer tolerate her opinions about my perfectly valid life choices.
The door opens behind me. “Wowzers!”
I whirl around to spot Darcy coming through the door in a sleek green evening gown. “You look amazing!”
“That’s my line!” She grins. “Is the team doctor on call tonight? Because we’re going to have to resuscitate Chase once he sees you in that.”
“Don’t even joke about doctors tonight,” I complain. “My greatest nightmare is Chase injuring himself in this circus.”
“He won’t,” she scoffs. “You are such a worrywart lately! This is a damn party, and I insist that you enjoy it.”
“Sure. Right after I’m done being the main dish?” I give myself another glance in the mirror.
“Well, yeah,” she says. “No pressure.”
“Can you help me with these damn eyelashes?” I ask, pointing at the set I purchased at her direction. “The idea of gluing something to my face is scary.”
“I got you,” she says, grabbing the package. “Sit on the sofa thing.”
I sit on the sofa thing and wait patiently while she leans over me. “You look incredible,” she says in a serious voice. “And I know this is a lot. But you are a big deal, Zoe. You’re very important to me as a friend, and I know you volunteered for this under duress. But please understand that you have superpowers that the rest of us can only dream of. So forgive us for wanting to see them once in a while. We can’t really help ourselves.”