Page 12 of Home Ice

"You expected a hike? I noticed you're overdressed for a trip to Sugar House Park."

"Back home, parks are a little more rugged."

"Where are you from?"

She takes Silver's head in her hands, and I'm not sure if I should have asked. "The southwest. Well, as far southwest as you can get in Utah, at least."

"What the old people call Dixie?"

Chloe rolls her eyes. "I hate that. My family still calls it that. And they all brag about how long the family's been there. Like that means something. I was supposed to be proud that I was the seventh generation. They're so dumb."

When I was growing up, Dad would tell me that we were direct descendants of the original pioneers who founded Salt Lake. He was so proud. So many of the decorations in his house were tied to that history, from the old maps and pictures in his bedroom to the paintings and bookends in the living room. He couldn't understand why I didn't care about any of it, but it just didn't mean anything to me. What did mean something to me, though, was the love he held for it. When it was time to choose my name, I knew what it had to be. He cried when I told him. I joked that he loved the name more than he loved me. But we both laughed as we hugged. Neither of us had a doubt about how much he loved me. I just wish I had made sure he knew how much I loved him.

"Hey. You alright?" Chloe puts her hand over mine, and I use my other one to wipe away my tears.

I'm not, but I better get used to it, because I don't think I'll ever be alright again. "That lipstick looks really pretty on you."

"Thanks." She smiles, and so do I, grateful it was so easy to change the subject.

CHAPTER 11

THE GOLDEN AGE OF CRUSHES

LILY

Chloe sits on the other side of the picnic table. Her eyes go from squinty to sorrowful as she tries different tactics to win me over. "You promised cookies."

"I did. But first we have to eat this."

"It's vegetables. You don't know that I'm not allergic to vegetables."

I pull the cookies out of my purse just far enough for her to see them, and then I shove them back in and stare at her so she can see my determination. "It's a wrap that has vegetables in it. That's hardly the same thing. And no one is allergic to vegetables."

"That's not true. My friend Alyssa from school is allergic to celery. One day the cafeteria had these all-natural hot dogs, and she?—"

"Chloe." I try to raise one eyebrow because people who can do that always seem so in command. I would do anything for someone who could raise their eyebrow just so. But I'm not one of those people, so both of mine go up. It probably makes me look shocked rather than authoritative. "You're not allergic. So eat that, and then we can have cookies."

She rolls her head like a boxer who's ready to head back into the ring for another round, and I ready myself. I'm not going to lose a battle to someone who isn't even old enough to drive. But someone else speaks before either of us has the chance to. "You have a cookie for me too, Pajama Girl? I love taking a nice chocolate chip break in the middle of a jog."

There's no way I recognize that voice or that nickname. It's definitely not... I turn and look as the man sits at the other end of the picnic table. But of course it is.

"You?" Chloe's mouth falls open and her wide eyes move from Brant to me and back to him. "You're Brant Morrison." She shakes her head like she's trying to convince herself it's not true. I wish it were that easy.

"That's me." He smiles.

Chloe's mouth snaps closed and falls open several times. "Brant Morrison? Here? Table?"

Brant chuckles and looks at me. "You should have told me your daughter's a fan."

"She's not my daughter."

"She's not my mom."

Chloe and I react in unison.

"How old do you think I am?" I ask. "Maybe I don't want to know. Brant, Chloe. Chloe, you apparently already know who this guy is."

Brant holds out his hand and shakes Chloe's once she finally gets the courage to touch him. "Very glad to meet you Chloe." His left eye narrows just a little as the smile reaches his eyes, and it's certainly not cute at all. Nope. "And wonderful to see you again, Lily."

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