Page 41 of From Fling to Ring

Jesus. That sounds like long-term kind of thinking. I need to scale back on the enthusiasm.

“Ty, can I see to you for a sec?” Lawson calls my way. “I gotta talk to you about the schedule.”

I look at Lucy, who’s still shaking her head. “Be right back, okay?”

I leave my gloves and stick with Lucy, and skate across the ice toward Lawson. We go over dates for my next appearance with the kids. I know he’d like me to come help out as often as possible, but my schedule just doesn’t allow it, especially during the season.

When everything’s settled, I return to Lucy. She has my hockey stick across her lap.

“Look. I cleaned off all the old tape!”

She holds it up proudly, pointing to the now-bare handle and blade.

Holy shit. She didn’t.

Be cool. Just be cool.

“What?” she asks. “What’s wrong now?”

I consider saying nothing, but it’s too late for that. I am usually a good poker face, but this one got away from me.

“It’s just that I put that tape on earlier today for the demonstration with the kids. I usually keep it on for a few practices. It takes me a while to get it just how I like it. I’m very particular.”

Her eyes widen, and a pink blush floods her pretty face. “Oh my God…”

She looks at the little scraps of tape she picked off, crumpled into a tidy ball on the bench next to her. She picks it up and studies it like she might be able to unroll it and rewrap my stick.

“So the tape is supposed to be on there,” she says meekly. “Guess I’m batting a thousand today, huh?”

I take the puck from her and stuff the tape into my pocket. “You’re doing fine. And by the way, batting a thousand is a metaphor for a different sport. Not hockey.”

She exhales loudly. “I know it’s the wrong sport. Of course. And how do you say batting a thousand in hockey speak?”

“You don’t. Hey, let’s go get you some skates. We’ll take a couple laps around the rink.”

She crinkles her face. “Oh, I don’t know.”

Ah. She’s one of those. I’m not discouraged, though. I’ve gotten people to skate before who could barely chew gum and walk at the same time.

I extend my hand. “C’mon. You’ve got to at least try.”

She ignores my hand and shakes her head. “I’ve ice skated a couple times back when they had a rink up in Lake Tahoe. I don’t need to try it again.”

“C’mon. I’d really like you to take a couple laps with me. Please?”

“Nah, I don’t think so.”

She looks over her shoulder at the ice, perhaps assessing whether it’s a deadly as she’s thinking.

“Why not, Lucy?”

“I… I’ve never been good at sports. I have all the finesse of a baby giraffe.”

I take her chin in my hand and turn her to me. “I really don’t appreciate your insulting baby giraffes.”

Trying to suppress a smile, she gives me one of the best stink-eyes I’ve ever seen. “You don’t give up easy, do you?”

“I wouldn’t be where I am today if I did.”

---