Page 27 of Breaking the Ice

Meanwhile, Yolanda turns toward the camera and announces, “This is Yolanda Simms reporting from Maple Falls, Washington, where preparations for an all-star charity hockey game are underway to aid underprivileged kids.” She turns to me and startles for effect. “And will you look at that. Zachary Hart is here.” She strides toward me with purpose as her camera operator trails behind. Stopping in front of me, she demands, “Why are you here?” Like she doesn’t already know.

Had Yolanda been alone, I wouldn’t have bothered saying a word to her. But being that she’s filming this meeting, that’s not an option. “My brother Troy is the one putting this event together,” I tell her. “I’m one of the donors.”

Yolanda turns her attention toward Ellie, who in turn takes a half step behind me like she’s trying to disappear. Yolanda demands, “And who’s this?”

“This is Ellie Butler,” I tell her. “She’s a skating instructor here.”

Yolanda rolls her eyes. “Sure, she is.”

Ellie steps out from behind me and declares, “I am a skating instructor.”

“Among other things, I’m sure.” Yolanda’s insinuation is clear. She thinks Ellie and I are dating.

“I’m also a lifelong resident of Maple Falls,” Ellie says.

“And Zach’s new hobby?”

Ellie’s posture straightens like a force from the sky is pulling her ears upward. I’m afraid she’s about to say something she’ll regret, so I interject, “Ellie and I just met yesterday.”

Yolanda eyes her from head to toe before warning, “Before you get any ideas about this man, you should know he’s a player. You won’t mean anything to him.”

I turn to the camera and ask the guy holding it, “Are you still filming this?” He nods his head, so I say, “I’d like to take this opportunity to tell the world that Yolanda Simms and I were set up by our PR team. We have never dated for real. We haven’t so much as kissed one another.”

Yolanda starts to laugh. “You can forget about anyone ever seeing that little tidbit, Zach. We’re not live.”

A hot wave of anger warms my cheeks. “And yet, it’s the truth, so why are you bent on telling a different story?”

She looks at Ellie before answering, “I’m not going to answer that in front of her. I asked you to call me and you haven’t.”

“I’m happy to leave.” Ellie steps forward like she’s about to make a break for it. But before she can move out of reach, I stretch my hand out to hers and pull her back.

“Yolanda doesn’t have anything to say that I want to hear,” I tell her.

“If you don’t hear me out,” the reporter warns, “I’ll double down and make your life more miserable than I already have. You know I can do it.”

“Go for it,” I tell her.

Yolanda turns to the camera and once again morphs into her sweet TV persona. “You all know what Zachary Hart has done to me, so you must know how hard it is for me to see him again, especially now that he’s with another woman. Soon enough you’ll learn the degree to which he’s betrayed me. Until then, this is Yolanda Simms from Maple Falls, Washington.”

Against every impulse to the contrary, I merely walk away. Because I still have a death grip on Ellie’s hand, she has no choice but to follow along.

As soon as we’re outside, I release her. “I’m sorry about that. You shouldn’t have to be a part of whatever Yolanda is trying to pull.”

Ellie’s brow furrows slightly. “She really hates you. What did you do to her?”

“I already told you, nothing.”

She doesn’t appear to believe me, but I suppose in her shoes, I might have a tough time as well. Yet it still smarts that Ellie seems more inclined to trust Yolanda than me.

“I’m going to unload the rest of the baskets,” she says quietly.

“Please don’t talk to Yolanda,” I beg her. “Not because I’m afraid of what you’d say, but because of what she can do to you.”

The confusion on Ellie’s face makes it clear she has no idea the kind of power Yolanda has. “What can she do to me?”

“She can tell lies about you to the entire world. Seriously, Ellie, do not trust her.”

Ellie offers a half shrug. “I don’t have anything to hide, Zach.”

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