Page 15 of Ice Dance Hockey

“About a dollar and a quarter per week, but that was other kids. I wasn’t so lucky.”

“Wow, and here I thought the quarter wasn’t invented until eighteen seventy.”

“Okay, enough jokes about my age, wise guy.” He passes me a bottle of water from the garage’s full-sized fridge.

I accept it and take a long drink. “Speaking of my new rich boyfriend, I was thinking about having him buy me a car for my birthday.”

“Absolutely not.” His brow furrows dangerously and I’m glad I had better sense than to follow through on that request. As a joke, his face is worth it.

“I was half-kidding about that. I’d have done it if I knew you wouldn’t flip out about it, but I didn’t because I knew you would. See? I give a fuck. However, it does beg the question, how far can I push this? Tell me there isn’t some part of you that doesn’t want to see how far he would go?”

The devil arrives on Merc’s face. “It’s crossed my mind and I understand that money is meaningless to him at this point because he has so much of it.”

“And? Any ideas?” I lean against the wall, crossing my thin arms.

“Your phone’s pretty old. How about one of those? Jack wanted to get you one for your birthday, but I had another idea.”

“Yeah? Like what?”

“As if I’m tellin’ you. It’s a surprise.”

“Fine, and I’m gonna do the phone thing. It’s a practical gift. I started a page on social media for my skating stuff.” I’m hoping to get recognized or at least gain enough followers so I could get some brand deals.

“I like that. Practicality.”

All this talk of Rhett and my birthday reminds me. “He wants to take me out tomorrow and on Sunday. That cool?”

“I appreciate you telling me, but so long as you’re back for the house curfew, you can come and go as you please.”

“But last night you?—”

“Demanded that you were around for dinner? Yeah, I did. I shouldn’t have. It’s hard to forget that you’re not one of the younger teens. I know you don’t like hearing that, but I’m having a hard time separating you all in my head.”

“I didn’t mind,” I admit. I like being vital to the house. Mom never said I had to be home for dinner. Hell, she wasn’t home for dinner most of the time. It was me alone at the table with whatever sad creation I came up with.

“Still shouldn’t have. I wouldn’t have done that with Bryce and I’m sorry. You two are the same age.”

Lowering my eyes, I nod. “Kay.”

He puts a hand on my shoulder. “Now go ask your fake boyfriend for a new phone. Fuck it, I could use one too. New phones for everyone.”

I perk up. “You should totally polish a knife or something when he comes to pick me up in his car for our fake date. Bet he has a fancy car.”

“Now you’re thinking. And he does. A red McLaren. Has doors like it’s a fucking DeLorean or something.”

“Could be fun. I’ve never been on a date,” I admit.

His eyebrows knit together, and a little crease appears between them. “You sure you want to do this, Lo? Your first date should be real. With someone special.”

Tugging away from him, I snatch my phone off the counter where I left it. Now he thinks I’m pathetic. I don’t want him feeling sorry for me. “I’d rather have the practice, thank you very much. The hockey gorilla, who I despise with all my being, is the perfect set of training wheels.”

“If you’re sure, then. I didn’t have my first date till Jack, y’know, and it was worth the wait.”

Of course, Jack’s his first date and his first boyfriend, and his first … yuck. “Anyway, I’ve got stuff to do. I’m supposed to call my new coaches.” The school year hasn’t begun yet, but they expect a lot and they’ve already been in touch.

“Do you need any help with that? I might know a thing or two about coaching.”

“I can look after myself a little, Merc.”

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