Page 21 of Our Offseason

“Good. I wanted that to happen. Karma,” I told him as he continued to struggle with his fricken giggle fit. “Hope your nose burns.”

“Karma is very real!” I heard Paige yell from the back.

8.Claire

I deepened into my downward-facing dog pose, following Darla’s instructions. She was the resident yoga instructor for the rink and Max’s mom.

She was a figure skater once upon a time and always had a soft spot for me and Addie when we were little. Darla had three very funny, but tough as nails sons who all towered over her and tried to boss her around, so she treated us like the daughters she never had.

Everyone referred to her as just “Darla,” even her sons jokingly did it with an eye roll most of the time.

I loved finishing out my day with her classes because her voice was so soothing. Don't get me wrong though, the hockey mom in her started to show real good when people weren’t listening. She was a stickler for silence, and she was known for kicking people out of her class when they didn’t abide by her rules. But I’d never been asked to leave a class, something I was proud of, and she always used me as an example for younger students.

Today’s class was filled with mostly figure skaters with the exception of a couple goalies from the Ice League’s junior team who were probably mandated to come by their coach.

I heard a rustling to the side of me, but kept my eyes closed, figuring it must’ve been another skater running late to class.

“Make sure to distribute the weight evenly through your palms. Lift those hips so the strain isn’t in your shoulders,” Darla continued with pointers as she walked around the room in her bright pink leggings.

“So, where’s the douche today?”

I knew that voice.

My eyes flashed open to see Duke placing his crutches on the ground and leaning down to sit on a blue yoga mat next to me.

Ugh.

I grinded my back teeth together. There went my internal peace. I almost grumbled aloud.

“Where–” he started again.

“Shh,” I responded harshly, cutting him a look to shut it. I nodded toward Darla at the front of the room.

“Now walk your hands out to a plank, my darlings!” Darla advised. “Close your eyes here and envision yourself lifting your shoulders far, far away from the mat.”

Hoping that everyone else listened and closed their eyes, I took the opportunity to sneak a glance at him. I was still getting used to this new Duke. The last time I saw him, he was a tan, lanky teenage boy wearing a puka-shell necklace with long, shaggy hair that he’d snap his neck to the right to shake out of his eyes every couple of minutes. Now, he pushed his floppy hair out of his face and it curled out under his ears like it was permanently sticking out of a hat or helmet. His body was still probably considered lanky by NHL terms, but he looked thicker to me, and his arms were sculpted with impressive muscles… He showed off his strength by holding the pose on only one foot. His casted ankle was resting on the back of his other leg.

I quickly looked away, trying not to blush over the fact that I was checking him out, and hoping that Darla hadn’t noticed. She seemed to notice everything.

“His name is Jacques,” I whispered, finally answering his first question. “And he didn’t come in today. We’re practicing again tomorrow.”

We made eye contact as Darla instructed us to bend our elbows in to do a four-limbed staff pose. “Hold it as long as you can. Take a rest in cobra pose when you can’t hold it any longer!”

Duke pressed his lips together in annoyance. “You going to pick him to skate with?” he asked quietly.

I snorted at his response and ignored my aching muscles wanting me to quit the position. “Doesn’t work that way. He needs to pick me.”

His face, which was starting to turn red from exertion, scrunched up in confusion. “Come again?”

“There are way more girls than guys in skating,” I explained. “So, the guys have the pick of the lot… I simply do not.”

“Shh!” Darla shot at us.

Duke strained his neck to look up, and he mouthed sorry to Darla with a flirty grin. Darla looked a little flustered, and I swear to God she actually blushed before shaking her head at his antics.

I felt my jaw angle out to the side and snuck another glance at him. That whole flirt to get out of jail card really pissed me the hell off.

“Really? Do you flirt with everyone?” I asked disdainfully as soon as Darla walked away.

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