Page 123 of The Recovery Coach
Fighting wasn’t allowed in kid’s leagues, but sometimes gloves got dropped before the refs could interfere.She started shit knowing she wouldn’t have to follow through.A girl after his own heart.
Livy leaped to her feet in a panic.She took a step toward the ice, but Dylan grabbed her hand.
“She’s fine.This is what she does,” he said.
Livy turned an accusatory look at Hazy.“You taught her this.”
Hazy struggled to hide his amusement.“She learned this all by herself.”
The fight on the ice stopped, and one of Cassie’s teammates did the slow skate of shame toward the penalty box.Livy sat again as play resumed.
“Technically,” Dylan said.“She did learn this by herself.By watching Hazy and Lover play.”
“You’re such a menace,” Livy told Hazy.
After Cassie’s game ended, Hazy had her stay on the ice.He changed into his pads and grabbed his and Dylan’s skates from his locker in the rink next door.Then he grabbed another pair from the supply room for Livy.
Hazy helped Livy tie her skates.She’d been skating almost as long as he had.She didn’t need help.But doing it for her was cathartic.
Dylan and Livy took turns shooting on Cassie while he tied his skates.
He hesitated at the entrance to the ice.Some of his favorite people were out there.He could take three strides and be testing the famous Cherry Bomb.
Livy caught his eye, and he smiled, trying to seem thrilled.She saw through his bullshit.
She skated to him and held out her hands, and his nerves settled.He’d done this for other people a million times.Held their hands steady and skated backwards so they could build confidence.
He let Livy pull him onto the ice.She skated beautifully, guiding him to the center of the rink.By the time they made it, most of his anxiety had faded and muscle memory took over.He retrieved the stick Livy abandoned and fired a few soft shots at Cassie.
She stopped most of them, and Livy whooped in celebration for her, chanting “Cher-ry, Cher-ry, Cher-ry.”
They skated and laughed together for a few minutes.Hazy asked everyone to race, and they sprinted from one goal line to the other.He used to let Dylan and Cassie win, but as they’d gotten older, he skated a hair ahead of them, pushing them to their limits.In a few years, Cassie might be able to beat him.
Out of breath and full of joy, Hazy needed one more thing before he could feel confident going into practice the next week.
“Okay, Little Bomb,” he said.“It’s your time to shine.”
Cassie cocked her head to the side and raised an eyebrow.“Oh, yeah?”she asked.
“I need a favor.”
“Too bad,” she said.
Livy laughed, and Cassie pointed at her.
“Ask your girlfriend for a favor.”
“I’m not allowed to call her my girlfriend yet,” Hazy said.
“Ooh,” Dylan taunted.“Haven’t met expectations, huh?”
Hazy flipped him off.
Livy blushed.
“Maybe tomorrow?”Hazy asked, shamelessly.
She gave him a death glare, and Cassie asked, “What’s tomorrow?”
