Cold As Ice

by Paige, Violet

  “Did they ever cancel?” Jack’s low voice was sinfully sexy.

  “Nope. Not once. My dad couldn’t tell her no. And once he got there, I think he forgot about work. At least, he seemed happy to us.”

  “Is that something you and Phoebe do?”

  I was glad he couldn’t see the expression on my face. “Not since Mom died. Right before Phoebe was born. She’s never been. I haven’t been able to save up for that kind of summer trip, not when I pay for hockey. I have to choose one or the either and I know which one Phoebe loves the most.”

  “It’s crazy how expensive it is in the States. If I hadn’t had my sponsor, I wouldn’t have been able to play for long.” I appreciated that he didn’t pity me. That he didn’t try to jump in like Cal and Daniel did and solve my hockey problem.

  “Can I ask about your sponsor?” I wasn’t sure if there were topics that were off limits.

  “What do you want to know?” He started to play with my hair, looping it around his index finger.

  “All of it, I guess. How does that even work? Do you know who it is?” It sounded like something I read out of a Dickens novel in high school. Young boy sponsored in a children’s home and then goes on to have a successful professional hockey career. It was storybook.

  “The truth is I don’t know the answer. I’ve met my sponsor.”

  My eyes bulged. “What?”

  Phoebe’s head whipped around. “Are you going to watch the movie, Mommy?”

  “Yes. Sorry.” I began to whisper again.

  “It’s not public information,” Jack explained. “A lot of kids in homes in Czech have sponsors. They pay for us to do the things we have a passion for.”

  “Like hockey.”

  “Yeah. Hockey. Dance. Whatever. The system isn’t overloaded with kids there like it is here. I don’t really know how to describe it to you.”

  “I think it’s great there was someone out there who wanted to give you your dream.”

  “Me too.” I knew there was something at the end of the sentence that he couldn’t bear to say. He hadn’t been given the complete dream. He didn’t have the family. He didn’t have a happy childhood. Deep down I was hoping the sponsor was someone Jack had in his corner the rest of his life. That’s not how it worked.

  “I hate to do this, but I need to get going. It’s an early morning before the game.” He stretched his legs out.

  I didn’t want to extract myself from his body. I loved curling up with him.

  “It’s okay. We understand.” I slid onto a separate cushion so he could rise.

  “Good night, kid. I’ll see you soon. Enjoy the rest of your movie.”

  “Bye, Jack.” Phoebe barely turned his eyes from the TV.

  “Don’t be offended. She’s zoned in right now,” I teased. “Honey, I’m going to walk Jack out.”

  If she heard me, she didn’t acknowledge the information. I followed Jack to the door while he put on his coat and shoes.

  “Thanks for taco night.” He grinned. He opened the door to leave. “I had a good time.”

  “Wait.” I hurried on the front porch with him and closed the front door behind me. I couldn’t let him leave like this.

  I reached on my tiptoes and threw my arms around his neck. Jack’s arms wrapped around my waist, blocking out the cold air. His mouth covered mine and I moaned the second our tongues began to twist. I wanted to climb into his coat and disappear with him down the steps.

  He lifted me from the floorboards as I eagerly wrapped my legs around his hips. Jack pressed me against the wall. Thank God I hadn’t turned on the porch light. He kissed me deep and hard until my hips began to rock, and I felt how hard the kiss made him. We were needy. Turned on. Reckless.

  “Shit,” I whispered. He tipped my chin as his lips seared into mine again. His thumb ran across my bottom lip and I inhaled, sucking his thumb viciously. His hand moved from my mouth, sliding between my legs and I whimpered quietly when he cupped my heat. His fingers began to press deeply, and I felt the guilt spread through me as quickly as the rush of bliss. I fucking loved it when he touched me.

  “We can’t,” I stated through gulps of air. “Too risky.”

  His forehead rested against mine. “Sorry. I get carried away when I’m with you.”

  “I do too,” I admitted.

  He lowered my feet to the porch. As soon as he stepped back, the cold air hit me. I wanted his arms again. His chest. His kissable lips.

  “Good night.” He grinned, backing up to the steps.

  “Good night.” I rubbed my arms and watched as he climbed in his car.

  I didn’t love winter, but Jack made winter nights a hell of a lot hotter.

  20

  Noelle

  I sat behind my desk. There was a half full cup of coffee on the corner. It was my third mug already and it wasn’t even noon. It was harder to drag myself into the office the last two weeks. It had been two weeks of late-night calls. Two weeks of trying to slow things down. Two weeks of scribbling his initials on my meeting notes. Two weeks that included buying my first hockey sweater. Dire Wolves of course. Watching games on my couch. And cooking meals that I didn’t have to pull out of the freezer.

  Jack and I talked on our phones until after 1am last night. I overslept this morning. It had happened twice last week. I had to get Phoebe fed, dressed, and packed for school. I yawned through the ritual. Thank God I had shimmery undereye concealer at my disposal.

  “Mommy, why are you so tired?” she asked this morning.

  I dabbed at my eyes, trying to focus on tying her shoelaces in double knots. “I stayed up too late,” I explained.

  “You should go to bed on time. That’s what you tell me.”

  I nodded absently. “It’s good advice and you should follow it.” I gave my daughter a weak smile and handed her a rainbow unicorn backpack. “Let’s go. I don’t want to be late in carpool.”

  “You forgot your coffee.” She skipped down the stairs. She was bouncing with energy.

  “Ugh.” My travel tumbler was sitting on the kitchen counter next to the coffee pot.

  It wasn’t a good day to start off sluggish or behind. The budget approval meeting was scheduled late in the day. I had details to prepare before the directors gathered.

  This was the last chance to answer questions about the interactive program.

  “Noelle, do you have a minute?” Ken Law stuck his head in my office.

  “Sure. I’m just going over my notes for the meeting.”

  He strolled into the room. Ken was maybe ten years older than me. He was married with three kids. We sometimes traded parenting stories. He took a seat.

  “There’s something I wanted to discuss with you before we meet this afternoon with everyone.”

  “What is it?” I didn’t like the way his face had a gray sheen to it. Was he coming down with something?

  He exhaled. “I don’t want you to be blindsided.”

  “Ken, what is it?”

  “A donation was given to the museum. I think the details were finally made clear last night.”

  “What kind of donation?” I asked.

  “It’s a large sum. A very large sum. But there are some strings that came along with the donation, and I’m afraid they put you in the middle of an awkward situation.”

  I blinked. The coffee hadn’t kicked in enough for me to muddle through what Ken was trying to tell me. “How can I be in awkward situation? I’m not aware of anything happening with the interactive project.”

  “I’m just going to say it.”

  “Please do,” I urged. He was tiptoeing around a landmine.

  “Charlie Babcock made a donation to the museum in the amount of ten million dollars last night. I heard about it from Albert. He called me at home.” Albert Cummings was the museum’s director.

  My mouth hung open. “Charlie Babcock?”

  “You have to hear the rest.”

  I folded my hands in my lap and tried not to wrin
g them repeatedly. I had nervous bubbles in my stomach I couldn’t ease.

  “What is the rest?”

  “He wants you to replace Albert as the director of the museum with double his salary, effective immediately.”

  I thought the floor had fallen out from beneath my desk. “He wants what?”

  Ken shook his head. “Rumors are flying. People are angry. Albert doesn’t know what to do.”

  “He has to tell him no,” I pushed back. “That’s insane. Charlie Babcock has no business interfering with museum finances or personnel. This isn’t one of his companies.”

  “Albert knows as much as you and I do how much the museum could use the money for the building fund. We have leaks in the basement. The roof has been patched more times than we can count. The money would save the building.”

  I gasped. “He’s considering it?”

  Ken nodded. “They want to know what part you played in this.” He averted his eyes.

  “Me? I’m just as surprised as you or anyone else is.”

  “But you know him. Somehow Charlie has met you and he knows about the budget meeting. You two have had some kind of relationship. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”

  A pit as wide as the Grand Canyon formed in my belly.

  “Ken, it wasn’t like that.” I closed my eyes. Anything I said would sound like an excuse. “Yes, I’ve met him. I’ve spoken to him about the museum. But I’ve never suggested anything like this. Never. I wouldn’t do that to Albert. I think he’s a great director. He’s been a good boss to me.”

  It had been over two weeks since I stormed out of Millers. I had left Charlie enraged and alone in the fitting room. I hadn’t heard from him or Mr. Harrel since that night.

  “You need to prepare yourself for what’s going to happen today. You’re going to be offered the position. I expect Albert to pen his resignation before the meeting.”

  I stared blankly. “I don’t want it.” What in the hell had Charlie done? “Not like this.” I wouldn’t steal a job from a respected man like Albert.

  “I think you need to look at the bigger picture. Babcock was clear about his instructions. If you aren’t installed as the director, the donation is withdrawn.” Ken rose from the chair. He twisted his wedding band back and forth. “That money can go to good use, no matter what the strings attached are.”

  “I didn’t sleep with him,” I blurted out. The heat rose to my cheeks followed by an avalanche of embarrassment. I knew that was what he was thinking, along with everyone who had heard about the contribution.

  “It’s not really any of my business.” He inched closer to the door.

  I jerked up from my seat, slamming my hands on my desk. “Doesn’t anyone care what I have to say?” I fumed. I’d never spoken to Ken that way. “We don’t need his money. We have an operating budget that runs without his millions. Nothing has to change. Who else is willing to hear me out on this?” I pressed, wanting to know if I had allies in the building.

  “I’m the only one here, Noelle. I’m the only one who thought you should know before we met.”

  “What can we do about it? I will stand up to Charlie Babcock. I’ve done it before, and I’ll do it again. I’m not afraid of him. You shouldn’t be either.” I was willing to lead the charge to protect my boss. It didn’t matter if my motivation was rooted in defiance of Charlie. I knew this was one of the moments I needed to be vocal. I needed to be heard. I realized I’d been quiet before, but I couldn’t let this slide.

  “I’m not afraid, but the writing is on the wall.” Ken paused in the doorway.

  “We can’t let him push Albert out. We have to do something. This is crazy. I need to talk to Albert.”

  Ken stared at his scuffed brown leather shoes. “It’s too late for that. He’s stepping aside for the good of the museum.” He tapped the doorknob. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”

  I slumped into my chair. The sleepiness was gone. The sluggishness evaporated from my pores. I had awakened in the midst of a nightmare.

  21

  Jack

  “Hey, Novak, you ready for the game tonight?” Roman Sorrow shouted across the locker room. He was the team captain this season and had made a point to seek me out every day since he returned from the break.

  “If Coach wants me to start, yeah. I’m ready.” It was the first time in a long time I could answer that question with full confidence about what I could accomplish on the ice.

  “I’d love to have you on my end of the ice,” he commented. “I could use some backup.”

  The All-Stars had returned two weeks ago. I’d dressed out for the last two games, waiting to be tapped to play. I didn’t know why Coach hadn’t put me in. It wasn’t like it didn’t cost him to bench me.

  I was stronger. I felt more confident. My leg wasn’t as tight. The pre-game soaks were a miracle-worker.

  I was headed to the tub when the strength coach asked me to stop by his office. It smelled like fast food and vanilla air spray. I saw a bucket of chicken in the trashcan.

  “Close the door.”

  I sat in front of him while he shuffled a stack of papers.

  “Look, Novak. We’ve been working together how long?”

  “Three weeks,” I answered.

  “Right. Three weeks. You came to us pretty banged up.”

  That’s not how I’d describe it, but I wasn’t going to argue with the guy. Eddie had done an incredible job to get me game ready before I left Milwaukee.

  “But, you’ve been putting it all on the ice during practice. I talked to Coach and we want you to start tonight. I need to hear from you that you’re a hundred percent before I sign off on it. My ass is the one on the line, not yours.”

  “Of course. I’m ready. I came here ready.” It wasn’t a complete lie. I was in much better shape than I was a month ago when I was still working with Eddie.

  “Big crowd tonight. It’s Military Appreciation Night.”

  “Got it. I’m ready. I’m not going to let anyone down.” The equipment team had sewn new jerseys that incorporated camouflage into the players’ numbers.

  “All right. I’ll make sure you’re on the starting lineup and the marketing department knows. They’re going to want to tape some pre-game interviews with you. Some press stuff. There’s a camera guy who needs to follow you around. No pushback. Understand?”

  I nodded. “Whatever they need.” He talked to me like I was a rookie. I kept my aggravation to a minimum.

  “Good. Half the guys give me shit over those fluff pieces, but there’s not a fucking thing I can do about it. The crowd loves it. Do whatever the social media team wants. This is your introduction to the Dires fans. They are going to go crazy when they see you up there.”

  “Fine. Got it.”

  “Get out of here. Go get ready. I know you guys can beat the Seattle Score tonight.”

  I smiled. “Thanks, man.”

  I halted in front of the door. I had almost forgotten the most important part of the night. “Hey, do you think I can get some tickets?”

  “Sure. Barb handles team tickets. There’s a section blocked off for family. It shouldn’t be a problem.” He scribbled Barb’s number on a piece of paper. “Who do you have coming?”

  I looked at the phone number in my hand. “My girlfriend.”

  * * *

  Noelle was at work at the museum. I sent her a text instead of trying to call. I knew she was going to be in her budget meeting for hours. She told me last night she was nervous about the directors’ decision. She’d worked hard to pitch an interactive art experience.

  I followed along, listening to her tell me about her work. What made her excited to wake up on a Monday morning. Our work couldn’t have been more on different planes, but we shared a love for what we did. I respected that about her. She worked hard. She showed up. She was proud of what she accomplished at the museum.

  I’d have to wait a few hours to hear how things I had gone.

  Great news
. I’m starting tonight. Tix for you at will call. You finally get to see me skate.

  I wanted her to bring Phoebe to the game. I promised the kid a ticket for my first official Dires start. Barb said she would handle the tickets. All Noelle had to do was request them at the will call office and present her ID. I was given a layout of the arena. Barb circled the section with team tickets. I’d do my best to save a puck for Phoebe too.

  I would do almost anything to get that little girl to smile. It was wild how in only three weeks I’d already learned things she liked and didn’t. I knew when she was overtired. I could tell when she had to run outside and burn off energy. I wasn’t a kid person. I didn’t have that kind of intuition, but Phoebe made it easy. Maybe it was Noelle who made it easy for me.

  I have a special seat for Phoebe too.

  There was a lot to do before the game. I shoved my phone in my back pocket and headed home to pack my game bag.

  22

  Noelle

  Albert’s letter rested in the center of the conference room table. I didn’t want to believe it was true or possible until I saw it up close. My boss had resigned. The man who had been museum director for twenty years was ousted.

  I couldn’t explain to the members circling the room why this had happened. I couldn’t tell them what motivated Charlie Babcock to do something so malicious. I couldn’t put into words how or why I played a role in any of it, other than to accept the man was twisted and illogical. But those were not thoughts I could utter out loud. Charlie had shown more strength and power than I ever gave him credit for. Though I tried to plead with Ken Law that we should be defiant and stand up for what was right, I was scared. I was nervous that I was ensnared in Charlie’s web with no way out.

  They shuffled from one foot to the other. They blinked. Some coughed or cleared their throats. The anticipation hung like a giant weight pressing us all together.