by Jenna Payne
“You look foolish, you know that right?”
“Who cares?”
“I would care.”
“Life is too short to take yourself too seriously. So what do you think of my idea?”
“I think it’s stupid. Why would I randomly invent a new move like that?”
“It’s not new, it’s a fresh take on a played out move that everyone can do.”
“That’s not how it works.”
“Wasn’t that your long program?”
“Yes, so?”
“Long programs have more freedom for artistic expression, that’s why they’re often called ‘free skate’.”
Vienna held her hands up to her cheeks in mock surprise.
“Did you just learn how to use Google to search for stuff that you couldn’t possibly understand? How cute.”
He laughed, totally ignoring her sarcasm. Was this guy for real?
“No ma’am. My mother was a figure skater. I learned to spin long before I ever picked up a hockey stick.”
Vienna arched her eyebrow but didn’t say a word. She was too busy picturing him in figure skates and tights.
“Now that you know I’m qualified, let’s talk about that jump.”
*****
“You’ve almost got it, come look.”
Ethan held up the cellphone and Vienna skated over to him. As annoying as Ethan was, Vienna had been intrigued by his idea. But it wasn’t just that. His phone was top of the line, taking clear videos and playing them back on a large screen. And for some reason, he was more than willing to spend over an hour recording Vienna and letting her watch the playback.
She’d been running through and correcting her short and long programs for an hour when she finally gave in and agreed to try his suggestion. To her surprise, the effect was elegant and eye-catching. And it fell within the rules of the competition. Now she was eagerly retrying the move over and over again, rushing back to where Ethan stood on the ice to check her progress.
“I’m getting tired,” she admitted.
“I think once more and you’ll have it.”
Vienna nodded. She agreed with him. That, and she was much too tired to argue with him.
Vienna circled the lower half of the rink, building up speed and attacking the jump one last time. She flung herself into the air with wild abandon and executed the modified jump perfectly.
She knew before her toe touched the ice that she had over rotated, and she prepared herself for a fall. Vienna let herself go limp, leaving her arms in the air as they were and hoping that they landed between her and the ice. Her toe pick made contact with the ice and slipped out from under her, slamming her down with a heavy thud.
Her cheek connected with the ice, and she felt the sting almost instantly as she slid. She lay on the ice for a moment, cataloguing her injuries before she moved. She did as she always did, starting from the ankles and working up her joints methodically, one section at a time.
She breathed a sigh of relief. Aside from the spot on her cheek that stung like crazy and smacking her skinned knee again, she was unharmed. She’d be sore when she thawed out later, but stiff was not the same as broken.
“Are you alright?” Ethan called out to her.
Even when he thought someone was hurt there was still a smile on his face. Vienna wasn’t sure if she should laugh or slap him. Of course she was fine. She wasn’t made of porcelain.
She gave him a thumbs up and pulled herself up. She circled the half rink again, building up speed and locking her eyes on the spot on her orbit where she needed to enter into the jump.
“What are you doing?” he called out.
“I have to stick the landing!” she yelled back, going into the corner and lining herself up.
Ethan fumbled getting the camera rolling, hitting record a split second before her feet left the ice. This time, she took off with less gusto, letting her arms flow into position and trusting physics to spin her. She landed the jump without bobbling and clapped her hands in delight.
“That was perfect!” Ethan hollered.
Vienna smiled, skating back to him so she could watch the replay. The smile slid off Ethan’s face as she approached.
“That’s quite a bruise you’ve got there.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“You’re done for the day, right?”
“I am. Let me see, please.”
Ethan handed her the phone and she hit play. She watched the jump, her smile spreading ear to ear. She’d done an excellent job. The voice on the video remarked on her jump and Ethan blushed.
“I didn’t mean to say anything over your recording.”
“But did you really think it was beautiful?”
“I think you’re beautiful, but yes. The jump was beautiful as well.”
“Did you really just call me beautiful?”
“I did.”
“But you don’t even know my name or who I am.”
“Sure I do. You’re Vienna Rhett. You’re twenty-three and a serious competitor in the figure skating world.”
“How did you find out my name?”
She handed him back his phone, wondering if she should be worried. How did he know so much about her?
“My dad told me last night when he yelled at me for interrupting your session.”
Vienna groaned.
“Your dad is the manager?”
“Yep. He’s also the owner. He’s kind of a jack of all trades.”
Vienna groaned inwardly. She should have put two and two together, but she never realized.
“I thought your last name was Hayes?”
“It is. But my dad bought this place for my mom when they got married. My mom is Sara Sparks, hence the name Sparks Family Skating.”
“I know your mom. She used to coach me when I was little.”
“I remember.”
“Wait. Are you the boy that used to bring us hot chocolate when we were done?”
“Yep. Bringing hot cocoa to a bunch of five year olds wasn’t really the most glamourous job a ten-year-old could have, but I earned money working here and helping out with the lessons so I can’t complain.”
Ethan reached out, tenderly running his thumb over her cheek. Vienna flinched.
“Maybe you should have that looked at.”
“Really, I’m fine.”
“In that case, have breakfast with me?”
“I ate at five.”
“How about an early lunch then?”
“I really shouldn’t.”
“Of course you shouldn’t, but you want to.”
He smiled at her and winked. His joy was contagious and Vienna couldn’t help but smile.
“Fine. I’ll have an early lunch, but I’m driving.”
“That’s good, because my buddy still has my car.”
“How did you get here?”
“I rode in with Dave.”
Vienna nodded. Now that she knew who he was, it was all starting to fall into place.
“Just because I’m going to lunch with you doesn’t mean I don’t still think you’re annoying.”
“Ah, but you like my camera, so I think you’ll keep me around.”
“Probably.”
“Sounds good to me. I’ll take any opportunity I get to video a beautiful woman like yourself.”
“Don’t push your luck.”
*****
Vienna sat across from Ethan in the tiny diner. Already finished with their meal, they talked quietly over coffee.
“So why did you decide to play hockey instead of following in your mom’s footsteps?” Vienna asked, sipping her coffee and watching him over the rim of her mug.
“I don’t know. My entire family is into figure skating or dance. I guess I just wanted to be different.”
“You can’t get much different than hockey.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” His tone was serious, but the sparkle in his eye said that he was just messing with her.
Vie
nna chuckled softly, smiling at Ethan across the table.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
“What do you mean?”
“That’s the first time that I’ve seen you smile like that. I want to know what I did right so I can always make you smile like that.”
“For starters, that right there.” She took a deep breath. “You’re nothing like I imagined a hockey player would be.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“Of course it is.”
When she didn’t say anything, he said, “Go on. I want to hear all about how I’m so much better than the other guys so I can rub it in their faces at practice tomorrow.”
“You’re a mess, Ethan.”
“And don’t forget humble,” he winked at her.
“I don’t think humble is the word that I would use to describe you. Funny maybe, but definitely not humble.”
“Well I’ll take funny over humble any day.”
“I bet you would.”
The waitress stopped at their table, asking them for the umpteenth time if they needed anything else before walking away briskly.
“I guess she’s ready for us to leave,” Ethan said.
Vienna looked down at her watch.
“Oh wow. We’ve been here for two hours.”
“Time flies when you’re having fun.”
“Do you ever stop?”
“Stop what?” he asked.
“Being so positive and charming.”
“I wake up like this. It’s a curse, but I manage.”
Vienna rolled her eyes dramatically.
“You’re something else.”
“That’s good. I’d hate to be like every other guy who tried to ask you out.”
“But you didn’t ask me out.”
“Doesn’t this count?”
“Not really.”
“Hmm. Okay, then I guess I need to fix that. Vienna, will you go out with me?”
“But I barely know you.”
“That’s not true. We’ve known each other since we were five.”
Vienna burst out laughing, clapping her hands over her mouth to quiet herself when a patron a few tables down glared at her.
“That doesn’t count and you know it,” she whispered.
She gathered up her things and they headed for the door. Ethan held the door for her. The space was narrow and she had to pass by him uncomfortably close to get through. For a brief moment, she was afraid he was going to steal a kiss. When he didn’t, she was a little shocked that she was disappointed.
“Like I was saying,” she said when they got into the car and headed back to the rink, “knowing me since five doesn’t count.”
“Sure it does. Compromise?”
“Okay what did you have in mind?”
“Come watch me practice after dinner?”
“Tonight?”
“Why not?”
“Well, I don’t know I mean-” Vienna trailed off, not quite sure of what to say.
“That makes sense,” Ethan winked at her again, sending little jolts of electricity throughout her body.
What was it about his smile and that wink that made her heart flutter like that?
“I just don’t know anything about hockey. It would be awkward.”
“It’s only awkward if you make it awkward. Please?”
“Fine,” she said, pulling into the parking lot of the rink.
There was a car she didn’t recognize in the lot. A silver BMW sedan.
“Whose car is that?” she asked.
“It’s mine. Pick you up at five?”
“It’s almost one. I thought practice was after dinner?”
“It is. But we need to eat dinner first.”
“Oh.”
“Did you think I wasn’t going to feed you first? Do you want me to pick you up here or at your place?”
“I guess my place,” Vienna said.
“What’s the address?”
“You mean you don’t know?” Vienna said, feigning shock.
“Of course I don’t.”
Vienna laughed and pulled out her phone, texting her address to him so he could save it and her number.
Ethan leaned down in the window, muscled arms flexing unconsciously as he did.
“I’ll see you in a few hours.”
“I can’t wait.”
“Neither can I.”
He smiled at her and walked away without so much as an attempt to kiss her. Vienna was surprised to find herself so disappointed once again. She watched him leave, her eyes drawn to his snug jeans cradling his ass as he went. How had she never noticed how sexy he was?
“What has gotten into you, Vienna?” she asked her reflection in the rearview mirror as she pulled away.
She drove the short distance to her house, parking her car in the garage and jogging up the steps. She checked the clock. She had just over four hours to get in a good nap, shower and get ready before Ethan showed up. But first, she had to figure out what she was going to wear.
Vienna flung the closet door open, taking in her stuffy suits and dour slacks. Her closet was a dismal collection of cheerless grays, browns and pinks that looked more tan colored than anything.
“Yuck,” she said to no one in particular, wrinkling her nose at the options before her.
Her life revolved around figure skating and promotions for her sponsors. If they didn’t provide the attire for appearances, she was expected to look classy and subdued.
She had no idea why the clothes that had served her well her entire adult life were suddenly not good enough, but there was something about Ethan’s easygoing nature and fun attitude that required vibrant colors. His family had money, yet he looked comfortable in jeans and a nice t-shirt.
She couldn’t show up to dinner with him in any of these outfits. No. None of these would do.
Vienna grabbed her keys off the hook and jogged down the steps to her car. She had enough time to shop if she skipped her nap. She wanted to surprise Ethan with something a little less typical of her.
But more than that, she wanted to surprise herself. She didn’t know how he’d done it, but somehow, Ethan had chipped away at that little wall she’d put up between herself and others. And for the first time in years she was looking forward to getting out and letting loose.
*****
Vienna’s doorbell rang at five on the dot and she checked her reflection in the mirror one last time. She’d left her curly locks loose, running soft-touch mousse through her tresses while her hair was still wet. She’d settled on a gray knit dress with a wide black belt and black, fur-lined boots that stopped mid-calf.
Since it was chilly, she decided to add a pair of fun leggings. Bright blue, they featured multi-colored sparrows soaring through puffy white clouds. They took an otherwise typical, boring outfit and made it fun and flirty.
A chunky blue necklace pulled it all together. Vienna felt like a million bucks when she opened her door, and Ethan’s face said that she was right.
“Wow,” he said, taking her in. “You look-wow!”
“Is that all?” she teased.
“It just wasn’t what I was expecting. You look amazing.”
“What were you expecting?”
“I don’t know. I guess I thought you’d be wearing some boring trousers and a plain blouse or something. I like this side of you. It’s fun.”
“Boring blouses and plain trousers, me? No way. I like some color in my wardrobe.”
“It looks damn good on you.”
He handed her the bouquet of brightly colored daisies and planted a kiss on her cheek.
Vienna made a mental note to restock her closet with more colorful attire. She’d keep the mundane stuff for appearances, but she liked Ethan’s reaction. Maybe a little color in her life was exactly what she’d needed.
He held out his elbow to her and smiled.
“My Lady, shall we?”
Vienna couldn’t help but smile as she slipped her a
rm into his, throwing her jacket over her arm and pulling the door closed behind her.
Ethan opened the door for her, waiting until she buckled her seat belt before closing it again. He slid into the driver’s seat and put the car into gear. When he stopped at the intersection at the end of her street, he turned and looked at her.
“What?” she asked, feeling a little self-conscious.
“You’re just so beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
They chatted easily while Ethan drove through town, taking the scenic route and avoiding the highway. They pulled into the parking lot and Ethan parked near the front, killing the engine and turning to Vienna.
“Have you been to Jasper’s before?”
“No.”
“It’s great food, nice atmosphere. Quiet and cozy without being stuffy. I think you’ll like it.”
“I’m sure I will.”
He got out and ran around to open her door, grabbing her hand to help her out.
He was such a gentleman, she thought. It was something that she hadn’t seen much of in her life.
Not that she’d been on a date in the last year or so.
The host welcomed Ethan like an old friend, seating them in a private booth in a darker corner of the restaurant. When he left, Vienna leaned forward and whispered to Ethan across the table.
“Do you bring a lot of women here? He sure was smiling a lot.”
“I’ve never brought anyone here, that’s why he was smiling. I usually come alone or with a group of friends.”
“Oh,” Vienna said, sitting back and feeling a little embarrassed for assuming.
“I haven’t really dated much.”
“Too busy with hockey?”
“Not really. It’s just that most of the groupies expect a certain type of guy, and I’m not that guy. I like classical music and I’m interested in more than a casual hookup. Call me old fashioned, but I like my sex to be a little more romantic than a quick tryst in the locker room after the game.”
“Good to know.”
“I’m sorry, that was a little crass. I’m just over that kind of stuff. I just want to play hockey and leave that on the ice, you know?”
“I really do. I feel the same way about skating. My sponsors expect so much from me and I just want to skate and go home to my cat and read a book.”
