Love's Sporting Chance: Volume 1: 6 Romantic sporting novellas

by Janice Thompson

  “You’ve all lost it.” Kevin grabbed his gear and headed toward the locker room, turning back only to holler, “This conversation is over.”

  J.J. jumped in front of him, determined not to let him leave. “Kevin, please listen to reason.”

  “That’s what I’m trying to get you to do. Jaden’s not a figure skater. He’s a hockey player, and I want it to stay that way.”

  “Doesn’t he get a say in the matter?” Ann-Marie asked. “Surely you’ve noticed that he’s interested in learning jumps.”

  “He’s twelve. He doesn’t know what he wants to be when he grows up, but I can pretty much assure you it’s not a figure skater.”

  “So, you can see into the future? Really?” J.J. put her hands on her hips and blocked his way. “I just want the kid to experience new things.”

  “You’re looking for a partner for Libby and he looks like a good option.”

  “He doesn’t look like a good option, he is a good option. Have you seen the way he cuts to a stop? He’s great on his edges. And I know you probably haven’t noticed this, your focus is on hockey, after all, but his jumps are great. Ann-Marie and I both picked up on the fact that he landed on the back outside edge of his blade after he shot over Raymond’s head just now. That’s a Salchow in the making if I ever saw one.”

  “I wouldn’t know a Salchow from a Lutz, so trust me when I say I didn’t notice. What I saw was a kid jumping over a downed player and not killing himself in the process. That’s what I saw. Oh, and he scored while doing it. Did you happen to notice that little detail?”

  “Of course. I saw that too. He’s great. You’ve done an awesome job with him. Really.”

  Kevin’s tight expression softened. “Thank you. I want to do the best I can, since his dad…” He squared his shoulders. “Anyway, he’s not a figure skater.”

  “Never say never.” J.J. lowered her voice and pulled Kevin aside, apart from the group. “And it’s not like I’m asking him to give up hockey or choose between the two. Can I at least ask his mom?”

  “She’ll say no. Chrissy doesn’t have the money for private lessons.”

  “I won’t charge her anything. I’ll be doing it—”

  “For Libby. I know. So she has a partner.”

  “No, Kevin, I’ll be doing it for both of them. And for the rink. If we can put out a really great couple at the June competition, people will sit up and take notice of our figure skating program. We have one now, you know.”

  “We do?”

  “Well, we will. Ann-Marie’s filing paperwork with the USFSA. But we need names to add to the roster. We’ll have Libby, Callie and Jaden. Once we get more kids we can hire more coaches. And if we get enough coaches, we’ll eventually have a program that will attract skaters from all over the Houston area. And if we have a stellar program, we can continue to get the building fixed up, and—”

  “And all of this depends on a twelve-year-old kid being willing to put on tights and skate with a girl?”

  “He doesn’t have to wear tights.”

  Kevin quirked a brow.

  “Okay, they kind of look like tights, but they’re not. They’re just Lycra pants.”

  “Tights. You’re asking the boy to wear tights. Ain’t gonna happen. Not in this neighborhood. And you really think you can train him to do pairs by June? Really? That would be impossible, even with a kid who’d tried on figure skates before. Which he hasn’t. Ever.”

  “I’d like to try. Please let me.”

  “And why would I do that?” He crossed his arms and those beautiful blue eyes of his sparked in frustration.

  “You don’t have to do anything. But I’d be so blessed if you would consider opening this door for him. If he doesn’t want to walk through it—er, skate through it—fine. I won’t pressure him, I promise. But if he knows you’re opposed to the idea he won’t even consider it. You know?”

  Kevin appeared to melt a bit at these words.

  “Who knows? One day you might be sitting at the Olympics watching him skate.”

  “Yes. On the U.S. hockey team.”

  “No, as a pairs skater. And you might look back on this moment in time and say—”

  “Why in the world didn’t I fight harder for that kid not to have to wear tights?”

  J.J. groaned. “Okay, fine. I give up.” She reached for her bag and took off walking across the rink, never looking back, muttering the only words that came to mind: “But you’ll never know how far he could’ve gone.”

  With anger leading the way she shot across the newly decorated lobby and out the front door, ready to put this day—and this conversation—behind her.

  Chapter Seven

  J.J.’s words tugged at Kevin’s heart as he cleared the locker area the following Thursday afternoon. They wouldn’t leave him alone as he swept up the mess the boys had left around the trash can with their soda cans and candy wrappers. Her impassioned plea replayed in his mind as he walked across the clean, freshly-painted lobby with its new décor. Any minute now she would walk through that door for Libby’s lesson and he would have to face her again. Then what? Would he apologize for being a jerk or try to reason with her once again? It seemed every time he opened his mouth in front of this girl he blew it.

  Kevin paused and stared at the spot on the wall where his trophies once stood, proud and tall. Gone were the glory days of being a hockey star. Gone were the possibilities of keeping his uncle’s dreams alive. These days, the only real dreams were pipe dreams. He could barely afford to keep his hockey players in decent uniforms. If something didn’t change soon… he paused and pinched his eyes shut, deep in thought. If something didn’t change soon, maybe they really would have to shut the doors to this place.

  Then again, if what J.J. said was true—if they could bring in a well thought-out figure skating program with more coaches and students—maybe they stood a chance. But why did it have to involve his hockey players? Did the two worlds really have to collide in order for all of this to happen? Couldn’t they just leave his boys alone and let the girls wear the tights?

  “She’s right, you know.”

  Kevin spun around, but saw nothing. Weird.

  “She’s right…about everything.”

  Kevin took a few steps toward the cash register and located Uncle Rusty crouched on the floor, messing with a heap of tangled cords.

  “Here, let me do that.”

  Kevin reached out his hand to help his uncle up. Rusty struggled to stand and, for the first time in ages, Kevin noticed the sheer exhaustion in his uncle’s eyes. In that moment, a wave of guilt washed over him. He knelt down and started messing with the cords, a couple of which weren’t even plugged into anything. In fact one of them looked like it belonged on the old cash register, the one he’d replaced ten years ago. Good grief.

  “Thanks, son.” Uncle Rusty’s words were tender. Kind. They were also laced with weariness, which pricked Kevin’s heart.

  As he worked, Kevin quizzed him. “You okay? You seem upset.”

  “Upset’s not the right word. There’s just so much falling apart around us. The renovations are great, but they’re surface stuff. We need new wiring. A new Zamboni. New awnings out front. We need better sponsorships, for the team and for the boys who need private lessons.”

  “Yeah.” That’s what J.J. said, too.

  Rusty swiped the sweat from his brow and shrugged. “I just want to see the place succeed. I’ll be able to retire in good conscience if I know we’re headed in the right direction.”

  “Do you really think that turning our hockey players into figure skaters is the right direction? You really want a rink filled with boys in tights? And show tunes playing over the P.A.? That’s the right direction, after how long we’ve worked to turn these guys into solid hockey players?”

  “I don’t think it’ll come to that, Kevin. We’re not talking about all of the boys, after all. Just Jaden.”

  “Just Jaden…for now.”

  “So w
hat?” Rusty gave him a penetrating look. “Did it ever occur to you that Jaden might enjoy the opportunity to do something different?”

  “I’ll admit, wearing tights is really different.”

  “I’m not saying he would enjoy the costume part—he’ll fight her tooth and nail on that one—but the figure skating part, especially the jumps, would be good for him. It takes a lot of athleticism to do pairs. I think he’ll be good at it. But before you go getting all worked up, just pray about it, okay? I won’t mention it to him. But you never know God’s best until you ask for it.”

  “I somehow doubt His best has anything to do with tights and show tunes.”

  “Ask. Him.”

  Kevin grunted, then finished working on the cords. Unfortunately, the moment he plugged the first one in, the adapter let off sparks and shocked his hand. He pulled away with a groan. Maybe, one day soon, he would be able to afford new wiring on this old building.

  He prayed he wouldn’t have to put his guys in Lycra pants to see that happen.

  ~

  J.J. fought the temptation to stay home on Thursday afternoon. The idea of going back to The Big Skate—the frustration of facing Kevin again—got her stirred up more than she cared to admit. Still, she had to go, for Libby’s sake. And Callie’s. And Jaden’s. J.J. was more convinced than ever that the boy needed an opportunity to learn to jump and spin, even if Kevin disagreed. Perhaps, with a few words of encouragement from Rusty, she could risk putting the kid in a pair of figure skates.

  When she arrived, J.J. raced through the lobby, relieved to see Kevin kneeling down behind the register working on something at floor level. He glanced her way, mumbled a quick “Hello” then returned his attention to his task. She exhaled a sigh and kept going into the rink, where she found Jaden and Libby on the ice together, skating around and around, deep in conversation. Interesting.

  “What do we have here?” she asked Ann-Marie, who scrubbed the plexi-glass portion of the rink wall.

  The older woman lowered her rag into a bucket of suds and looked her way. “Oh, hey, J.J. Didn’t see you come in.”

  “Just got here. What’s up with those two?” She gestured at the two skaters.

  “I think they’re getting friendly.”

  “Has anyone talked to Jaden about skating with her? Is that why they’re getting friendly?”

  “Nope. I think he has a crush on her. Or vice-versa. Or both.” Ann-Marie paused. “Hey, this is off the subject but have you heard the theme music to that new animated movie—the one all the kids are talking about?”

  J.J. shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

  “Rusty and I took Jaden to see it the other night and the lead-in music is beyond amazing. It’s a great duet between a guy and a girl. I kept thinking it would be great for a pairs skating routine. Want to listen?”

  “You just happen to have a copy in your back pocket?”

  “I downloaded it on my phone, silly. Tell me what you think.” She fumbled around until she located the piece of music.

  The moment the melodic strains filled the air J.J. couldn’t help but gasp. She gestured for Ann-Marie to turn it down right away by putting a finger to her lips. “Shh. That’s too good to share with anyone else. We don’t want the others to steal it.”

  “Right? So, you like it, then?”

  “I love it.” In fact, she loved it so much that she reached for her phone and downloaded it right away. “Whatever you do, don’t tell anyone.”

  “Don’t tell anyone what?” Mrs. Yarborough’s voice rang out from behind us. Ann-Marie and J.J. turned to face her. “What are we talking about? Or, not talking about?”

  “Ann-Marie found some great music for one of Libby’s routines,” J.J. said.

  “Freestyle or couples routine?” Libby’s mom asked.

  “Well, we don’t really have a boy to skate with her yet,” J.J. responded. “But it’s pairs music, for sure.”

  Wrinkles formed on Mrs. Yarborough’s brow and she gave her daughter and Jaden a quick glance. “I felt sure you’d talked Kevin into letting Jaden do it. I know Libby has her heart set on skating with him.”

  “Right. I did, too.” Out of the corner of her eye J.J. watched as Kevin crossed behind them on his way to the locker room, his arms loaded with electrical cords and power strips. “But it might take a little convincing.”

  “Chocolate chip cookies.”

  “What?”

  “I love to bake and I’ve been told that my chocolate chip cookies are enough to make people swoon. Want me to make some?”

  “Maybe. If you think it’ll help.”

  “It’ll help. I’ll bake. You work on winning him over with your effervescent personality.”

  “My…what?” J.J. wrinkled her nose. “Um, I don’t think so. The guy can’t stand me.”

  “Can’t stand you?” Libby’s mom doubled over in laughter. “That’s priceless, J.J.”

  “What do you mean?”

  She wiggled her finely plucked brows and whispered, “Methinks he doth protest too much.”

  “W-what?”

  “C’mon. It’s Shakespeare. Don’t tell me you don’t know your Shakespeare.”

  “I don’t know my Shakespeare.”

  “You really need to get out more, girl. I think Kevin is protesting too much. It’s put on. He’s over-compensating.”

  “For what?”

  Ann-Marie gestured with her head as Kevin came back through, then whispered, “You know,” after he passed by.

  “I don’t know,” J.J. responded.

  Mrs. Yarborough laughed and slapped herself on the forehead. “So, you don’t know Shakespeare and you don’t know infatuation when you see it. This is sadder than I thought.”

  “Infatuation?” Her words made no sense at all. “What’s he infatuated with…besides hockey?”

  “You really are dense, girl.” Ann-Marie slapped herself on the forehead, reached down to pick up the wash bucket and then walked away, mumbling to herself.

  Rusty approached, worry lines creased in his forehead. “What was all that about?”

  “I’m clueless. Something about Shakespeare and infatuation.”

  “Ooo, Shakespeare.” Rusty took a dramatic stance. “To be or not to be!”

  “A figure skater?” Kevin asked as he joined us. “Don’t tell me you’re thinking about putting on tights too, Rusty. You might just have to turn in your man card.”

  “Why not?” The older man gave him a knowing look. “One never knows until one tries.”

  Kevin grunted and walked away. J.J. watched him as he did, but noticed he turned and gave her a curious look. Hmm. Maybe he really was protesting too much. But all that stuff about infatuation? Could it possibly be true?

  Nah. These folks were reading way too much into that. Of that, J.J. was quite certain.

  Chapter Eight

  On the first Tuesday in April, Chrissy approached J.J. just before Libby’s lesson. The suspicious smile on her face seemed intriguing, at best.

  “Okay, we’re in,” she whispered.

  “Excuse me?” J.J. found herself more than a little confused. “What do you mean?”

  “Jaden’s in. He’s got the figure skates and everything. Rusty and Ann-Marie bought them for him. I think they got them second-hand, but the skates fit fine and he’s ready to hit the ice. Well, as long as there are no Lycra tights involved. I promised him that.”

  “Promised who? Kevin?”

  “No!” She looked around. “Kevin doesn’t know. Not that it’s really his decision, anyway. I’m Jaden’s mom and I say he can do it if he wants.”

  “And Jaden wants to?”

  “Does he! It’s all he talks about. He tried on those new skates last night after Kevin left for the day. Fell down about twenty times and he’s got bruises all over his hips and legs but he won’t give up.”

  “So, he’s in. Really?” J.J. paused and tried to figure out how she could make this work.

  Chrissy
kept her voice low as she pulled her over to the stands to sit. “I’ve been trying to come up with a plan of action to get Jaden on the ice with Libby, but it has to be when Kevin’s not around.”

  J.J.’s brows elevated. “Seriously? He’ll kill us if he finds out after-the-fact. Did you not hear any of those things he said a few days back about me turning his boys into figure skaters?”

  “I heard all about it from Ann-Marie, but he’s concerned for nothing. Maybe he thinks my ex wouldn’t approve but it’s not Donny’s decision and it’s not really Kevin’s, either. It’s mine. He’s my son. And I’ve been thinking about this a lot.”

  “You’re sure?” J.J. looked around to make sure Kevin didn’t happen to be walking by. Thank goodness the coast was clear.

  “I’m sure. You really think he has potential?”

  “I do. I’ve seen his footwork and I love his coordination. That’s what it takes to pull off great spins and jumps. And we all know he’s got the speed.”

  “Well then, we’re in.” Chrissy folded her arms at her chest.

  J.J. had to wonder about her motivation. Maybe she’d decided to do this just to rub salt in an open wound with her ex. Or maybe… J.J. paused and gave the matter a bit more thought. Maybe she really wanted to give Jaden every available opportunity to learn and grow. With this new information firmly fixed in her mind, J.J. also had to wonder about something else: if Chrissy was willing to upset Kevin, maybe she didn’t really have romantic feelings for him, after all.

  “Just making sure you heard the part where I said he wouldn’t wear tights.”

  J.J. snapped to attention. “Lycra pants.”

  “Whatever. Nothing like that.”

  “Well, the only way he would ever have to have any sort of costume would be in competition and we’re a long way from that.”

  “Maybe not such a long way.” Chrissy pointed to the ice and J.J. gasped when she saw Jaden and Libby skating together.

  She rose and glanced at his feet, eyes widening when she saw his new-to-him figure skates.

  Chrissy’s brows elevated. “Just between us, I think he’s got a little crush on Libby. She’s an older woman, you know.”