Fresh Ice (16 page)

Serena heaved a bored sigh. “I need a few days off.”

And if I’m lucky, I’ll be back on the road when she returns. If I play this right, it could be three weeks before I have to see her again.

“What on earth are you grinning about?”

Quinn blinked. “Sorry, I was thinking about…something.”

“Well stop. It’s creepy. No go get your precious beauty sleep. And be here at five tomorrow to take me to the airport.” She rolled to her side and turned off the lamp.

Driving home in the twilight, Quinn marveled at this unexpected reprieve from Serena’s demands. His spirits rose as high as Nashville’s neon skyline.

Izzy opened the box and stared at the contents. The last time she was on the ice, she wore rented skates and pretended to have trouble making corners at the local rink.
Even then, after so many years, it was like I’d never been off the ice. It was so hard to keep from letting loose and landing some jumps.
She smiled at the idea.
What would those other moms have thought? They already hated me because I looked so young.

She pulled out her competition skates.
I always loved these skates.

They were my glass slippers. When I wore them, I was a princess.

A light knock shook her out of her reverie. “Come in.”

“Izzy, how are ya?”

“Collier!” Izzy hopped up and hugged him. “I can’t believe you’re back. I thought you were going to be gone for another week.”

“Oh, I’m not really here. I have to catch up with the guys in a couple hours. But our manager called me about a charity event, said the guy organizing it wanted to bring in as many local celebrities as possible, I wanted to get the details before I signed the band up for something we might hate.”

“It’s not a Make-a-Wish thing is it?”

Collier shook his head. “No, something else in the early spring. From what I understand, it’s going to be big…” he caught sight of the skates, “although not quite as big as Isabella Landry putting on her competition skates. What’s going on here?”

“Have a seat,” Izzy pointed to the bed. “I’m supposed to help with this Make-a-Wish thing later today. It’s a skating event. Apparently, the child wants to scrimmage with some NHL players. So my friend…he’s a former NHL player…”

“Quinn Murray?”

“How’d you know?”

Collier shook his head. “Two reasons: first, Quinn does more charity work in this town than anyone. Second, you’ve had an eye on him since the day you g
ot back to Nashville, and don’t you even dare deny it.”

“What are you talking about?” The icy edge in Collier’s voice made Izzy defensive. “We’re friends.”

Collier’s laugh was loud and mocking. “I wasn’t aware he was in the friendship business when it came to women.”

Izzy rolled her eyes. “I swear, why is it so hard to believe he and I can have a completely platonic friendship?”

“Because he has never had a completely platonic friendship with any woman,” Collier put his hand on her shoulder.

“Yes, well, we’re friends. He asked for some help, and I’m going to help him.”

“Does he know who you are?”

Izzy focused her attention to a microscopic spot of dust on her skate blade. “Of course he knows who I am.”

“Oh, so you’ve shared with him your impressive skating credentials, and that’s why he wants your help?”

“Not exactly…” Izzy rubbed the skate blade with her thumb, wishing Collier would stop staring at her with his steel gray eyes. “Okay, no. He knows I’m a mom, and a widow, and he knows I’m from Wisconsin. He knows I work at Waffle House, and he knows I give free coffee to homeless people when it’s cold outside. He’s been to a couple Vanderbilt games with me.”

“Tell me again how you don’t think you two are dating.”

“I swear, first Cat, now you. We are friends. If we were more than that, which we are not, I might share more with him, but we are not, so I will not.”

“Hey you don’t have to defend yourself to me.” Collier held up his hands. “You can tell people or not. We can let it be our secret. I sort of like having a secret with you. It’s like we were kids again. Only maybe,” his voice had a wistful tone, “maybe we get it right this time.” He shook his head. “So when is this event?”

Izzy checked her watch. “He’s supposed to pick me up in half an hour.”

“Can you still skate?” Collier’s eyes twinkled. “I mean, it has been a lifetime.”

“I can skate rings around you, Collier James.” She grinned. “I’ve kept myself in shape. I might not be able to pull off a long program, but I can skate a few laps with some hockey players.”

Collier laughed again. “There’s my girl! Pop always said you were the best natural talent he’d ever seen. He’d say that to your parents all the time.”

Izzy tried to ignore Collier’s mention of her parents and hoped he didn’t see the flush warming her face.

“Tell me you’ve contacted your parents.”

Izzy shook her head. “I haven’t had the guts. I keep telling myself I want to wait until I’ve done something. I’m this huge failure right now and I don’t want them seeing me this way.”

“Who says you’re a failure?” Collier slid off the bed and sat on the floor next to her. “Do you feel like a failure?”

Izzy looked around her apartment.
I love my life right now.
“No.”

“Are you happy?”

“I’m very happy.”

“So what’s the problem?”

Izzy rubbed her skate blade again. “You tell me. I’ve managed to work myself up to a waitress who lives in an efficiency apartment over a coffee shop.”

“Yeah, true. They probably wouldn’t appreciate the finer points of your new life. They were always sort of high strung.”

“That’s an understatement.”

“Still, you need to talk to them, even if just to introduce them to Jenna. I mean, it might be okay.”

Izzy studied Collier’s face, not understanding the shadow darkening his normally expressive features. “It might be okay. And it might be horrible.”

“That’s true, too. But you are never going to know until you know.”

They do have to love their granddaughter, right?
Izzy closed her eyes, her father’s final words ringing in her ears.
No, they don’t have to love anyone. They didn’t have to love me. They just had to pay the bills until I won a gold medal.
“Fine. Fine, I’ll do it. I’ll go this next weekend. Happy?”

“Happy-ish. It would make me happier if you came on the road with me right now, instead of hanging out with Captain Grab Ass and his band of hockey misfits. That would make me happy, and I would make you forget all this talk about being a failure.”

“Very tempting.” Izzy laughed out loud and punched his shoulder lightly. “But, I gave my word.”

Collier let out an exaggerated sigh and looked at his watch. “In that case, you should get going.”

“Yes, but first, I need coffee.” She set the skate in the box and closed the latch.

Collier reached the bottom of the stairs. “About your parents: I sort of hate that I brought it up and I won’t be there. I could rearrange a couple things. Do you want me to stick around for moral support?”

“Since when are you moral?”Izzy playfully shoved him. “Thanks, but I think I’ll be okay.”

“Collier James as I live and breathe. When did you get here?” Cat looked up from her book, a delighted smile lit her face.

“Cat Countryman. You get prettier every time I see you.” Collier hugged Cat. “Let me guess. Blue Pirate is the flavor of the month?”

Cat tossed her head and laughed. “What brings you here?”

“Oh, I…” Collier shot a glance at Izzy.

“He came to see me. Collier and I went to school together. You know, when I was growing up.”

A sharp expression flashed across Cat’s features. “Oh yeah, you grew up here.”

“Yeah, so he stopped by to say hi. How do you know each other?”

“Oh I used to play here all the time. Cat was good enough to give me an audience when I was just starting out.”

“Yes, but now you’re Mr. Big Time, aren’t you? Too good for our little coffee shop.” Cat punched his shoulder.

“What is it with you women and punching today?” Collier pretended her punch hurt. “I don’t know, I might have an opening in my schedule. Fair season is about over and I think I need some time at home.” He let his gaze settle on Izzy for a beat too long. “But now I should go.” He hugged both women before leaving through the back door.

As the screen door slapped closed, Cat frowned. “You have to move out. Now.”

“What?” Izzy was shocked.

“You’ve got some kind of voodoo workin’ over all the eligible men around here.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Cat. Collier and I are just friends.”

“Right, just friends. I’ve heard that before. Meanwhile, Collier’s willing to come and sing in this dumpy coffee shop after filling places like Second Chances. And there’s Quinn pulling up outside. Now what could possibly bring two such talented, busy, hot single guys here?”

Izzy shrugged. “Your cinnamon rolls are world famous.”

Cat laughed and smacked her rear with a tray. “It’s a good thing I like you. Otherwise, I would have to hate you so bad.”

Izzy watched Quinn get out of his car, and smiled. “Well, I’m glad you like me. Quinn’s just here to pick me up for his charity event.”

“Charity event? That is the worst euphemism for sex ever.”

“Cat! Stop.”

“You still owe me an image, Izzy Marks. Boxers or briefs. You owe me!” Cat called over her shoulder as she returned to her duties.

“You owe her what?”

Izzy blushed, thankful Quinn hadn’t heard the entire exchange. “I…uh…I owe her for my monthly coffee tab. You know, getting to be the end of the month.”

“Okay don’t tell me. Are you ready?”

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

“You’ve got your skates, right?”

“Right here.” She took them out of the box and draped them over her shoulder.

He nodded. “I was half afraid you’d chicken out on me.”

“Of course I’m not chicken.”

Quinn walked her to the car. “Wait until you meet this kid. He’s so sweet. It’s almost hard to believe he loves hockey as much as he does.”

Quinn continued talking all the way to the rink. What he said, Izzy had no idea. Her focus was on the skates in her lap. The feel of them, the familiar cold of the blades, whisked her back to her childhood. Her father, rattling on about something, as they drove to Coach’s rink. Her skates in her lap, just as they were now.

Maybe Collier’s right. Maybe I should tell Quinn about my past.

She glanced at Quinn, who continued his monologue about the event as if she were an active participant. His face was alive, more animated than it normally was.
He’s such a hero for those kids.

He’s been my hero, too.

Maybe he could be more.

***

On the ice, Quinn’s heart was always light. But today it floated as he watched Izzy move around in the small group assembled at the rink. Her warm smile made everyone feel welcome, and, though he’d done dozens of events larger than this one, Quinn wondered more than once how he’d managed to do any of them without her.

It was easy to love her. It was almost easy to forget the sight of Collier James emerging from her building as he pulled up to get her.

Almost.

Trying not to obsess about what Collier meant to Izzy, Quinn spent the afternoon trying to catch her eye as she helped someone lace their skates. He wondered what memories stirred in her mind. Her royal blue eyes sparkled, but gave away nothing.
If she’s nervous about anything, she’s not showing it.

The event involved a young boy who dreamed of playing hockey in the NHL. Quinn knew, from his conversations with the parents, that it was unlikel
y the child would reach his mid-teens. So today, with the help of many of Quinn’s former teammates and the boy’s own hockey team, they were going to scrimmage on the perfect ice of the Bridgestone center. He would then be the honorary captain at the evening’s Predator’s game
.

It was a great day, though days like these were always bittersweet for Quinn.
This kid wants nothing more than a tiny piece of the life I’ve lived. He’ll never see it, given his prognosis. He’s dying to live one minute of the life I threw away with both hands.

This dark thought threatened to sour his mood, but a quick glance toward Izzy, who was showing some very young girls how to skate backward, cheered him.
If she was trying to hide her true identity, she’s not trying terribly hard.

Maybe she’s ready to be honest about her past.

Am I ready to be honest about mine?

A puck whizzed past his ear, and the buzzer signaled a goal. The boys from the youth hockey team celebrated, but Quinn’s teammates scowled at him as they skated by.

“Geez, Quinn, at least look like you’re into this. Otherwise, I swear I’ll take over as goalie.”