Frozen Barriers (11 page)

Pulling up in the arena parking lot, I get out of my F150 Platinum pickup and grab my bag from the bed. As I approach the back entrance, I pull out my security badge and enter the building to the ice level and head back toward the locker room to change into my practice gear. Halfway there, I run into a couple of teammates that I haven’t seen since last season with the Monarchs. We might be teammates, but I try not to get too attached to many of them. Some of them get brought up to the next level of the league, and there are others that get traded. Either way, for me, once they are gone, I already know they won’t be staying in touch. So, for the few that do actually come back the following season, it’s a miracle. Right now, there are five of us that are still contracted from last season. Bryce and Dylan are nice enough friends, and we’ve been known to hit up the town after a few games, but outside of that, I’m really at a place in my life where I’d rather just relax at home. I may be twenty-five, but years of playing hockey and road trips tend to take a toll on one’s body. Broken noses and groin pulls are all fun and games until you’ve had enough of them to know when it’s time to call it a career.

“Hey, man, how was the off season?” Bryce asks.

Looking up and dropping my bag onto the floor, I say, “Summer was good. I spent some time working with the kids in the summer program again at the local rink. It didn’t pay much, butit was fun, and that’s all that matters.”

“That’s cool. Are you still hitting that brunette you met after our last home game in the spring?” Dylan asks while giving me a slight punch to the shoulder before winking at me.

Ugh. Avery. Pretty girl but absolutely dumb as rocks, and although she was a sure thing since she was at least five tequila shots deep by the time we left the local pub, she was in no way, shape, or form someone I wanted to bring home to Mom. The fact that Dylan is asking me now after all this time leads me to believe he’s either still interested or has already hit that after me and doesn’t want to burn any bridges before the season starts. Yeah, he’s the team man-whore and proud of it.

Bursting out a loud laugh, I say to him, “D, she was a stage nine clinger, one I blame on the amount of alcohol consumed that night. Otherwise, there would have been no chance of my dick ever finding itself inside that abyss of a pussy.” As mean as that may sound, the Monarchs finished the season on a very good note, and we were all out living it up a little too hard. Avery was a mistake I can honestly blame on too many shots of Patron and a rather lengthy dry spell from sex in my life. The only things I was thankful for were she never tried to get in touch with me afterward and I at least remembered to use a condom. Something tells me that girl has been around the block a few times from the stories I hear in the locker room.

Dylan laughs after some time, and then as we start walking back toward the locker room, he turns and says, “Dude, you were so fucked up that night I’m just shocked your dick actually worked long enough to make its way into that cum dumpster.”

“You know what? There are so many things wrong with that image I’m just glad I can’t remember much of that night, but the unfortunate part of it is that I can confirm she is not worth the effort.”

After changing into some basic hockey gear in the locker room, the three of us make our way out to the ice and quickly open up with some laps around the rink. Even after the last month or so hanging out at the Forum with the kids during summer camp, nothing compares to the feeling of just getting into the full swing of the season.

Practice at the rink is anything but exciting today. Suzy has me work on some standard runs and different edges going into jumps as we start to test out some new choreography for the upcoming season’s programs. Many times I wish I could hear the music and feel it to the point that the movements come to me naturally. However that may be, it’s not the case. Each movement is calculated. Every edge, spin and jump placed specifically in order to provide me the best chance at receiving the perfect score. I laugh at that perfect score because it will never happen. Not even on a perfect performance. I can go out there and skate my heart out and never falter, but the judges always find something. That
something
will be the first thing my mother will point out immediately after the competition.
Emily, it appears there might have been some minor flaws in your performance today.
Regardless if I place first, that is not what’s important in Mother’s eyes. Need I remind you of her alter ego, Cruella Deville? Better yet, I believe she’s now morphing into Maleficent as she gets older. Somehow I think she senses my strong disapproval toward this skating career she so kindly forced me into all those years ago.

After four hours of grueling practice, my love for
Les Miserables
has now taken a turn for the worse. I know by the end of this season I will hate hearing what has long been my most favorite musical. To keep the audience entertained, my coach and choreographer feel it is important to choose music that has a significant impact on the past year in the entertainment world.
Damn you, Anne Hathaway!
Never again will your Oscar winning performance bring me happiness. It’s all been tainted after this skating season.

After pulling into my garage, I grab all my gear out of my trunk and lay everything onto the floor to dry. Quickly taking the stairs and opening my door to my refuge, I kick off my pink sneakers and connect my iPhone to the charger before flipping on the surround sound for music to fill the walls of my place. A new song starts, and I’m immediately transported into a whole new place. I grab a bottle of water from my fridge and start moving my hips in the living room as ZZ Ward’s voice beats against the walls. Then, the bounce and finger snaps join in, as I’m lost in my own world and happy.

Laughing at myself, I remember my phone has been off since I went into practice. I hit the
Power
button as I pass it heading back toward the French doors to let some air into my room. There will only be a few more nice days for me to enjoy what’s left of summer. A slight sea breeze begins making its way through the air, and a chill runs up my back as a cloud passes overhead. I really need to escape to a warmer climate one day. I have to laugh at that, but sure, I can certainly dream.

I’m taken away from my mental images of tropical paradises when I hear my phone ding, alerting me I have a text message. I pick up the phone off the table and see the number “2” hovering over the message icon on my phone, indicating two texts. I open the first one from Sue.

Hey! Taking Courtney out for a couple of drinks tonight for her birthday. Just us 3. Thinking the martini bar Eavesdrop @ 7p. It’s a funky little place but they make great drinks. Would like to catch up some more if you are around. Text me back if you are in.

What harm will it do to have a drink or two and reconnect with Sue and get to know Courtney some more? I did tell Jeremy I would at least try. I really didn’t leave on such good terms the other day when I stormed out of lunch because of Jeremy. I might as well have a little bit of fun tonight. I don’t have to be at the gym until three tomorrow, and that’s only for strength and ballet for three hours. How bad can it be? I quickly respond.

Absolutely! I’ll meet you there at 7. It will be good to catch up some more.

Within a few seconds, I hear my phone and see Sue has already responded.

OMG! You are really coming out ?!?! Yay! You totally just made my day, girl!!

What a nut that one is! I made her day. Seriously, Sue needs to make more friends if I’m the one handing out the happy cards. I remember that I still have one incoming text from Jeremy to read. Tapping my inbox, I read his words displayed across the screen.

Working on getting back into shape so I can catch you faster the next time you run =) I’m still waiting to hear about that “date.” Courtney says she asked Sue to let you know about Eavesdrop @ 7 for her bday tonight. Hope you go for girls’ night out, but know Courtney might poke you to talk. She likes to play matchmaker for my brother and me. Beware JK - TTYL

He’s relentless about this “date.” Perhaps if I play hard to get he’ll just forget. No, he won’t. I laugh out loud. Who am I kidding?

I’m not sure I’m ready to start talking about what happened with Jeremy a couple of days ago, so I’m hoping Sue just wants to concentrate on Courtney’s birthday tonight instead. I’ve got a few hours before I need to leave, so I quickly check my emails just in case my mother has scheduled anything further this week for me. Nothing appears to have changed since she ever so kindly reminded me of my lack of attention to my schedule this morning. With that in mind, I shut off my tablet and head into the shower and change for our girls’ night out. It’s funny how my life seems to have changed in just a couple of days. I glance up at myself in the mirror and chuckle. I’m genuinely happy for the first time in my life.

Pulling up to Eavesdrop, I park my car to the side of the lounge and inspect myself in the mirror. I’ve gone a little over the top for just a night out with Suzanne and Courtney, but it’s not overboard. I’m wearing my skinny jeans and off the shoulder blouse with my platform heels, which may I add, are a total bitch to drive in. It took all of about five seconds before I kicked them off and drove barefoot. I’m more suited for wearing my Chuck Taylors or flip-flops.

Slipping my heels back on, I make my way inside the lounge. Its soft lighting and varying color pattern immediately make my eyes pop open wide. Along the outside walls is one large, cushioned seat with throw pillows and small tables set in front. In the center of the room are randomly colored round and square cube seats and overly large velvet chairs. It’s almost as if I followed Alice into the rabbit hole and made my way into Wonderland.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Sue waving her arms at me, and I make my way over to them. I give her a quick hug and head over to greet Courtney the same, but she jumps up and bounces toward me, hugging me tightly to a point that I almost can’t breathe. She grins as she backs away and more than excitably says, “I can’t believe you came out. Thank you so much! We are going to have such a great time! They make excellent martinis here, and the bartenders are not too bad to look at.”

Glancing over toward the bar, I see two tall guys in their mid-twenties with their sleeves rolled up to their elbows, shaking cocktails while their muscles move with the drinks. My mouth begins to water, but I’m not sure it’s for the drinks.

“Uh-oh, I think Emily just caught on to our little secret.” I hear Sue tell Courtney just loud enough for me to hear.

Quickly coming back to reality, I plank my ass in one of the oversized velvet chairs, and my ass feels like a million bucks in this chair. After plenty of crashes on jumps today at the rink, this extra padding under my ass is heaven at the moment. Snapping out of my daze, I remember it’s Courtney’s birthday. “Oh, Courtney, Happy Birthday!” Handing her a small gift bag, I say, “It’s nothing much, but I hope you like it.”

Taking the tissue paper out of the bag, Courtney pulls out the vanilla scented bath scrub and loofa set. “Oh my gosh, Emily, it’s perfect! I love everything vanilla. How did you know?”