Chapter 18
"You know," Georgia says as we make our way out of the school building. After eight long hours of learning we are finally free to go home. "We haven't gone for coffee in a couple of weeks and what better time than now to go?"
Her voice raised a couple of octaves near the end and she looked at me with a hopeful expression. "I'd love to take you up on that offer." I started and her face lit up. "But maybe another day... I need time to myself today." I finished. Georgia's face drooped and I felt guilty. She was only trying to be there for me and I shut her down.
"Okay, tomorrow though. We're definitely on for coffee." Georgia stated. I gave her a small smile and nodded my head.
"Most definitely."
We gave each other a short hug before we parted ways in the parking lot. I watched as she reached her car, a Prius, before she climbed into the front seat and took off out of the parking lot.
Following suit I climbed into my car. I didn't know where I wanted to go. Certainly not home, mom and Addie might be there, I wasn't in the mood for coffee, it was too cold to hang at the park, and that left only one place for me to go, the rink.
*****
"Rosie! It's good to see back here again, and so soon too!" Phil says. He's behind the counter as usual evaluating a stack of papers. A coffee cup was nestled in his hand and lifting his index finger from the cup he pointed to the coffee machine. "Help yourself I just made a fresh brew."
He was smiling widely. It was good to see he was so happy on a Monday. "No thanks, I'm just going to skate for a bit."
"Remember Hockey practice-"
I cut him off. "I know, I know. I'll be done by then I promise." I gave him a polite smile which he returned. I took that as my sign to go on ahead and into the rink, so I did with my skates dangling in hand.
Just like in the previous week when I had stopped by here I sat near the rink opening and laced up my skates. I couldn't help but think about how much has changed already since I was here to skate last.
I hadn't had kissed Jack yet, my mom was still like she had been for years, Nolan and Georgia were still "together," and I didn't feel as confused as I had today. It all has changed so quickly and I knew it would keep changing. Something had set the change into motion and I'm not sure if it was meeting Jack, or just the fact that it was Senior year and things tended to change during someone's last year of high school.
Getting too lost in my thoughts I hadn't even finished lacing up my left skate. I shook my head trying to clear it. When it was left with only thoughts of skating I stepped onto the ice and began my laps.
"Rosie?" A voice called out. I came to a stop along the wall. It was only my third lap and it was already time to get off?
"Practice time already Phil?" I called back certain it was Phil who had shouted out my name. I couldn't see in anybody in the rink's opening but I'm sure Phil had called for me behind his desk which wasn't to far away.
"Already forgetting my name? My heart, it breaks." My eyes flitted back up to see Jack stepping on to the ice in only his hockey shorts and a t-shirt. He had a bucket of pucks in one hand and in the other his hockey stick. I watched as he skated across the rink, set the bucket and his stick down near the net, and then turned towards me, shooting me a smile.
"Jack, What are you doing here so early?" I ask slowly making my way over to him.
He smirked. "Even the best need extra practice, Rosie." He says. "Also, I should be asking you the same thing. You don't even have practice today."
I had reached him quicker than I thought and even with my added height from my skates Jack still towered above me. I took my time in answering him, not sure if I wanted to be completely honest with him or not. He watched me as I skated circles around him.
"Maybe I do have practice, what if your coach wanted a player who could actually play." I teased. It felt good to joke around with Jack. The mood I was in early was pushed to the side leaving room for being silly. I switched to skating figure-8s around Jack letting his eyes follow mine.
He chuckled and leant down to pick up his hockey stick and a puck. "Then show me what you got hot shot." He says handing the two over to me.
Was he serious? I haven't shot a puck since my dad took me to the frozen pond on the outside of town when I was eight. Back then I could barely even hit the puck, and I doubt even now I could. Jack gave me a challenging look and my heart raced. I reached out and took the stick and puck into my hands. "Watch and learn, Rookie." Without thinking I winked and Jack stifled a laugh.
"I'm watching..." He says.
I skate about ten or fifteen feet away from the net and lay the puck on the ice. I steady myself and line up the stick like a golfer would line up his driver. Before I could even start to wind back Jack stopped me.
"No, no, no, you're stance is all wrong. If you try to hit the puck now you'll miss and fall on your ass." He explains skating over to me. He stands behind me and places his hands on my elbows adjusting them in the right places then moves on to my hands. My heart is thudding loudly now with his proximity and even though he's only fixing my hands it feels like he's doing so much more.
"You need power in your arms, but also in your legs too." He says his touch leaving my arms, and looking down I see his skate go between my feet and he knocks one over a bit forcing my stance lower.
Before I could calm my heavy breathing Jack was back behind me. He pressed himself against me as his hands wrapped over mine which were still placed on the hockey stick. "Now you draw your power." He whispered into my ear while pulling our arms back, and then pushed me gently to the side making me lean most of my weight on my right leg.
"Then you shoot." Jack swung our arms forward hitting the puck with the hockey stick, sending it flying forward and into the net.
I couldn't help but squeal as the puck hit the back of the net. It was the first time I had ever made a goal. I had broken out of Jack's arm and turned to face him. The corner's of his mouth were turned up in a smile.
"I told you, I'm good." I say, ignoring the fact that Jack had helped me.
"Only because you had an amazingly good coach to teach you." Jack says skating towards me. I bit my lip, and let my self slowly slide over to him as well.
"Maybe, but I could still beat you one on one." I say.
Jack scoffed. "Doubt it. Have you seen me play? Plus I play rough and wouldn't want to mess up the pretty face you've got."
We were now directly in front of each other. Close enough for Jack to reach up and bop my nose when he said that. I wanted to melt at the possibility of him thinking I'm pretty but I ignored it. For now, anyway.
"I think I could take it." I say. My gaze glanced down from his eyes and too his lips then back again. He had distracted me from when I wanted to skate alone and now I wanted nothing more than for him to kiss me.
Jack reached out and wrapped a hand around my waist pulling me into him. "Listen Rosie... There's this tournament this coming weekend." He says. "And a bunch of the team's girlfriends are coming along to... Um... support them. And I know we aren't really anything, but I'd like you to-"
Before he could continue his teammates began to file out onto the ice. "Hey Lovebirds!" Cole called out and I looked over to see Talon glaring. "We need the ice now, so can you continue you lovey-dovey stuff after."
Jack released my waist and retracted back into himself. He glanced over to Cole and Talon giving them a sarcastic thumbs up. "Never mind...I'll see you around Rosie."
He began to skate away and I almost let him, but I knew what he was about to ask. At least I think I did. "Jack," I call out to him. He turns around letting his teammates whiz past him. "If you want me there, I'll come."
Jack smiled at me. With nothing left to really say I skated in between players and to the rink's exit. Even off the rink and away from Jack my heart was still racing from because of what I had just agreed to.