by Jenna Payne
“Great. So you’re incapable of leaving a locked door alone and you’re too irresponsible to own your own car at your age? You’re just a big bowl of wonderful, aren’t you?”
Vienna smiled. He was wasting her time, but she was enjoying herself now. This guy Ethan was a loser, plain and simple. She’d put him in his place and send him running home, crying for his mother. That would teach him to butt into her practice time.
“It’s my car. My buddy was in a wreck and I told him he could use my car to get groceries. I’m super responsible. I even have a full time job and everything.”
When he smiled this time, Vienna had to fight the urge to slap the grin off of his face. He was irritating, meeting her anger with a careless smile that showed no regard for the time that he was wasting. She didn’t have time to play with some hockey hopeful that would never make the pros. He was destined to waste the rest of his life going after a dream he would never achieve. Vienna didn’t have time for that, and heaven knew she didn’t have the patience.
“Look, it’s nice that you have a car.”
“Not a nice car like you though. Is the Jaguar yours?”
“Of course it’s mine. Do you see anyone else here? No what I was saying was-”
“Aren’t you going to tell me your name?”
“Quit interrupting me. What’s wrong with you? Do you always act this way?”
“No,” he smiled again. “I’m usually much worse. But I like to tone it down for pretty ladies such as yourself.”
Vienna rolled her eyes.
“Gag me.”
“I could,” he winked.
“Oh dear lord what is wrong with you?”
“Nothing that a kiss from you couldn’t fix.”
He laughed as he skated away, ignoring her as she cursed his back. He continued his practice as if he hadn’t a care in the world, completely ignoring the fact that the rink was paid for, for the next two hours.
Vienna threw her hands up, grumbling to herself as she skated off the ice. She was going to have a word with the manager and make sure this Ethan Hayes was banned for life. If he couldn’t be considerate and share the ice, then he had no business being there anyway.
Satisfied that she would get another time allotted and eager to ice her knee, she pulled on her tennis shoes and grabbed her cellphone out of her purse. She’d be back tomorrow.
*****
It was before six the next morning when Vienna parked her silver Jaguar in the lot. She was happy to see that only Dave the Zamboni driver’s car was around. She had no intention of a repeat of the day before and dealing with the oafish Ethan Hayes. Sure, he was sexy and he had a handsome smile that would melt even the most stoic woman. But his personality had driven Vienna to the brink of insanity in mere minutes. Arrogant, rude and self-serving, he wasn’t the type of guy Vienna would consider spending a week with, let alone the rest of her life. Maybe there were women out there that thought he was charming, but Vienna was not one of them.
Dave had finished the ice before she’d pulled up and she could see him in the crow’s nest, sipping on his morning coffee. She held up a hand in greeting and he waved back.
Vienna warmed up, earbuds already shoved in her ears, her playlists drowning everything around her out so she could focus. She’d run out of the house in a hurry, eager to get to the rink before it opened at eight. She’d left her long, chocolate locks loose, springy curls radiating from her face wildly. Her Irish mother’s side had given her dark brown locks a reddish glow and dark green eyes. It had also cursed her with a splash of freckles across her nose that she’d been trying to hide for most of her life. When she hit her twenties, she decided that they weren’t all that bad and stopped trying to cover them up. Someone had even told her that they were cute. She wasn’t sure that she would go that far, but they were a part of her, and she decided to embrace them a few years back.
The manager had promised to deal with Ethan and had applied her money to another private session later in the week. Then he’d thrown in this morning to sweeten the pot. As obnoxious as Ethan had been, he’d actually been great in the long run. For the price of one two-hour block, Vienna now had four uninterrupted hours this week and another early morning opportunity next week right before the competition.
Warmed up and ready to go, Vienna ran through her long program first. The cold wind flowed through her hair as she flew around the rink, sticking her landings with ease and flowing effortlessly from one jump to the next.
Her smile was huge when she nailed the last spin and came to a stop at exactly the same moment as the music.
“Nailed it!” she said.
“Yes you did,” someone answered back from the stands, clapping loudly.
Vienna looked up and couldn’t believe her eyes. Ethan Hayes was walking onto the ice in his sneakers, cellphone in hand, the biggest grin yet on his face.
“You!” she ground out.
“Yes, it’s me. I would say hi, but I never got your name.”
Vienna crossed her arms.
“Are you completely clueless or do you really have no idea when you’re not welcome?”
“I’m not on the ice, am I?”
“Well, no,” Vienna stuttered.
“There you go. I’m being considerate and waiting my turn.”
He held the cellphone out to her.
“What is this?”
“I videoed your run. You have to see this jump you did. It’s perfect, but I think you could add a little flair to it if you’d move your arms like this.”
He held up his arms and demonstrated, then handed her the phone so she could watched the video.
“Thanks for the tip, but I think I’ll keep my arms where they belong,” she said, but she didn’t take her eyes off the screen.
Ethan had recorded her entire long program, zooming in and out to get the best angle of each element of the routine. He was an expert at capturing the best angle for critiquing her run.
“There, that jump. If you just did this,” he moved again to demonstrate, “it would look amazing and it would make you stand out from all the other women doing the same exact jump.”
“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.
Vienna 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 rea
lly.”
“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.