Any Way You Slice It by Kristine Carlson Asselin Read Free Book Online

unscathed.
    All I want to do is forget it’s happening.
    The stands are starting to fill up and the place gets a little noisier. “I could show up to work naked and I don’t think he’d notice. I promise I’ll tell them after I play a bit. There’s no reason to upset them until I’m sure.” I lean forward until my nose practically touches the glass. I’m dying to see Jake decked out in full gear.
    The guys stream out of the hallway from the locker room, and they each touch a spot of faded paint on the doorjamb as they step onto the ice. Must be some sort of superstition. I guess they need luck even for practice.
    Lori leans forward next to me. “Ooh, look,” she says, pointing. “Boys on ice skates.” She grins at me.
    All of them are dressed head to toe in padding, jerseys, gloves, and helmets. Upon closer inspection, most of their jerseys are tattered and faded. A few of the names on the jerseys look like they’ve been replaced. I can clearly see that one kid’s shirt used to say “MacDonald,” but those letters have been removed and “Flores” has been stitched over it.
    The boys are a jumbled mess, all doing their own thing to warm up. As I watch, two of them collide and go down hard on the ice.
    Lori cringes. “Ouch. Uncoordinated boys on ice skates.”
    There’s a flutter in my stomach when I remember the element of danger. Or it could be the guilt of missing the whole cleaning/bleach thing with Grams. But, there’s something about seeing the team in person rather than watching the highlights of a professional game on the news or clips on YouTube.
    The guys start by skating in a line around the edge. Lori and I back up and sit in the first row of the stands. I pull my hood over my head, hoping Jake won’t notice us right away. They’re all on the ice now. I’m taking note of every detail about their strides, how they shift their sticks as they skate, even how they stop. I ignore the fact that several of them crash into each other or the wall when they
don’t
stop. I imagine myself in the line, gutting it out while wearing twenty pounds of equipment.
    It’s easy to spot Jake. Something about the way he moves fluidly down the line. Or it could be the fact that “Gomes” is spelled out across his back. I elbow Lori and point. Of course that’s the instant he looks up and catches me pointing. He gestures to the coach and then he’s speeding toward us. My heart’s beating like I’m the one skating, and for a second I’m afraid he’s going to crash.
    He stops short and skids sideways on his skates, sending snow flying. Lori and I both flinch, forgetting the glass wall in front of us. He pulls off his helmet and shakes his head, beads of sweat raining everywhere. His cheeks are rosy and there’s a glow around him. Like an aura. He smiles that big smile. “You came!” he shouts. “Ready to suit up?”
    I don’t even have to look at her to know that Lori rolls her eyes. I’m not at all sure I want to suit up, but I’m here and I’m not chickening out. For once no one expects me at the restaurant. There’s no reason to say no.
    I stand up tentatively and look toward the locker room.
    â€œMeet me down by the door,” Jake yells, speeding back toward the coach.
    Lori follows me with a shrug. “You totally need a chaperone, girl. I don’t trust this dude, and your parents are totally going to blame me for letting you do this. You realize I’m kissing free pizza good-bye?”
    I snort. “’Cause that’s the only reason you’re friends with me?”
    â€œYou didn’t think it was to bask in your royal glow, did you?” She punches my arm. “Though I do like your cinnamon sugar pizza.”
    I smack her.
    We walk almost halfway around the rink to the archway where Jake is waiting. “There were some extra