Ice

12

I woke up to a tickling sensation on my cheek. 

I swatted at it and hit something warm. 

I rolled into it, thinking it was my pillow. 

It wasn't. 

I looked up through my hair to see a smiling Kris, brushing his thumb on my cheek lightly. 

" Good morning beautiful. " 

I grinned, leaning forward and kissing his lips over and over. 

He laughed, wrapping his strong arms around me and flipping us over. He rested on his palms, kneeling over me. 

I gasped suddenly, covering my mouth with both hands. 

" What? What's wrong?" Kris asked quickly, checking around the room. 

I groaned. " Sidney! We left him last night to have sex! Completely abandoned! Did he hear all of that?" 

Kris frowned, reaching across me to grab his phone. 

" He sent a text,"he mumbled," Tanger, left after about ten minutes of waiting. Put the pieces together. Hope you had fun. Congrats" he read. 

I glanced at the clock. "Merde!" I yelled, seeing that it was almost seven. 

" What? We don't need to go anywhere. Let's stay in bed all day."he spoke, running a hand down to cup my breast, squeezing. 

I shivered, pulling a way and rolling out of bed, pulling on my clothes quickly," Yes, but I have to work! I need to be at the rink for 7:30! I need your keys." 

He nodded, climbing out of bed and pulling on some boxers, following me out the bedroom, down the hall to the kitchen. 

" Here" he said, taking a key off the rack by the counter. 

I looked at the keys, nodding and grabbing them quickly. 

I kissed him quickly, rushing down the hall. 

" I'll call you!" he yelled after me. 

" Okay! Bye!" 

I ran outside and then realized I didn't see the cars. 

I clicked the find button on the keys and heard the horn beep. I took a step back to peek around the corner of the house. 

2011 black and chrome Ferrari. 

" okay." 

I hopped in quickly, revving the engine and backing out of the driveway. 

-------------------------

" Whoa! Ms. Girad! Cool car!" 
one of my girls, Sarah yelled as I parked in the lot outside the rink. 

I smiled, waving to her. 
" Thank you!" 

I walked in behind her, shutting the door and running to my office quickly to grab my skates. 

I ventured down the hall to the rink, where the girls were practicing on the ice. 

" Welcome back Ms. Girad!" Danielle yelled. 

I smiled," It's good to be back, now-"

" Is that your car?" Ashley asked. 

I sighed," No...it's my boyfriend's car."

All their eyes widened. 

" Kris Letang?!" 

I nodded, smiling to myself. 
" Yeah. That's him. Are we done interrogating me? Because you have lutzes to work on." 

They groaned, breaking apart. 

As I stepped on the ice to skate around them, I called out,"Finals are in two weeks! We need all the time we can get! So i don't want to hear any groans or complains when I schedule extra practices. 
Being a figure skater is hard work! You are constantly under pressure. And one wrong step..." I looked down at my knee," And you could loose everything."

I spun around, facing them. 
" So, we're going to work harder, I'm going to push you. To see how far you can go. "

Sarah skated next to me, and stopped, looking sad. 
" Ms. Girad? Do you think you'll ever compete again?" she asked innocently. 

Madison came by and smacked her on the head. "don't ask things like that!"

I shook my head," No, Madison, it's okay. And no, Sarah. I don't think so. My body won't let me." I smiled sadly. 

She wrapped her arms around me in a hug. I stiffened, but hugged back. 

" It's okay Ms. Girad. You'll see. Maybe you'll find something you love better than skating!" 

And she pushed off, gliding to my right. 

I took a deep breath and walked off the ice, heading the short distance to my office. 

I unlaced my skates and sat behind my desk, rolling up the shades so I could see the girls through the big plexiglass window. 

I turned around in my chair, and gazed at all my trophies, and ribbons, and awards. 

One wrong fall ruined my life. 

And so I lay down my head in my arms on the desk, and I cried. 

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Kris POV

I decided to get out of the house today, feeling better than I have in a long time. 

We were having a practice today at the CONSOL, so I took the cutlass and drive out there. 

The guard at the players entrance, Donald, greeted me with a smile. 

" Good Morning, Mr. Letang. Hope to see you on the ice soon. "

I grinned, patting him on the shoulder," You and me both. "

I entered the building and walked down the long hallway to the locker room, opening the door. 

There was a mild, usual banter being thrown around the room, but as soon as I walked in, the noise skyrocketed. 

" Kris!"
" Hey Tanger!"
"How ya feeling, Frenchie!" the last was yelled by Jordan, of course. 

I laughed, sitting down on the bench under my locker. 

" Hello, boys.  How's it goin?"

" Didn't think you'd show up." Sidney said, coming around the corner, smirking. 

Gronk looked from me to him,"Whoa, what did I miss?"

Sidney cleared his throat,"Tanger and his girl made up. And by the sounds of it last night..." he smirked," Had a pretty good reunion."

The whole room "ooooh"ed. 

I chuckled," Yes. Aurelie is back. Came in yesterday morning to take care of me. "

Geno clapped me on the back, 
" You see? I tell you it get better, get better." 

I nodded, "yeah man you were right."

"So to the important things," Chris Kunitz started, "When will you be playing again?"

I sighed, running my hand through my hair,"Doc says two weeks. "

Sidney smiled, leaning against the wall," Better than I thought. So are you staying for the practice?"

I shook my head," No. Not today. I'm gonna swing by the Civic to see Aurelie and bring her some lunch. " I stood, stretching. 

Before I could move, the doors swing open and Mario, Coach, and Ray all walked in. 

" Alright boys, meeting time. Since we don't have Letang we're going to-"

I cleared my throat. 

Coach looked up from his clipboard," Letang? Hey son what you doing here?"

I walked up and he patted me on the back," I was feeling better. So I decided to stop by."

" Yeah right!" Flower yelled,"More like his girl worked her magic on him last night!"

The guys chuckled. 

Dan laughed as well, "Whatever the reason, I'm glad to see you here. "

As he went on addressing certain players, Mario nudged me. " Kris? Can we talk?"

I nodded, confused, and stepped out into the hall with him. 

He look nervous," How is Aurelie? She went to visit her brother, right?"

I nodded, brows furrowed, "yes, but, Mario, how do you know so much about her?"

He sighed, closing his eyes as he lay against the wall, head up. 

" Aurelie is my goddaughter. I was best friends with her father, Pierre. And when they died-" he paused, looking to me," I swore I would protect her. But she wouldn't let me. She's stubborn just like him. She said she could take care of herself...and I worry about her. I feel that it's necessary to step in like her father would, and say that if you hurt her...it will not end well. "

I nodded slowly, taking in the veiled threat. 

" With all due respect, Mario. That won't happen. I love her."

He smiled," I know, son. I could see it in your eyes after she left. Promise to take good care of her?" he held out his hand. 

I nodded, shaking his hand," I promise"

He smiled sadly," Her parents would have really loved you. "