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“I’ll train really hard Mama! I want to do it.”
“Hmmm,” I say, unconvinced. “Maybe we should try getting you on the ice first and seeing if you actually like it.”
“I will! Let’s go!”
I laugh at her enthusiasm and confidence, smiling at the way she’s absolutely certain that ice skating is for her. I wonder exactly when we become full of fear and self doubt. If I could do one thing as a parent, it would be to keep those demons from ever darkening Ade’s joy. I look back at the rink just in time to see the skater execute another move, the flash of a bushy tail quickly blurring and vanishing as if by magic.
“I’m just going to put our things in a locker. You go onto the ice with Sacha, Ade. I’ll take a couple of photos then join you in a minute. Okay?”
“Okay! Come on Aunty Ya-Ya!”
I smile and wave them off, watching Sacha to make sure she’s still as good on the ice as she used to be. Once I’m satisfied that it’s like riding a bike and Sacha can handle Ade, I quickly remove my skates so that I can walk more easily, and in my thick fluffy socks I head to the merch store. I hope Jasmine was right and Ade does love skating.
Inside the store there’s a plethora of skating themed merchandise. Everything is available from Silver Springs Blades bumper stickers for fans, to professional figure skating costumes. I have to admit they’re really cute. But it’s skates that I need.
“Hey, can I help you?” A young lad asks from behind the counter.
“Oh, I’m after some skates. Figure. For a child,” I reply.
“I’ll just serve these customers and then I’ll be with you,” he replies.
“No worries,” a new voice calls out. “We’ll be fine.”
“Jas! You made it!” I beam at her. “Ade will be so happy.”
“Of course we made it,” Jas replies, which is when I notice her hunky harem dotted around the shop, browsing. “We wouldn’t miss Ade’s birthday for anything.”
“Well, I’m so glad you’re here. And you know a thing or two about skates?”
“Glad you’re taking my advice.” She smirks. “No, I don’t—”
“But you said—”
“I don’t. But Ash does. Ash, come help Lumi.”
“Hey Lumi,” Ash says, giving me a warm smile. I’ve only met Jasmine’s guys a handful of times but the foxy firefighter has always been my favorite. He’s definitely the friendliest. A couple of her men intimidate the hell out of me. Not Ash though.
“Hey Ash, do you skate?”
“A little. I’d love to be on the hockey team, but being on call for the fire department makes it difficult.” He shrugs. I can just picture him on the ice in his shifted form. Fennec foxes are crazy fast with lightning quick reflexes. The team would be lucky to have him. “So Jas says we’re picking figure skates for your daughter?”
I nod and follow him over to the large display of skates. There seems to be a pretty even split of figure and hockey skates, but none in smaller sizes.
“I can’t see any children’s skates.” I frown, disappointed.
“They’re like the rink skates. They’re spelled to magically adjust to the wearer.”
“Oh,” I say, surprised. “Then why does the skate guy ask our size?”
“He doesn’t know who’s human. Imagine coming to a rink that never melts and having someone automatically know your size.”
“Magic.” I laugh. “Or terrifying witchcraft.”
“Hey!” Jasmine protests.
“No offense!”
“So even though Ade is a total beginner, you want to buy decent skates because if she ends up loving it—” he’s interrupted by Jas clearing her throat loudly “—Because when she loves it, you’ll only have to buy better ones so you’ll save yourself money in the long run if you invest well now.”
