Patchwork pixie, p.5
Patchwork Pixie, page 5
The coach stared. “Really. Ruby. You are on the ice?”
“Yeah. I can’t leave the city, but I can still skate. I just had no reason or place to do it when you blackballed me.”
He winced. “I may have been hasty.”
“You fucking think? You took my happy place.”
Mr. Kensington walked toward them and held up his phone. “You mentioned you were down a pixie.”
He showed the coach the video of her practice, and the coach said, “We only have the pink pixie available.”
“She’s not necessary. You could put one of the trolls in that tutu, and the audience would go wild.”
One of the ladies wearing leg warmers and a teeny crown in her headband asked, “How does she know?”
Coach Durrant turned and said, “Ladies, gentlemen, this is Ruby Lest. She wrote the play and choreography.”
A few of the girls looked excited, but the crown wearer said, “If she has been out of it that long, how good can she be?”
The coach smiled. “She was the best. Even better than you, Steffy. She took every local gold that she got near.”
“Yeah, well, now she’s fat.”
Ruby got to her feet. “It’s called puberty. You should try it.”
Mr. Kensington murmured, “Why don’t you show them?”
“Seriously?”
“You can defend yourself if they try and take you, so I believe this is an excellent spot for a trial.”
Ruby frowned and then nodded. “Sure. Okay, Coach. This is why I had to stay in the city.” She rolled her neck and took on her Elite female appearance. “Oh, that feels better. Like peeling off tight spandex.”
Rayden and Mr. Kensington were staring, as well as one of the other hockey players. Everyone else looked shocked.
Ruby looked down at the coach. “So, you see why I couldn’t really explain why leaving the city as a teen was off the table.”
He nodded slowly. “So, you were this, even then?”
“Since I arrived in town when I was eleven. This is always me.”
“Can you skate like this?”
“Not well. I am a little top-heavy, but I can manage a bit.” She glared at him. “Since I haven’t been able to book private ice time, I haven’t been able to skate as an adult.”
The coach blushed. “I will talk to the arenas.”
“Great. Better late than never.”
“Right, so will you take on the pink pixie role?”
“No. Definitely not.”
The crown wearer said, “She can’t.”
“Coach, set some jumps and transitions the length of the rink, and I will see what I can manage side by side with the little girl.”
The crown paused. “What?”
Coach smiled. “Competition level?”
“Of course.”
He stood, thought, and then rapped out the sequence.
Ruby shrank back down and tapped the other girl’s shoulder. “Come on, squirt. This performance is about revealing inner strength, not being a bully. Come and pick on an old lady.”
The young woman followed her, and as they stepped on the ice, Ruby asked, “Can a few of you use your phones so that there is no doubt as to the actual performance? I haven’t done this in nearly a decade. I am bound to fall on my face.” She caught Rayden’s grin.
The coach cued the music, and Ruby got into position. The crown wearer muttered, “I need to warm up.”
“Do it in motion.” Ruby heard the cue, and she and the other woman started to move. Axel, camel spin, getting speed into a double jump. She went through the entire list, and then she lazily skated doing her favourite moves. She felt delightfully stretched by the time the song was over. She glanced at the other woman, who was butt to ice and crying.
Ruby went over, got behind her, and said, “Feet under you.”
She was hoisted up, and then Ruby pushed her back to the crowd. “So, I am guessing she didn’t finish the list.”
The woman, Steffy, hung her head. “No.”
“Did you want to stretch and try it again on another day?” Ruby patted her back. “You guys have rehearsal today.”
She winced. “No. I concede. If you can do that after years of not practicing, you’ve got skills.”
“I did. Now I work boring jobs to pay bills. It sucks to grow up.”
She headed back to change into her boots, and the coach ordered everyone to warm up.
“Ruby, I would love it if you would take part in the show. Really.”
She paused while struggling with the laces. Rayden had put them on snugly. “Really?”
“Yes. You know the choreography back and forth, up and down. You would be a blessing to the performance.”
She went back to wrestling with the knot. “I am not booting off folks who tried out to take part in the show. I am just going to buy a ticket like everyone else.”
“You can’t. We are sold out for all eight performances. The only way you can get tickets is by being in the show.”
Ruby stared at him. “You’re joking.”
“No. I am not. We practice every day, six to eight. Dress rehearsals on the weekend at six at the outdoor amphitheatre.”
She sighed. “Pink pixie is only on the set for twelve minutes. Can I leave after that?”
“Will you understudy the patchwork pixie?”
“Um, okay. Why not? Steffy looks sturdy.”
He snorted. “She is. But I really want you to be part of this again.”
“But early mornings.” She whined. “Driving and drinking coffee. Never finding the right donut. It’s a lot of fuss in my old age.”
The coach sighed. “Stand up.”
“Why?”
“Because you did good, and it’s time for a hug.”
His arms came around her, but then she heard growling.
She pushed away and said, “It is entirely possible that I will be charged for assault, so keep that in mind.”
Mr. Kensington put his hand on her shoulder and pulled her out of the coach’s embrace. “She will not be charged. He’s been arrested for several counts of sexual assault as well as assault and harassment. It will be next year before any of it goes before a judge.”
Coach frowned and looked at Ruby. “He...”
“Isn’t being a grownup fun? All the danger and none of the protection.”
“But, your uncles...”
“Complicated.” She gave him a calm look. “So, go and run the rehearsal, and I will be waiting for Pinky to appear.”
She smiled and said, “I am assuming that you wanted me to start today, right?”
“Yes, please.”
“Is everyone a volunteer?”
“Yes, from different skate clubs around the country. Participating is considered an honour. We auditioned in August.” He smiled. “Hundreds of applicants for forty roles. Heady stuff.”
“In that case, isn’t there a second-row applicant who actually deserves this spot?”
“No one deserves it more than you. You never got to be in it yourself, after all.”
“Timing never lined up, and then you threw the hissy fit.”
“If you are willing to do this, I am going to be the best coach and best director and get you a huge bouquet of flowers on opening night.”
“Pink pixies rule. I am putting it on a tee shirt. Maybe a sweatshirt.”
“I will do it for you.” He sighed. “I owe you that.”
“Yeah, yeah. People misunderstand me. I will get in place and be a good pixie.”
She skated out among the men and women of the pixie village.
She grinned. “Hiya. I am Pink.”
She met Green, Red, Purple, Orange, Yellow, Blue, and Patchwork, who were the primary pixies. Others were in glittery cream. When they were ready, they got to their places, and the music played. Ruby grinned and went out to fishtail around one of the male pixies, flirting with him as her character, and she heard growling again.
She flipped a finger to the trolls and sashayed around her male again before they started dancing in couples. Patchwork tried to draw their attention to the flickering magic flame that was dying out, and they ignored her.
Ruby knew every step and dance and giggle. The dance went by in record time, and the happy pixies circled their friend as she made a treaty with the trolls.
She laughed and smiled with the pixies then skated off and grabbed a troll’s hand to dance in celebration. Pink led the snake of pixies and trolls in a huge serpent, and finally, Patchwork and her troll joined the line. Pink pulled them into a circle, and from there, they went around a few times and then lined up for their final bows.
The coach said, “Ten minutes, and we go again.”
Steffy was panting. “Really? That was the first official run-through. Ruby, why do you look so fresh?”
“Oh. I have tons of stamina. I get muscle aches for a day and then move on.” She stretched and smiled. She checked her watch and sighed. “I don’t have time for a second run-through. The chocolate shop is running a bit behind for the holidays.”
That led to a bunch of questions, but she managed to keep from disclosing which shop and that it was blatant nepotism that had gotten her the job. Grey had insisted she learn to do something if she couldn’t go for gold. It wasn’t a bad skill to have.
She walked over to where the coach was talking with Rayden. The coach turned to her. “Can you tell him he can’t growl every time another guy touches you?”
Ruby looked at Rayden. “You can’t do that. Do you have a rolled-up newspaper, Coach?”
Rayden’s eyes went wide.
“No, but I have my tablet.”
“Permission to smack him on the nose with it?” She looked at them both blandly.
Rayden grumped. “Denied.”
“Any notes on my performance?” She focused on the coach.
“No. Why?”
“Promised work I would get in early. I have to leave now if I am going to hold true to that. I will be in tomorrow at six, ready to work.”
The coach looked like he wanted to argue, and Rayden said, “That’s fine. You did a great job for your first day. Of course, if you were my partner, I would know for sure.”
The coach laughed and then sighed. “Right. Fine. Go, but I will see you tomorrow. The show starts in six days. You will need to be fitted for your costumes tonight. Is that possible?”
Rayden nodded. “I will bring her to Emmy, and perhaps we can discuss what she would do if she had to act in the understudy position.”
Coach looked over at where Steffy was leaning against the plexiglass. “That is looking likely. Fine. You can go.”
She nodded. “Sweet. Rayden, untie my skates.”
He smirked. “As my lady wishes.”
She stomped and wobbled over to the seat where Mr. Kensington watched her stuff. He smiled and remained at her back when Rayden knelt to unlace her skates.
“I give up. How did you get that knot undone?”
He grinned. “You know how I undid that spell in your head?”
“Yeah.”
“Locking and unlocking things is my primary skill.”
“Got it.”
Mr. Kensington said, “I will walk you to your car.”
There wasn’t much room to complain about that, so she figured he wanted to speak with her.
Rayden got her skates off and ran his hands up her calves. Coach called him, but he grinned. “See you soon, my lady.”
She shook her head. “Weird.”
She put her feet into the boots, linked her skates together, and tossed one over her shoulder.
“Shall we?”
She nodded and felt the pleasant aches in her body from the workout. “Sure. Now I feel short.”
Her lawyer snorted and walked with her.
When they were outside, he asked, “Did you think it was odd that I was there?”
“A little bit. It was too early to think, frankly.”
He laughed and then sighed. “I am courting you.”
“What? I thought Rayden was courting me.”
He grunted. “We both are. Now, I have to ask, why aren’t you reacting to us?”
Ruby got nervous. “What do you mean?”
“Our scents normally get women all hot and bothered, but you are neither.”
“Oh, I am on enough birth control to choke a goat. If it lapses, bad things happen.”
“Like what?” There was curiosity but also anticipation in his tone.
She glared up at him. “You know.”
“That’s a bad thing?”
“With him around, yes.”
“Why did you choose him?”
She opened the hatch of her car and put in the skates. “He was a family friend. Dane was happy about something finally. Adults have relationships. I was doing what I was supposed to. He didn’t get weird until I agreed to have sex. The moment I let him, there wasn’t going back, so the birth control became essential.”
“So, you are numb?”
“And nose blind. I get hints of you two but not much.” She chuckled. “I get enough that you smell interesting but not enough to look for more.” She covered the skates and closed the hatch.
She turned to look at him. He smiled. “I can’t have a relationship with you until I clear you from my client roster, so I will find a replacement for your case.”
“Oh. Right.”
“Will you reduce the hormone treatments?”
She shook her head. “No. I need to keep them in place until the holiday performance is done. I am going to slam straight into a heat, and I can’t afford that during practices and performances.”
He thought about it. “Not only the heat. You think you are going to break.”
“I know I am going to break. One gentle touch or encouraging word and my emotional control is going to blow. Sobbing, screaming mess.”
His eyes widened. “Right. That is going to happen.”
“My therapist tries to help me lance the pressure on my brain, but it is never quite enough, and she doesn’t want me going too far.”
He reached out and stroked a finger down her cheek. “Of course.”
She nodded. “Right. Well, I have to go. I have to finish the chocolates so tomorrow candy canes can start up.”
“Wait. You actually make candy canes?”
“Yup. Melted sugar, dye, and flavouring. Mmm. Tasty.” She smiled. “Do you know someone with a telephoto lens?”
“No. Why?”
“Because there is someone taking pictures of us.”
He nodded. “I expected it. Nicely spotted.”
“Thanks. I am all kinds of clever.” She blinked. “Oh, I know. It must be the company trying to prove that I have broken contract terms.”
“Or Tanner trying to exert control over you.”
She cocked her head. “Not at that distance. I am no longer pulling my punches.”
“So, he has never seen your real shape?”
“Nope. The uncles hadn’t seen me fully grown, so Tanner certainly hadn’t.”
He chuckled. “I notice that the other alphas and betas were astonished and then just seemed to have respect but no awareness.”
She rubbed the back of her neck. “Yeah, I just do that. The uncles will remember something notable about me, but they only remember me as a little Elite omega before puberty. That is when things changed, and I could limit the amount that people remember.”
He cocked his head. “What is your defense? Elite omegas always have a defense.”
“Ah. Needles.”
“What?”
“I can throw needles of energy. They stun the other Elite and knock out predatory alphas.”
“How often have you used it?”
“Seven times in total. It is very effective.” She smiled.
“I would like to see it.”
“No, you wouldn’t.” She shrugged. “My aim isn’t very good, and I throw a lot of needles. It’s kind of like an exploding cactus.”
“I have a place where you can practice.”
She smiled at him. “I am busy most days now until the show.”
“There are evenings.”
“I have to nap.”
He laughed. “I promise to have a napping spot for you.”
She snorted. “Once I am down for the count, I am out. Sorry. I am going to be wiped out during the practice.”
“You seemed to have it down.”
“I will have to do that and then make candy in front of an audience all day. Usually, I just want to go home and shower the sugar off.”
“Give us a few days, and I will make you another offer. A strictly roommate situation until you need more.”
She looked at him and cocked her head. “So, you want me to move in?”
“As soon as I can arrange suitable representation for you.”
She nodded. “Send me the bill. Please. For your work and his. I don’t want to owe Uncle Grey anything. Dane is a bit of a bitch and might bill me at the eventual funeral for everything he thinks Grey paid.”
“What did Grey pay for?”
She sighed. “He bought me clothes when I got there so I could start school, and then I got presents for the holidays. Well, for the holidays if Dane wasn’t there.”
“What would happen if Dane was there?”
“I had to sit quietly.” She quirked her lips. “It was torture.”
He grinned, and she saw a flicker of his real features. Her heart thudded in her chest, which surprised her.
“You will have to run any living arrangements past Uncle Leon. I don’t like him upset.”
“I will. You don’t mind?”
“My life is a flaming pile of garbage and glitter right now. I just want someplace safe to sleep so I can get through it.”
“I can offer you that. I should have a resolution by this evening.”
She nodded. “Right. I have to go paint some chocolates. I am sure I will talk with you later, Mr. Kensington.”
He leaned back. “You can call me Marshall.”
“Not yet. Maybe soon. Send me that bill as soon as you find someone else to take on my case. Money isn’t an issue.”
He raised his brows. “I am interested in exploring that.”
She snorted and headed to the driver’s side of her car. She got in, and he remained nearby until she drove off and headed for the intersection. She could see him in her mirrors the whole time.
