Chapter 8: Does That Count as Passing?

Aurora's POV

For the next few days I worked the machines at the BKL club during the day and spent a full two hours alone on the ice at night.

But the man never showed up again.

Honestly, I was a little disappointed. I wanted nothing more than to hear his advice again. His words grated, but every one of them seemed to wake me up at exactly the moment I needed it.

Friday night came around fast.

Daniel was as lofty as ever. "If you can't meet my requirements today, you'll be leaving the club early."

I nodded. "Then just watch me."

And before he could get another jab in, I pushed off and started moving across the ice.

Per Daniel's requirement, each set ran one minute; when the last set ended, the stopwatch had ticked to exactly five minutes.

I pulled off my helmet one-handed and fixed my eyes on Daniel's somewhat stunned face. "Daniel — does that count as passing?"

His thumb rested on the stopwatch. He nodded stiffly. "Of course. I told you I treat everyone the same. If you can do it, I keep my word."

And to prove he really did treat everyone the same, he taught me a pile of new moves during that day's ice session. After he left I stayed out and practiced for a long time.

Only on my way out did I realize I'd run over again.

Next time I ran into the man, I'd have to pay him extra.

For the next half month Daniel kept me on overload — in the weight room and on the ice alike. I didn't agree with his methods at all, but I could stomach them better than the way he used to tell me, at the drop of a hat, to go home and be a housewife.

Today was my last ice session with Daniel.

He had dropped the permanent sneer and was, oddly, a bit serious.

"Aurora, I'm going to move your ice test up. This rink is too far out — after tomorrow's equipment test we'd only be wasting time on the trip back and forth. Of course, if you'd rather not, I'll do my duty by you either way."

I nodded. One extra evening wouldn't make my skills jump; finishing the ice test tonight meant I could throw everything at the equipment test tomorrow.

"I agree, Daniel."

With my consent he laid out the key items. "Clear these to my requirements and you pass. Don't put too much pressure on yourself — even if you don't make the club, you can still—"

I cut off the same old speech. "I can."

I turned, launched myself onto the ice, and — exactly as I did in training — completed every move perfectly, thirty seconds faster than expected.

For the first time, Daniel gave me a real smile.

"Aurora, I honestly didn't think you could do it. You were excellent — every single item."

"If tomorrow's equipment test goes as well, I'll be glad to welcome you to the club."

I took off my helmet one-handed, braced my other hand on the boards and gulped air. "I won't let you down."

I am going to be a reserve player for this club.

"Then — see you tomorrow," Daniel said.

It was past midnight when I got home. Ethan was already asleep.

Liam sat on the sofa and didn't even spare me a glance. That was his usual cold war, and every time before, I was the one who caved first.

Not this time.

But he doesn't get to run my life now.

I slept badly the whole night. I was sure the equipment test would be fine, but going back onto the ice after ten years, I couldn't help being nervous.

I was awake at first light. Three kilometers, as always.

At nine sharp I knocked on Daniel's door as usual. Today he answered on the first knock.

At ten, Daniel, Julia, Erik and I were all in the weight room for my equipment test.

Julia raised an eyebrow at me and put up a thumb. "Aurora, you've got this. I'm rooting for you."

Erik grinned his encouragement too. "Julia and I have been holding it in for a month — we didn't dare disturb you. Tonight we celebrate, and nobody goes home sober."

The last of my nerves vanished on the spot. I should believe in myself — I'd already passed the ice portion. A month ago I'd hit the passing line without any equipment training at all; now, after a month of killing myself, becoming a reserve player couldn't be hard.

I nodded at Julia and Erik with confidence. "Okay."

The test began. I walked to each machine confidently and Daniel recorded every set for me.

When the last item was finished I looked at Daniel, eyes full of expectation. He wrote and scribbled in his notebook for a long time, then raised his eyes to me and shook his head regretfully. "I'm sorry, Aurora. You didn't pass. There's no way for you to stay at the club."

"How is that possible!"

Julia shot at Daniel first and snatched the record book out of his hands.

"Scores like these and you say she failed? Daniel, are you doing this on purpose!"

"Whose spy are you, anyway? Was it you who had someone knife Vincent in the back and get him fired? A two-faced little man like you is a hell of a lot worse than Vincent."

"He was harsh, but at least he was fair. What do you call this? You never meant to let Aurora into the club from day one, did you? She's worked herself to death for a month and her old injuries have flared up again — and to you she's a joke, is that it!"

Erik caught Julia around the edge of her explosion; his eyes went to Daniel's record book too, and his brow furrowed.

"Daniel, Julia's hot-headed, but she's not wrong. Scores like Aurora's are good enough for the full roster. Why would you—"

Daniel cut him off. "Because I don't think she's good enough."

"Club rule: the coach has a veto. I say she's not good enough, she doesn't join."

"If you think I'm targeting her, we can call in the club's regular players and let them judge."

"A thirty-year-old housewife ought to be at home doing housework and raising children. What gives her the right to waltz in through the back door and take a spot from young people!"

I stared into Daniel's eyes, and they were frankly vicious.

So he'd been playing me. Every change in him over the last half month was fake — he'd raised my expectations just to slam me into the ground and leave me writhing.

I stepped forward and glared at him. "You said it yourself. If I met the standard, I could stay. What gives you the right to break your word!"

Daniel was back to his lofty self, watching me with contempt. "Break my word?"

"Your very presence here was unfair from the start. The club has an age requirement — past twenty-five, you can't even be a reserve." He turned to Julia. "You only got in because Julia recommended you, and she's your friend."

"If you want fairness, then I'll blow this wide open, and everyone will know Julia can't keep personal feelings out of club business. Tell me — how is she supposed to command any respect in that club then?"

Julia glared at him furiously. "Blow it open, then. Who's afraid of you?"

"Aurora has real ability. Nobody shoved her in here. She passed every test she took, so she should be in the club."

Daniel smiled. "Is that so?"

"The players in this club don't care whether Aurora passed her tests. What they care about is that a thirty-year-old can walk in and take a reserve spot just like that."

"If regular players leave the club because of her, are you going to eat those losses?"

Julia choked. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

I looked up at Daniel, who was certain of his victory.

He knew exactly how heavy the weight of public opinion was. If Julia really couldn't hold the team's respect because she kept me, I couldn't settle into that club with any peace of mind either.

I did want to get back on the ice, badly. I wanted a stable job, badly. But I couldn't build my happiness on Julia's pain.

There were so many hockey clubs out there. I refused to believe I couldn't find one opportunity somewhere.

Erik pulled Julia behind him and opened his mouth. I stepped in front of him and fixed my eyes on Daniel. "I didn't pass the test. I'm willing to leave."