The girls arrive early Friday morning, and for the first time in a long time, I’m actually excited about something.
Coach Daniels and I pull into the rental house driveway just as the van from the airport pulls up. The second the doors open, I’m nearly tackled by two of the younger skaters, Mia and Harper, both talking at the same time, both hugging me so tightly I can barely breathe.
“Lena, we missed you!”
“You look so good!”
“Are you eating enough?”
I laugh, overwhelmed in the best way. “I’m fine. I missed you too.”
Behind them, the others climb out, three more juniors, all smiling, all carrying way too many bags. And then, last as always, Sabrina steps out like she’s descending from a limo instead of a shuttle van.
She looks around Silver Ridge like she’s inspecting her kingdom.
