The pond looks beautiful this morning, thin sunlight glinting off the ice, the air crisp enough to sting my cheeks. The younger girls are already buzzing with excitement, lacing up their skates on the wooden bench Coach Daniels set up.
And then there’s Sabrina. She stands at the edge of the pond like she’s afraid the ice might stain her skates. Or her soul.
She wrinkles her nose. “I cannot believe you actually train out here.”
I bite back a sigh. “It’s peaceful.”
“It’s dirty,” she corrects, flipping her hair. “There are leaves. And… nature.”
Mia snorts under her breath. Harper hides a smile.
Coach Daniels steps up beside me, arms crossed. “If the pond is too ‘natural’ for you, Sabrina, you’re welcome to sit and observe.”
Her mouth drops open. “Observe?”
“Yes,” he says, tone firm. “
