Skyler reads our orders back to us in reverse, looking at each of us as she does. She gives me a second look.
“Are you Olivia?” Skyler says, and I blink.
I nod my head at the picture on the wall. “Yeah, I was kinda extra when I was five.”
“You’re my little sister’s ice skating teacher,” Skyler says. When I give her a blank look because neither of my remaining two pupils is white, she adds, “Lina Kitagawa. She’s my half sister. She talks about you all the time. ‘Miss Olivia said this. Miss Olivia said that.’ You are like her idol. And the fact that you are biracial like Lina makes you even cooler in her book.”
“Aw, everybody appreciates having their own personal fan club of one,” I joke.
Skyler looks over her shoulder and then slides out her phone. “Could I possibly take a selfie with you? It would make Lina’s day.”
As this hasn’t happened in a long, long, looooong time, I’m happy to oblige. I slide out of the booth. Skyler is so much taller than I am that I could practically fit under her armpit. We do a couple of different shots before she races off.
“Aaand this is pretty much what my life looks like at Tech when I’m with my brothers. Stuart who?” Egg laughs, but I know it hurts him.
“Believe me, sometimes I wish everybody would forget who I am.” Mom fingers a piece of faux wisteria decorating the candle on our table. “And what happened to me.”
“We decided to chuck Alexei’s choreography,” Egg says, bringing Mom back to the present. “It just wasn’t us.”
“It was a little too adult for you.”
“It’s not that,” I say. “This new choreography reflects more of who I am. Who Egg is. It’s about our experience versus Alexei’s experience.”
“And the dude’s had a lot of ‘experiences’ with multiple members of your generation of skaters, Midori,” Egg says, and Mom colors. “Or so I hear.”
Mom clears her throat. “I can’t wait to see it tomorrow. I’m sure it will be special.”
Egg smiles, but I know my mom. That wasn’t a compliment. She doesn’t think I can pull it off. Then again, she’s not my #1 fan.
“Mack’s going to meet us at the rink to film tonight,” I say, and add my own dig, “That way we know we will get footage we can actually use.”
The crease between Mom’s eyebrows deepens.
“But we want your feedback, of course, when we’re completely done,” Egg backpedals. “You are the expert here.”
“Of course. We aren’t going to send out anything that isn’t the best … that you can do.”
The only thing that keeps me from completely going off is Skyler returning with our dinner. Mom and I both put on our best kiss-and-cry smiles.
Skyler places Mom’s small bowl of rice and shredded seaweed swimming in green tea in front of her. My box with gray noodles is next.
“Is it okay if I put the picture on my social media?” Skyler says.
“Sure. I’d love that.” I can’t admit that Mom deactivated my account, so I add, “Will you tag Ice Dreams?”
“Sure thing.” Skyler fangirls a bit before racing back to the kitchen to retrieve Egg’s bento.
To make my Japanese teacher proud, I say, “Itadakimasu” before grabbing a pair of chopsticks and digging into the best meal I’ve had since Jonah’s birthday party.
“So what’s the gossip on Alexei?” Mom says to Egg. “Did he go back to the Ukraine after we … parted company after Skate Detroit?”
“Yes, but not without a stint with Britney Xiao first.” Egg digs into his bento. “I heard he lasted two weeks. A new personal best for Britney, I’m sure.”
Mom and I both roll our eyes. Mom was definitely your stereotypical overly involved skater mom, but Mrs. Xiao takes the gold in the Obnoxious Skater Mom category.
“It’s a shame. Britney has so much potential.” Mom shakes her head in mock pity.
“Too bad you can’t buy class.” Egg says what everybody is thinking.
Egg fills Mom in on all the hot skating gossip while we eat. The senior level is one big dysfunctional—and occasionally backstabbing—family. The stories are endless. Whether they are true or not doesn’t matter.
“Are they still talking about us?” I have to know. When Egg makes a noncommittal noise, I know the answer is yes.
“Skate Detroit was months ago,” Egg says through a mouthful of rice. “Move on, people. Nothing to see here.”
“Give it time. The whole thing will burn out soon enough.” Mom sips her tea.
But I want people to talk about us again. Only, in a good way.
“Here, Livy, finish this off for me.” Mom pushes her half-eaten bowl of ochazuke at me. “I’m full.”
Egg checks the time on his phone. “We’ve got to get going. Ice Dreams will be closing soon.”
Mom tells Egg to put his wallet away and then pretends like she’s going to pay. Mr. Sato insists on comping our meal. Mom finally puts her empty wallet back in her purse and over-thanks him.
“Wait!” Skyler runs from the back of the now-bustling restaurant with a small paper gift bag. “I made these today.”
She bows and presents the bag to my mom with two hands. Mom nods her head and accepts them with two hands. When Mom opens the bag to peek inside, a familiar scent wafts out.
“Melon pan!” I recognize the little domes of sugary goodness immediately. “My Japanese grandparents buy these for me every time I visit them in California.”
Granted, that’s been a while, but it’s still a positive memory for me.
“Thank you. Both of you. Your kindness and support mean so much to me.” Mom’s eyes glisten. “To all of us at Ice Dreams.”
As we walk out into the parking lot, Mom hands her keys to Egg to drive her back home. Ice Dreams’ reigning queen has morphed back into her unfortunate normal.
“Thank you for insisting we go out, Stuart.” Mom puts her hand on Egg’s arm. “My body might be hurting, but my spirit is lifted.”
Egg puts his hand over Mom’s and squeezes it. “I’m glad. You deserve it after all you’ve done for me. I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t taken a chance on that brat who was dumped at your rink every weekend by his slacker older brother.”
“Believe me, you were an answer to our prayers.”
Mom’s words burn in the pit of my stomach. She still sees me as ragged ice. I can’t wait to prove her wrong. I slide into the back seat with the melon pan. I’m going to save mine until Jonah gets back. He might have hotteok, but I have something even sweeter to share with him.
Chapter 21
The always-punctual Mack is already at the rink and set up to record by the time Egg and I get there. I double-check the glittery eyeliner and bloodred lipstick Mack talked me into. Mack also insisted that I slick the sides of my hair back to “look fierce.” I wasn’t sure at first, but it’s growing on me. Naomi’s Auntie Jennifer ain’t got nothin’ on Mack’s aesthetic skills. And I definitely don’t look like a little kid now.