I scrolled the app. It was all cauliflower and protein shakes when I wanted…what? Chocolate cake? Filet mignon? Mmm, bacon. Hell, I’d settle for a butternut squash. Or maybe a rutabaga. Radishes. Anything but more carrot sticks. I wanted the hookup equivalent of that maple dip donut.

I watched Henry power around the rink and land Sal after Sal consistently. He missed a few, but not many, and the running edge on his landings really was gorgeous. He didn’t rush through elements like I did sometimes. And his black pants clung to his long, lean legs and his ass…

Jesus, I really was horny if I was thinking about Henry Sakaguchi’s ass.

I opened the virtual fridge again, knowing the same shit would be inside. I tried another app, scrolling aimlessly past headless abs. Did Henry have a profile?

He’d seemed adamant that he didn’t, but hmm. I tried to remember glimpsing him in the locker room and what his chest looked like, but I’d really never paid attention.

Probably not much hair. Lean muscles, flat stomach. Pinkish nipples. Would he have a little hair under his bellybutton? Was he cut or uncut? What did he like? Was he as innocent as he seemed?

I gulped down the rest of my now cold coffee and fidgeted on the bench. Popping a boner at the rink wasn’t in my training plan, but it sure did wake me up.

Enough pondering Henry’s imaginary hookup app profile. He was way too uptight to have one. I couldn’t imagine him relaxing enough to actually have sex or have fun doing it. He’d be the most boring lay ever.

A few hours later, I sat in the small linoleum-floored, orange-walled lunchroom in the dungeon by Manon and Bill’s office. There was a microwave and fridge and a few round tables.

I moaned as I bit into my oxtail curry roti from across the street. I sat with Julien and tried to reassure him as he angsted about his triple Axel. Ga-young and her mom were at another table eating big salads in Tupperware containers.

“I just can’t get the timing on my takeoff,” Julien said glumly.

“You will. Didn’t you grow four inches or something this year? Throws everything off. We all go through it.”

“Even you?” He looked at me hopefully.

“Absolutely! You’ll get it back.”

Honestly, I’d transitioned from junior to senior without my jumps being too affected. I could naturally spin so fast that my triples and quads had grown with me. My issue had been patience and focus. But so many skaters struggled, especially girls since their bodies changed even more.

“Thanks. It’s hard not to get down. I want to win so badly.”

I grinned. “Winning’s awesome. But it’s not everything.”

He rolled his eyes. “Says the guy who can’t lose these days.”

“Fair point.” I took another bite of my roti. “Mmm.”

Henry waited by the microwave, looking lost in his own thoughts as usual. When the machine dinged, he removed a glass container using a folded paper towel and headed to the one empty table. I said, “Hey, do you want to sit with us?” and pulled out the remaining chair. It just seemed wrong for Henry to eat alone.