My father smiles and walks to her, taking her in his arms. I have no idea what he is saying to her, but she just nods her head. “They are grown men, and they will do what they need to do, and you need to stop watching Dr. Phil.” We hear him say, and then he kisses her cheek. “Now let’s get back home. We have an early flight tomorrow.” She nods and takes his hand, and we walk quietly back to my place.

The next morning, I get up and drive them to the airport, and then when I get back home, I toss my keys on the counter right next to the fishbowl. I take the food out and put some in her bowl, then I grab my phone and take a picture and send it to Vivienne

Me: She misses you.

I press send and then put my phone down, not even thinking about whether it’s a good idea. I miss her, I miss her laugh, and I miss her swearing in French when she messes up something. I miss her just being here in her robe while she drinks her coffee and shows me animal videos on Instagram.

I grab something to eat and then start packing. We are on the road for the next five days, going first to San Jose and then up to Edmonton. When I’m finished packing, I take a shower, hanging my robe right over hers in my closet. I also see that she left a pair of jeans and also some yoga pants. She was really good about leaving no traces of herself when she came over, and I pick them up and tuck them into my drawer next to my stuff. When I slip on my suit jacket, I grab my bag and head out to the rink where we are meeting everyone.

Checking my phone in the elevator, I see she hasn’t responded, but it doesn’t surprise me because she’s probably still sleeping. When I walk into the arena thirty-five minutes later and enter the room, I see some of the ones who have arrived all look like they got dragged out of bed.

“I swear, I don’t think I slept more than two hours,” one of the rookies says. They always party the most. First time out there. “Maybe three but max four.”

“I told you to pace yourself,” Matthew says, coming into the room with his own coffee in his hand. “Hope you guys enjoyed last night because the next time will be Halloween. Oliver and Zara are planning a huge haunted house, so keep your eyes open for that email.” I sit down on the bench in front of my name, putting my bag in front of me when Viktor comes in, and he just nods at me and sits next to me.

“Late night?” I ask him, and he shakes his head.