Read Online Heat it Up: Off the Ice - Book One by Stina Lindenblatt - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Stina Lindenblatt
Ads: Link
on the orange vinyl couch in my room (aka the living room). She nods at me as I enter and tells me I can change the channel if I want. I tell her I’m good, although I’m not sure if it has the same meaning in Finnish as it does in English.
Taking my phone with me, I step out onto the balcony. Laughter greets me from young kids running around the playground one level down. Tall apartment buildings and birch trees surround the area. Even years after I was last here, the area looks the same.
I Google hair salons in Vantaa and I call one to book an appointment for myself and for Muumu. Luckily, the girl who answers the phone speaks English.
“I have a cancellation for one o’clock this afternoon. I can fit you both in then. Is that okay?”
Not only can she fit us in for hair appointments, she can schedule us in for pedicures and manicures. Perfect. Let the girl-bonding session begin. My grandfather died a few years ago and Muumu has lived alone ever since. Who knows when she last did something nice for herself. In the short time I’ve been here, she’s done all kinds of nice things for me.
I return to the living room and sit next to Muumu on the couch. With my smart phone, I Google translate the words I need to help me. I don’t use my phone for translating too often because it’s a major drain on my phone plan. Plus, I’ve learned the hard way that it’s not always the most reliable method. The translations have been screwy more times than they’ve been correct.
Maybe sensing I want to say something, she looks expectantly at me. I say the Finnish word for haircut and I point to her then me. Her expression is blank at first, as she tries to figure out what I said, but after a few seconds she nods. I pretend to paint my fingernails and toenails. Again, I point to her then me.
She nods and I let out a relieved breath. That was easy enough. I tell her the appointments are today, as well as the where and the when. Her eyes light up at the news.
My phone pings. I check the text from Maija. I haven’t heard from Kyle today, but Maija and I have plans for tonight. I respond to her text confirming we’re still on. I’ve already told Muumu that I’m going dancing with a friend tonight. The first thing she asked was if it was Joni. I might have rolled my eyes.
Muumu’s show finishes and a Friends episode comes on. I laugh at something Rachel tells Ross. Apparently, Rachel and Ross are just as funny with Finnish subtitles, because Muumu also laughs, albeit a second later because of the delay in translation. By the end of the show, we’re both laughing hard.
Muumu drives us to the hair salon and day spa in time for our appointment. She’s normally animated, but this Muumu is like a kid on candy. She’s as excited about our girl-bonding session as I am, which makes me feel a million times better already.
We arrive five minutes early and are directed to the seats in the corner, where we sit and wait our turn. Muumu picks a tabloid from the coffee table. I select a hairstyling magazine and flip through it. I need a change, but nothing too drastic.
Something to represent the new me.
Chapter Eleven
Kyle
My phone rings as Nik and I walk along the sidewalk to the dance club. I check to see who it is—my brother, Cody—and accept the call. “Hey, what’s up?”
“Nothing much. What are you up to?” His tone is in the gray zone between interrogation and casual. Which way it falls depends on how I answer.
And since lying to Cody is out, given the loud music spilling onto the streets… “Coaching the guys is going well, but they’re nowhere near as talented as you.” Who knows if he’s buying my bullshit. They’re all equally talented. “Nik and I are just checking out the local night scene.”
My brother groans. He thinks I’m out to get wasted and laid. To forget about last year.
Except this time, he’s wrong.
I’m here to forget the girl who’s starting to get to me in the short time I’ve
Taking my phone with me, I step out onto the balcony. Laughter greets me from young kids running around the playground one level down. Tall apartment buildings and birch trees surround the area. Even years after I was last here, the area looks the same.
I Google hair salons in Vantaa and I call one to book an appointment for myself and for Muumu. Luckily, the girl who answers the phone speaks English.
“I have a cancellation for one o’clock this afternoon. I can fit you both in then. Is that okay?”
Not only can she fit us in for hair appointments, she can schedule us in for pedicures and manicures. Perfect. Let the girl-bonding session begin. My grandfather died a few years ago and Muumu has lived alone ever since. Who knows when she last did something nice for herself. In the short time I’ve been here, she’s done all kinds of nice things for me.
I return to the living room and sit next to Muumu on the couch. With my smart phone, I Google translate the words I need to help me. I don’t use my phone for translating too often because it’s a major drain on my phone plan. Plus, I’ve learned the hard way that it’s not always the most reliable method. The translations have been screwy more times than they’ve been correct.
Maybe sensing I want to say something, she looks expectantly at me. I say the Finnish word for haircut and I point to her then me. Her expression is blank at first, as she tries to figure out what I said, but after a few seconds she nods. I pretend to paint my fingernails and toenails. Again, I point to her then me.
She nods and I let out a relieved breath. That was easy enough. I tell her the appointments are today, as well as the where and the when. Her eyes light up at the news.
My phone pings. I check the text from Maija. I haven’t heard from Kyle today, but Maija and I have plans for tonight. I respond to her text confirming we’re still on. I’ve already told Muumu that I’m going dancing with a friend tonight. The first thing she asked was if it was Joni. I might have rolled my eyes.
Muumu’s show finishes and a Friends episode comes on. I laugh at something Rachel tells Ross. Apparently, Rachel and Ross are just as funny with Finnish subtitles, because Muumu also laughs, albeit a second later because of the delay in translation. By the end of the show, we’re both laughing hard.
Muumu drives us to the hair salon and day spa in time for our appointment. She’s normally animated, but this Muumu is like a kid on candy. She’s as excited about our girl-bonding session as I am, which makes me feel a million times better already.
We arrive five minutes early and are directed to the seats in the corner, where we sit and wait our turn. Muumu picks a tabloid from the coffee table. I select a hairstyling magazine and flip through it. I need a change, but nothing too drastic.
Something to represent the new me.
Chapter Eleven
Kyle
My phone rings as Nik and I walk along the sidewalk to the dance club. I check to see who it is—my brother, Cody—and accept the call. “Hey, what’s up?”
“Nothing much. What are you up to?” His tone is in the gray zone between interrogation and casual. Which way it falls depends on how I answer.
And since lying to Cody is out, given the loud music spilling onto the streets… “Coaching the guys is going well, but they’re nowhere near as talented as you.” Who knows if he’s buying my bullshit. They’re all equally talented. “Nik and I are just checking out the local night scene.”
My brother groans. He thinks I’m out to get wasted and laid. To forget about last year.
Except this time, he’s wrong.
I’m here to forget the girl who’s starting to get to me in the short time I’ve
Similar Books
