Page 44 of Pucking the Team

“Here you go, Pippa.” Theo waved a pen at me. His attention was very much on the Dior advert I was now holding.

It showed a hot air balloon basket with me sat cross-legged on the edge and pouting. I wore only fig leaves for modesty, a bay leaf crown atop my wildly teased hair, and around me were the animals I was supposedly saving in this modern day image of Noah’s Arc. The image was colorful and powerful, the African Savannah sprawled out in the background. It was proving to be a successful campaign and worth, for Dior, the high fee Trevor had negotiated for me.

I cleared my throat. “Who shall I sign it for?” I asked.

“Penelope, please.”

I wrote her name and signed it. “Here.”

“Thank you so much.” She held it to her chest. “I’ll get you a new magazine.”

I nodded and flicked the pen point in and out in rapid succession.

“And can I have a selfie?” Her eyes widened hopefully.

“Sure, but on one condition.”

“Anything.”

“If you post it anywhere, you don’t say where we’re going. I appreciate privacy.”

Quickly, she crossed her chest. “Cross my heart and hope to die. It will just be for me.” She grabbed her phone and shoved her face close to mine.

I smiled for the camera.

“Thank you, thank you.” She beamed. “And if you need anything at all. Just ask, just use the call bell. Anything at all. We have some Elizabeth Arden gift bags if you need any moisturizer or lip balms, just say the word, complimentary.”

“That’s very kind.” I sipped my drink again.

After a final stare, she turned and walked back to the galley clutching her phone and the magazine.

“I guess that solves the puzzle,” Dylan said, flicking open his magazine and studying the advert.

“What puzzle?”

“Come on?” Theo took the pen, probably to stop me being annoying with it. “You’re famous, like us.”

“No, not like you. You’re famous for a skill, for being talented on the ice. I’m famous because I look like this and had some lucky breaks.”

“Don’t put yourself down, that’s not like you,” Eduardo said. “You are obviously very skilled at what you do, otherwise you would not be on this.” He held up the magazine. “Being top of your game in any career takes talent.”

I smiled, appreciating his words.

“I knew I recognized you,” Fiona called over several seats. “It had been bugging me, but yes, Pippa Bentley, of course.”She raised her drink to me. “Very honored to make your acquaintance.”

I managed a smile and caught Gina standing and staring my way. She, too, had struggled to place me, knowing she’d seen me before but unable to recall where.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Ben asked from over the seat in front of me.

“Would it have made a difference to me being here now?”

“No.” He shrugged. “I don’t reckon so.”

“So why say anything? Fame isn’t tangible, it comes and goes, and it’s other people’s perceptions of you, it’s not real. I don’t feel famous, I have a job and occasionally people recognize me for that.”

“I get you,” Eduardo said. “That is how it is for us, too.”

I smiled at him. He’d said the right thing to me. Being defined by fame annoyed me almost as much as being judged by my appearance. It seemed he got me, and that was heartwarming.