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We just won game seven of the semi-finals, meaning we’re on the way to the conference finals and one step away from playing for the Stanley Cup.
Carter tries to lift Maddox up in a bear hug but loses his balance and both men tumble to the ice. A few of the rookies think they’re trying to start a dogpile, so they jump on top of the pair.
Jesse nudges me, grinning. “Fuckin’ rookies, right?”
I laugh, nodding. And then my smile fades when I scan the crowd. I don’t even know why I tried to locate our girls from Frosty Harbor, but I find them. There’s Andi with her newborn baby, Amelia, on one arm with giant earmuffs over her bald head. I see Paisley and Caroline, too, which I expected.
But I didn’t expect to see Mia. She doesn’t see me looking. She’s jumping up and down with the girls, clapping and laughing.
It makes me smile to see her celebrating our win, but it also wakes up a confused pang in my chest. It makes me wish she was here for me–that things were simpler and she was just my girl. I want to know she’s going to be waiting for me outside the stadium after I shower and change so we can ride home together and watch a movie.
Fuck. I want it all so badly it actually hurts.
Despite teasing the rookies, Jesse leaves me to jump and land on the pile of rolling bodies on the ice. I distantly hope Carter and Maddox are alive down there. Ice skates and piles of bodies aren’t exactly the smartest mixture, but we’re all juiced up and feeling stupid right now.
I’m smiling at the scene, even though my thoughts are already far from the ice or our chance at the Stanley Cup. I’m thinking about how strange it is to know I just slept with Mia a week ago when I stopped in Frosty Harbor. The sex was amazing, like always, but we’ve been talking less and less. It’s like there’s a rift widening between us, and I have a hunch about what I would need to do to close it, but… that’s a decision I’m still wrestling with. Something I’m not sure about, even if there’s a growing conviction in me that I am going to at least try something.
And then I see Paisley and Mia are both wearing my number.
I feel a swell of confused pride and excitement in my chest. I’m sort of their boss, so I guess it’s not that much of a statement, but knowing they came here to support me means something. Especially Mia. It makes me wonder if maybe she’s trying to send me a message.
I wait through Coach’s speech, Jake’s victory speech, and the second round of half-naked celebration in the locker room. I shower as quickly as I can, get changed and head out of the arena, hoping I’ll catch Mia with the girls.
I find Andi and Caroline waiting with some of the girlfriends and wives of my other teammates.
“Hey!” Andi says, waving excitedly as she sees me coming out with my bag over one shoulder. “Congrats!” She’s holding Amelia in one arm, and I can’t help my focus from going straight to the baby girl.
“Hey, Girl,” I say softly, lifting my finger for Amelia to grab. She grips it tight and tries to shake it. She’s a real object shaker. Maybe I’m just biased, but I can’t help admiring a girl who is already so hell-bent on shaking shit up when she’s not even out of diapers. That has to be some kind of good sign for her future, I’ve decided. “I got you something,” I say, digging in my pocket. I pull out a keychain and eye Andi, waiting to make sure she’s okay with Amelia having it.
Andi gives me a slight nod, smiling.
Amelia is already reaching for it and making gurgling baby noises. To me, it sounds like she’s being strangled, but everybody has assured me it’s totally normal, so I stopped worrying about it weeks ago.
Amelia snags the keychain from my hand, letting go of my finger so she can shake it with both hands. Her eyes go wide, like she’s just seen a ghost, then she smiles and continues shaking it.
I give her mostly bald head a soft pat, ignoring the way Andi glares. She keeps telling me you’re not supposed to pet babies, but there’s something about the big, soft, bald head that seems to beg to be petted. And it’s not like Amelia minds.
Once I’ve given Amelia her attention, I give Andi and Caroline quick side hugs. We make a little small talk, and then the question on my face must be obvious, because they share a conspiratorial smile.
“Wondering where Mia is?” Caroline asks. I notice she’s wearing Jesse’s number and not Jake’s. Part of me has been convinced they’re secretly dating for months now, but the two of them are determined not to admit it, if they are. I wouldn’t even be surprised if she was wearing Jesse’s number just to throw us off their scent.
“I wasn’t,” I lie.
Andi rolls her eyes. “She’s at this place called Session Seven. It’s some kind of gastropub that supposedly has amazing pretzels. Paisley and Mia are going to be food nerds and try half the menu.”
I nod. “I’ve heard of it.”
“I’m sure they’ll be disappointed if you don’t show up,” Caroline says.
“Did she say that?”
“No,” Andi admits. “Mia is as stubborn as you are. But go. Talk. Act like adults, maybe? You both like eachother so much. This thing you’re doing is beyond silly.”
I fold my arms. “We’re not doing a ‘thing’.”
“She hasn’t dated or shown even the slightest interest in any men since your offseason last year.” Andi’s voice is matter-of-fact, as if she’s explaining something very simple to someone very stupid. “Nothing. Even Marten got tired of trying to win her back.”
“Marten tried to win her back?” I ask, blood already boiling. “She never mentioned that to me.”
