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“Psst! Dad!” I shake him awake.
He grumbles and opens his eyes, heavy with sleep. He doesn’t startle or drop his beer.
“What is it, Andrew?”
“I talked to her!” I’m giddy like a little boy on Christmas morning.
“So what?” he continues. “I talk to ladies all the time, and you don’t see me bragging.”
“Yes, you brag. But anyway.” I take a seat on the other chair available. “I think we have a date scheduled. I just don’t remember the games’ calendar off the top of my head.”
“You’ll be away for two weeks,” Dad says, stretching like an old rheumatic dog.
“Two weeks?” I stop to think.
Those two weeks are going to be an eternity.
Chapter Ten
EMILY
Emily
I wish I could be watching the game with just Alissa, so she could see Andrew’s ‘surprise’ in an environment where I could give her context. However, that’s impossible because my whole family is made up of Razorhawks fanatics.
We’re all gathered around the TV in the living room on the couch. It was the biggest in the store, and mom’s pride and joy.
I’m sitting between mom and my brother, with Alissa on my lap. She’s so absorbed in the game, and I am curious to see what Andrew’s surprise for her will be.
She becomes especially glued to the screen when Uncle Dan points out to her his friend Andrew. The camera catches him standing poised and focused, a true hawk over the ice.
He scores a goal, and the camera marks him again. Alissa slides down to the floor to get a little closer to the screen, fascinated with having an uncle who knows a hockey player.
“Is he really your friend, Uncle Dan?” she asks without moving her eyes from the TV.
“Ever since they were boys, Ali,” Dad smiles, intrigued by her interest in Andrew.
“And he was already a hockey player then?” Alissa asks with curiosity.
“We played hockey, but we weren’t professional players,” Dan answers, amused. “Only after school did Andrew start playing with the leagues.”
“And you didn’t?”
It’s funny to see Alissa scooting over to be close to Dan without breaking eye contact with the TV.
“No, darling. Uncle Dan preferred to go to college and start a business,” Mom says, dismissive.
“But Andrew is rich.” Dad jumps to his defense.
“Easy come, easy go, Dave. Soon enough Dan can become just as rich.” She defends her baby.
The first period ends, and the reporters discuss the stats of the game and the conditions of the players. They all compliment Andrew, and with good reason. He’s at top of his game, and no one can deny it.
Alissa scoots on her butt to get closer to the TV. When a sideline reporter appears on the screen, she has none other than Andrew by her side.
“So Connoly, how’s the game for you so far?” The reporter asks, then points the microphone at Andrew.
“It’s going great. The Snow Foxes left their defense too open and we’re cutting in and scoring goal after goal. Hey, can I send a message?”
