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In response, Dan playfully shoots me with a finger gun and walks away all giddy.
Right after that, Terry drops me off at the back room, where the players and their significant others are waiting for the interview to start.
Once again, I scan the room for a familiar face, and this time I find who I’m looking for: Jim Allan, the starting goalie for the Razorhawks. We first met around two years ago when he played a few seasons with the Arctic Hounds.
“Allan?” I tentatively offer my hand out.
He looks at my hand first, then at my face, and then his face lights up with a smile once he recognizes me.
“Connoly!” he says, shaking my hand with enthusiasm. “Long time no see, man.”
“Yeah, it’s been a while,” I nod. “Great season so far.”
“Ha, we’ll get the Cup this year, especially now that we have you,” he says, “But come here, let me introduce you to the guys.”
“All players to stage, now.” I turn to locate the source of the impatient voice and find my new coach, Coach Hansen, who looks like he’s had a series of rough days and is far from thrilled about it.
I remember our initial meeting during the mid-season transfer process – it was quick, and we didn't get a chance to have a proper conversation or really get to know each other.
Most of the interview questions are pretty standard. I’m introduced as a mid-season transfer from the New York Arctic Hounds, but everyone here already knows that.
Just one question takes me by surprise, and it is from a female reporter.
“You were born in Chicago, and then left us for New York,” she starts, not without some sass. “Is there something here that you missed?”
And that opens the emotional floodgates.
I miss my house. I miss my mom and how loving and supportive she was. I miss the nights when me and my friends went out and how I would come home feeling so content that life could have ended then, and I would ave died happy.
I also realize how much I miss Emily. A truth I’ve been denying myself until now.
“Deep-dish pizza?” I finally answer, causing everyone to erupt in laughter. I smile, but it doesn’t cover up the deep sadness I feel.
The interview ends, and after sparing some time to properly meet the Coach and the rest of the players, I go chase after Dan and find him waiting for me right where we got separated.
“Family is having dinner at Pedro’s, wanna come?” he asks me, making my stomach sink at the thought of meeting Emily.
“Will Emily be there?” I immediately ask, suddenly feeling defensive.
“Yes,” he nods, but I know deep down he really doesn’t like me asking that.
“I’ll go.”
We start walking, and I feign nonchalance.
“Will be nice to see Coach Mitchell again.”
Dan’s father was our high school hockey coach.
“Dad is going to enjoy seeing you too,” he says, tapping my shoulder as we head out. All the while, I try to hide my nervousness at the idea of seeing Emily again.
Chapter Two
EMILY
Andrew is back in town and my dumb brother was the first one to tell me.
I just found out today because he needed me to handle our family’s sporting goods store by myself so he could go see him.
