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“No,” she admits in a fleeting voice. She turns to me, “Oh, Emily, what if we’re not right for each other?”
“Carla, I’ve known Dan since we were twelve,” Andrew says, resolute. “And I believe him when he says he will go back to church with you in a few weeks when his new manager is up to speed. This is just temporary. He is committed to you.”
I think that does it. Carla’s expression brightens and she wipes the tears from her eyes with delicate motions of her fingers.
“I hope you’re right,” she smiles, “Can you tell him that I need some time to think and get back to him?”
“Oh, no. You tell him that. I’m not Cupid,” I say, laughing nervously.
Carla giggles too. “You’re right. There’s no harm in me messaging him. Thank you.”
“Bye, Carla!” I wave her goodbye and shut off the call.
Now Andrew and I look at each other. He laughs at my serious face, while I kiss him, feeling needy.
“Three days without you, huh?” I lean my face into his collar for his manly musky scent.
“I’ll miss you too, babe,” he says, placing both hands on my butt and bringing me to sit on his lap. “But I need to be rested to win!”
Alissa lays on her back to look up to us. “Will you beat the teddy bears, Andrew?”
Andrew smiles and shakes his head. “Glacier Grizzlies, Alissa. They’re the Boston Glacier Grizzlies.”
“But their mascot is a cute teddy bear,” she shrugs, unwilling to let go.
“Can we have some alone time today?” I search for the warmth of his lips again.
“I think there’ll be an activity for the kids this afternoon,” he says, hands under my shirt, “Why don’t you call the other moms?”
“Good idea.” I kiss him before reaching for my phone.
Chapter Thirty-Five
ANDREW
Andrew
Three days of just being around my team makes me miss Emily beyond belief.
But finally, we’re here. If we win this next game, it will be our fourth win and that Stanley Cup will be ours, proof that all our effort wasn’t in vain.
I’m back on the starting team, and when we hit the ice, I’m like a rabid pitbull off the leash.
I’m giving the defensemen an easy day because I and all the attack trio are not letting them get to the goal. There’s no puck I can’t steal and assist I can’t make, until their hulk of a center tackles me, and leaves me gasping for air.
I feel my ribs. Nothing seems broken, but I’m not going to square off with the player, because I don’t want to be kicked out of the game.
No, I’m here until sudden death.
We take the lead during the first period and are head-to-head in the second. Hanson makes a strategic move, substituting Banks for Brooks as center towards the end of the second period. This decision sparks an uproar among the audience, with many expressing disapproval.
But Brooks proves himself to be another pitbull unleashed on ice. He screams orders from one side of the rink to the other and coordinates our plays strategically.
“Brooks, you’ll be a great coach someday.” I offer my hand for a high five.
“Thanks, man,” he takes the compliment, high fiving me with all his might.
As the second period ends, we find ourselves trailing by just a single goal. Despite our best efforts to keep Glacier Grizzlies at bay, Allan takes a puck to the face at the start of the third period, walking out spitting blood and teeth straight for the dentist’s chair.
