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“She rambles a lot,” Lily says.
Violet blinks a few times, like she’s coming out of a daze. She waves the hand with the ring on it around. “Anyway, we have a car picking us up at six at my place. We can swing by your house on the way if you’d like, so you don’t have to worry about getting there.”
“Yes. That’s perfect! Thank you so much,” April answers for me. “Come on, Poppy, you’ve been sulking for almost two weeks.”
She’s right. I have. And this scenario is exactly what I need to put into action what I’ve already decided in my head. I’ll get to see firsthand what this world is going to be like outside the confines of my bedroom and my house. And how Lance handles me being there.
We exchange numbers, which is strange all over again, and Violet and Lily high five each other, hug me, and leave.
“That was surreal,” I say once they’re gone.
“And awesome!” April adds. “Oh my God. We’re going to a hockey game! And our seats are amazing.”
I share her excitement and fear what it means that my heart is beating so hard right now. My decision is made. And my heart is terrified.I’ve changed my outfit three times. I’ve redone my makeup twice. And I’m not really a makeup girl.
I’m wearing a pair of dark jeans and a green top, because Lance has mentioned that he likes the way I look in green. I’m also wearing my pale yellow and green flowered bra and panty set. It’s very feminine. I don’t expect he’s going to see it.
Okay. Who am I kidding? Now that I’ve made the decision to go to the game—and start hashing this mess out—a significant part of me wants tonight to end with him at least getting a glimpse of it. But I’m so nervous. Because this whole situation is entirely unprecedented. The wife of the captain of the team and the girlfriend of the legendary Randy Ballistic are picking up me and April so we can go to the game together. Something Lance never asked me to do. And he doesn’t know.
I consider texting him.
I want to text him.
But it’s just hours until the game, and by this point it’s unlikely he has his phone with him. If he does, I don’t want to be a distraction—the way right now he’s totally mine.
The car that comes to get us is a black extended SUV limo with tinted windows. I follow April out of the house to find Mr. Goldberg, who I’ve had a lot more tea with over the past week or so, chatting up Violet.
“Ladies night out, Miss Poppy?” he asks.
“We’re going to a hockey game, Mr. Goldberg. This is Violet; she’s married to Alex Waters, Chicago’s team captain.”
“Is that so? Violet Waters, that’s a lovely name.”
I’m positive he’s checking out her rack. She’s wearing a form-fitting sweater with the Chicago logo on it.
“It makes me sound like a Disney princess, right?” Violet says with a big grin.
“That it does. Have a nice night, ladies. Be safe, Miss Poppy, and if you see that boyfriend of yours, make sure you remind him I’m out of those biscuits.”
“I’ll be sure to let him know.”
“What’s that about?” April asks.
I shake my head. “Nothing important. I’ll tell you later.”
I wave and get in the car where the rest of the girls are waiting. Lily’s sitting to the left with a baby seat between her and Sunshine—or Sunny, I guess her friends call her—and
there’s another woman I’ve never met seated behind her. She looks vaguely familiar.
Sunshine’s face lights up when she sees us. “Hi, girls! How are you? It’s so nice to see you!” We give each other awkward side hugs since I’m hunched over and she’s sitting.
“Is this Logan?” I peek in at the tiny sleeping bundle in the car seat, covered with blankets. “Is this his first game?”
“It’s his fourth.” Sunshine smiles proudly. “I hope he’s awake for at least a few minutes this time.”
I move to the bench seat on the right where there’s room to sit, and April goes in for hugs, then joins me.
The woman on the other side of Logan extends her hand. “I’m Charlene.”
“She’s dating Darren Westinghouse,” Violet calls from the front seat. “Or whatever she’s decided to call it.”
I don’t know what that means, but I introduce myself and April, and then we’re on our way to the game. Charlene, Violet, Lily, and April drink champagne while Sunshine and I drink sparkling juice. She’s breastfeeding, and I don’t want to be tipsy before I’m even at the rink.
It doesn’t take long to get to the arena. We’re dropped off at a private entrance, and we have some kind of special pass that allows us to avoid all the line-ups and security checks along the way to the ice.
