I’m not sure it’s that I’m in his head rather than that he has nothing to put his… never mind. We’re exclusive, and B.E. (before Eloise), he would probably have hooked up with someone after the game.
I don’t know whether to puff out my chest or climb inside my suitcase. “I’d love some company.” My voice is small, but she heard me. Keys click on the other side of the line as she hums to herself.
“Do you need to be picked up?”
“No, I can make my way to the airport.”
“I’ll pick you up.”
“But—”
A door slams, she locks it behind her, then the click of her heels on the tiles as she drags a bag behind her. Was she sitting around with a packed bag waiting for me to call?
“I’ll be there soon.” The call drops. I’m staring at my screen not sure what the heck just happened, but excitement fizzes in my stomach. I don’t know if Ares likes surprises or not, but this one’s going to be great.
He’s told me about his sister’s driving. Ishouldhave thirty minutes before she arrives at the door, but I’m guessing it’ll be closer to twenty. I better get my ass in the shower.
Eighteen minutes later a growly engine revs outside the house, then a horn blasts. Athena is nothing if not subtle. I kiss a disgruntled Dad on the cheek, plead with him not to worry, reassure him I’ll call to check in and hurry outside. Both Athena and Savannah are in the car already, so I hop in the back seat, pulling my suitcase in with me.
“Okay.” I buckle up, because if I don’t, I’m going to quickly wish I had. “Can one of you please explain how you were ready to go and at my house in less than thirty minutes.”
Neither of these girls are low maintenance. Perfect hair, perfect makeup, perfect nails. There’s no way they threw stuff in a bag and drove here.
Athena meets my eyes in the rearview. “I always have a go-bag ready. It’s got a few days’ clothes, toiletries, some emergency cash. Everything I need at a moment’s notice.”
I shouldn’t be surprised that she’s literally ready for anything. But I am. It’s genius, except that doesn’t explain why Savannah is here, and I assume she has a bag too, unless she borrows Athena’s emergency things.
As if reading my mind, Savannah turns in the passenger seat. “I’ve been friends with her for long enough to expect the unexpected. I got caught short once, without underwear. Hers don’t fit me.” She jerks a thumb at Athena. “And Ihategoing commando. Never again. I have a bag packed next to hers at the door at all times. Just in case.” She claps her hands together and yelps.
“It’s been ages since I’ve needed it though. This girls’ trip is going to be so much fun! I’m so glad you called Hen. It’s fucking impossible to get her to go to games, but between us we can tag team her so she has no choice.”
“It’s not really a girls’ trip. I’ll find something else to do while the two ofyougo cheer on your hockey Neanderthals.” She barely takes a breath before she pulls a hand from the steering wheel and holds it up to Savannah’s face. “Andyes,I know Eloise’s Neanderthal is my brother, but that doesn’t change the fact he’s a dumb jock.”
She winces, catching my eye in the mirror. “He’s not dumb. I take that back.”
That makes me smile. He’s sensitive about his intelligence, or rather, feeling like he’s lacking and knowing that Athena recognizes that in him shows me that no matter what she thinks of his chosen profession, she’s truly in tune with his emotions.
By the time we get to Minnesota, I’m full of nervous energy. I almost didn’t board the plane. Not because of the anxiety, but because Athena hadn’t told me it was a chartered flight. A tiny,veryprivate plane that carried the three of us.
Every time I think about how expensive that ride was, I feel sick. The only answer I got from Athena was an eye roll. “It’s Cedar Rapids, it’s not like there are planes to Minnesota every twenty minutes,” she’d said when my feet refused to move toward the small plane.
I knew this. I guess in my haste to do something nice for my boyfriend I didn’t think the logistics through. And we didn’t have time for the road trip. The flight was so nice though—we had snacks and drinks. But as we walk into the arena, the Champagne in my stomach threatens to come back up.
We get a few looks from the Snow Pirates fans, but on the way here, Savannah said their arena is reported to be one of the friendliest. We are wearing Raccoons colors, but since Ares doesn’t know to look for me, I won’t need to hide.
I decided, since Athena spent a crap-ton of cash to get us here, I would wait until post-game to surprise him. Speaking of Athena, she takes her seat to my right. She says she couldn’t find anything to do for the night, but I think she wanted to hang out, even if that means sitting through a hockey game.
Part of me thinks she secretly loves the game and the fact her brothers all play, but she’s a puzzle with some of the pieces missing. I can’t figure her out at all.
By the time warm up is over, I’m vibrating with glee, and I’m not even sure why. I’m not a huge fan of surprises, but I guess I love giving them to people. To my left, Savannah practically bounces in her seat, either my energy is contagious, or she’s as excited as I am. I sent Ares my typical “Good luck,” pre-game selfie with Bacon. I recycled an old one because I was on my way to the airport, but he doesn’t seem to have noticed.
Hedidsay that a couple of the guys were making fun of him over it. Like he cares. He just thinks it’s cute, and he gets a little buzz from the guys winding him up.
Athena spits a loud curse in Spanish. I turn to see what’s wrong. She holds up her phone so I can see. ATrash Can Tattle with Tabithaison her screen telling us that Ares’s backup netminder has signed a contract with the NHL team in Iowa City.
His backup got Ares’s dream gig. My brain freezes. Despite his blasé attitude about everything in the entire universe, I’m sure he wanted that placement more than he wants to breathe. He wants to play pro hockey, and he wants to play it in Iowa. The team now has a full goalie roster and no room for Ares. He’s going to be so upset when he finds out.
Athena shows me all the major sports outlet websites and my stomach lurches, it’s everywhere. As the puck drops, I can only hope he hasn’t seen it yet.
