“Good.” I smile. “That’s all that matters. You remember what we talked about? The signal?”
That’s when her smile—herrealsmile—deepens. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her grin like that. She’s got these tiny sharp canines peeking out that make her look a little mischievous.
“I remember,” she answers, then sucks her cheek between her back teeth. “Do you have family here?”
A thousand little fireflies flutter in my stomach, and I nod. “Yeah. My parents, and my brother.” I squint, then add, “And I think his roommate? For some reason?”
I laugh a little at that, then glance over at Indie. “What about you?”
She shakes her head.
My stomach dips. I’d kind of assumed her family would be here. Oregon’s not far, and it’s the biggest game of the season. But I guess that was just me hoping.
I knock the top of her helmet again, gentler this time. “Sure you do,” I insist, grabbing her hand before she can argue. I tug her toward the edge of the tunnel until we can peek out at the stands.
The crowd’s huge, even bigger than I expected. I can barely spot an empty seat in the entire arena. And when the fans catch sight of us, the placeerupts.A wave of thunderous cheers crashes over the rink, bouncing off the walls and amplifying.
Usually, that kind of sound would fill my lungs with water. All that attention, all that noise. But not anymore.
Not since Darcy.
It’s funny. Proving myself to the world got a whole lot easier when she became it.
I point to the stands, waving. “See all of those people?” I ask.
Indie nods.
“That’syour family. They’re here for you.”
Her brows drop into a furrow, and she glances at me. “I’m pretty sure they’re here foryou,” she counters. “Or Clay Matthews.”
I shake my head. ”They’re here for all of us.”
I scan the stands for just a second longer. It’s probably best that I don’t locate my family. That way, I can’t feel their eyes burning into me while I skate. But just as I’m about to turn away, I spot them.
My dad’s wearing the biggest smile I’ve ever seen. If it were a convertible source of energy, it could power the stadium. Beside him, my mom’s got a footlong hot dog in one hand, and a sign in the other that reads “Grizzlies Eat Giants.” I laugh silently to myself, then let my eyes wander further. Avery’s next to her, headphones on, mumbling something animatedly to his roommate Adrian, who,naturally,is crocheting. I swear, they’re good at everything.
“Two minutes!” Coach calls out, snapping me out of it.
Indie peels off toward Faith, who’s motioning for help with her cage. I head past them, back toward the end of the tunnel.
Which is where I find Darcy.
She’s standing alone, completely absorbed in her clipboard, eyebrows furrowed in focus. I stroll up beside her, casually.
“PlayingM.A.S.H.?” I ask, flashing her a crooked smile.
Darcy’s brows draw together. “What?”
“M.A.S.H.,” I repeat. “You know, the game where you figure out who you’re gonna marry, and how many kids you’re gonna have, and if you’re gonna live in a cardboard box under the freeway next to your Ferrari?”
She huffs a laugh, shaking her head. “No kids for me,” she says. “At least, I’m not pushing the fucker out.”
I should laugh. Acknowledge what she said. Do anything other than stare at her like I’ve just turned to stone, but I can’t. All I can do is marvel. Because the way the overhead lights catch in her hair, and that little disappearing freckle between her brows when she’s focused, and theASSISTANT COACHpatch embroidered on her tightly-fitting jacket…
When her eyes finally flick up from the clipboard, everything inside me stirs to life.
Pounding.
