Page 50 of Face Off

I smiled. “Perfect. Thanks, Nikolai.”

He nodded once and turned back around.

Amelia smiled. “He’s a big talker.”

Coach Romney was standing in the center of the ice and blew his whistle. All the players stopped and moved to surround him. I couldn’t hear what he told them, but after a minute, they all headed toward me and Amelia.

They were sweaty and tired and probably smelly, but Amelia stopped Mitch on his way. “Hey, we need you.” I made sure to stand out of the way, so at first, he hesitated but when he saw me, he smiled and stepped to the side to let the others pass.

“Hi, what do you guys need?” He unbuckled his helmet and pulled it off, pushing his wet hair out of his face.

“Just a quote from you about tomorrow’s game.”

He nodded and looked up at the stands. “Um. The fundraising nights are always fun. It’s a different energy. It feels like everyone, even the other team, is in a good mood. I think having all the kids here watching does that.”

Two full sections were reserved just for kids from the hospital and their families. I saw pictures and videos from the previous couple of years, and he was right. There was a different energy to it.

“Thanks, Mitch.” I double-checked that I typed out his response correctly. “I’m not sure how many of the guys I should talk to.”

“I’d say about five is standard for a game, but more is always good. You can use them all week if the guys just talk about the fundraiser,” he explained.

“That’s a good point.” I smiled. “I won’t keep you. I’m sure you want to get cleaned up.”

He nodded. “See you.”

He turned, and I realized Amelia had disappeared at some point too. There were a few people on the ice, collecting the pucks and other equipment, but no one I knew.

Mitch spun back around, looking hesitant. “Do you have anything to do with the foundation’s dinner?”

“Just posting about it.” I was invited, as an employee, but other than that, it was all Chloe and her team.

“Do you happen to know if there are extra tickets?”

“Actually, I do.” Chloe and Taylor were discussing it this morning. “There was about twenty extra last I heard.”

He looked down and nodded.

“Did you not already get yours?” I asked.

“I did, but I didn’t request a plus one.”

I smiled. “And now you have one?”

“Yes.” He stared at his gloved hands. “I have for a while, but I wasn’t ready to let the team know.”

I’d never seen Mitch look anything but calm and cool. He was the most even-tempered guy on the team, so seeing him flustered like this was weird.

“I’m sure they’ll be excited.”

“I hope so,” he mumbled.

I stepped closer to him, reaching out and putting my hand on his arm. “Why wouldn’t they be?”

He didn’t speak for a moment, then finally met my eyes. “Because I’m bringing a man. My boyfriend.”

I waited a moment for him to continue, like my boyfriend who hates everyone he meets. My boyfriend who crashed into Erik’s precious car. My boyfriend who used to be a criminal mastermind.

“Okay?”