Page 92 of Honest Boys Don’t Play

“Better than I thought, but it’s not the easiest. Luckily Rory is a good baby. Luke is such an amazing dad though. He does so much when he is home. You raised a great son. I can only hope to do the same.”

“You will, pretty girl. Trust me, you will.”

When the game finally begins, I find myself on my feet with my nose practically pressed to the glass like a little kid at an aquarium. I watch each of the players hit the ice, jumping up and down with excitement when I see the jersey with Covey emblazoned on the back of it.

The guys jump across the board and settle on a bench.

I’m cursing myself right about now for not knowing more about hockey. I should’ve been studying for this before the season started. Granted, I had bigger things going on and I’m sure I’ll be going to a lot more games in the future and I’ll learn then.

I stay locked in on the game, hoping that Luke gets his moment on the ice. The only times I look away are when Rory stirs or makes a noise, in case he’s waking up and needs me. I’m glad he’s sleeping peacefully with all the noise in the space. I try to play the TV and music and even vacuum while he’s sleeping so that it won’t bother him as he gets older.

“Let’s go!” Daire cheers, watching a player streak across the ice.

A moment later the puck goes sailing into the net and the arena erupts into cheers, our room right along with them.

“This feeling might be addicting,” I admit.

“You have no idea,” Daire says, eyes following another player now.

“Do you miss it?” I ask.

He shakes his head immediately. “No. Now, I can play for fun and that’s all I need. Professional hockey was never for me. My family”—he pauses and eyes Rosie and Sammy chatting with Luke’s mom— “is my priority now. I want to be with them.”

I didn’t know Daire much before a year ago, but what I knew of him I didn’t like. He seemed like your stereotypical asshole and player, but he’s completely changed and turned into someone I admire. Not that I’m telling him that. Rosie would probably curse me for all the bragging she’d have to hear.

Luke doesn’t play the entire first period, but I’m not going to let my hope dwindle that he’ll get some ice time. I want to see him in his element.

The intermission lasts about fifteen minutes before they’re back at it. The other women in the room are still more interested in conversation and drinks than they are with the game, but at least it gives me a clear view of the ice.

I can see where Luke sits on the bench, so I notice the moment his coach slaps him on the back and his teammates cheer as he hits the ice.

I scream with excitement and Daire whoops beside me.

I have a whole list of questions for Luke about hockey now, including what position he plays. I’ve never paid this much attention to the game before, and I just assumed that all players did the same thing but it’s obvious in watching that that isn’t the case.

Daire does his best to explain things to me, but it mostly goes in one ear and out the other.

Luke isn’t on the ice long, but it seems none of the guys are, before he’s back on the bench. He gets to go on the ice again though before the last intermission.

I run to the restroom during the break and grab a plate once I’m back, so I can dish up some of the food from the buffet. It’s only now that I’m realizing that I didn’t eat much today which isn’t good with breastfeeding.

“How are you liking the game?” Kayla asks, coming to stand beside me.

“It’s so cool seeing it like this. I only went to a few games in college and Luke, and I weren’t together at the time, so I wasn’t pay attention to everything like I am now. I want to learn all there is to know now.”

“Don’t worry.” She gives me a pat on the shoulder. “You’ll pick it up in no time, trust me.”

She walks over to one of the women she introduced me to earlier, Kendra I think her name was.

Rosie grabs her own plate and joins me in snagging things from the buffet. “This food looks delicious.”

“It really does.”

My stomach growls in appreciation, demanding to be filled. Once my plate is piled with everything I want, I return to my spot. The guys are already on the ice, so my eyes scan the bench for Luke’s jersey. When I don’t spot it my gaze shoots to the ice in search of him and there he is, practically sprinting across the ice in his skates.

“He looks good out there,” Rosie says, joining me. I look around for Daire and spot him at a couch in the corner with a sleepy looking Sammy.

“He really does.”