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“Life should be bigger than just a sport,” Dad said.
“This is why they’re making me go to college,” Billy muttered, rolling his eyes.
“And you’ll thank us for that,” Dad said.
With some distance and perspective, I could see how my family had sacrificed so much for me. Everything was always about me back then. Now they had this whole other world.
Billy’s hockey. My dad was in a chess club. And my mom was on the board of an organization dedicated to saving the historic landmarks of Seattle. Things they never had a chance to do when we were all focused on my skating career and goals.
“Did I ever thank you guys for putting up with me? When I always made everything about skating? I owe you so much and I don’t think I ever said thank you.”
“Oh, here we go,” Billy groaned. Just like an eighteen-year-old would when feelings were complicated. “She’s going to get all mushy on us because we built her furniture.”
“I’m not mushy. I’m just…seeing things a little more clearly.”
My dad patted my knee. “That’s good, honey. That means you’re growing up.”
We watched the referee drop the puck on the ice. Dillon’s instincts in a face-off were unmatched in the league. He immediately took control of the puck and passed it back. Cody was actually on Dillon’s line with Novek. Not only had he made the team, he was starting and I could take some pride in that.
Game play happened so fast. A pass, then another pass, then Dillon was in front of the net and he hit the perfect shot in the goalie’s five hole.
The red siren behind the net lit up and started blaring. The TV commentators were talking about how Dillon hadn’t lost any of his form from last season.
The cameras followed him as he glided past the home beck, taking fist bumps. Then he turned towards the camera directly. He smiled and there they were. His Dimples Grande.
“For you,”he mouthed.
I didn’t want to watch anymore. It hurt too much.
“I’m going to go to my room,” I announced.
They both looked at me like I was a time bomb about to go off, but I just wanted to be sad all alone.
Three hours later my phone dinged.
Dillon: Did you watch?
I told myself, don’t do it. Under no circumstances was I allowed to respond to his texts. It was just prolonging things between us and neither one of us needed that.
But in the end, I was weak.
Liv: Yes.
Dillon: I’m going to be in Montreal the beginning of November. Will you be there?
That one was easy. Watching him from a distance on TV was one thing. Being in the same space with him, breathing the same air, that was something else entirely.
Liv: No.
* * *
Dillon
Liv: No.
Of course,I didn’t blame her. I mean, I thought as an assistant coach she wouldhaveto be there. But maybe there were exceptions for having to be in the arena with a team that had treated you like shit.
But I was a selfish bastard and I really wanted to see her.
