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“No! What the fuck? You’re dating Bridget.”
“It’s over. We decided we’re better as friends, or that’s what we said. We’ll never be friends. We have nothing in common.”
“You’d have even less in common with Nova.”
“Why? Because she’s poor? I don’t care about that. She’s hot. I just saw her with your mom. I thought she was hot that night at the diner, but she looks way hotter tonight. Did she do something to her hair? It looks different.”
My mom took Nova to get a haircut. She’d never had one at a salon. Ted wouldn’t let her spend the money so she had to cut her own hair. My mom’s stylist took a few inches off Nova’s hair and put layers in it. It looks really good. Add in the new clothes my mom got her, and yeah, she looks really hot tonight, but Kevin shouldn’t be looking at her that way.
“You’re not asking her out,” I say, raising my voice. I didn’t mean to, but thinking of Nova with Kevin set me off.
“If you can’t have her, nobody can,” Kevin says, sounding annoyed. “Got it.” He turns back to his locker.
I’m not going to argue with him about it. I need to focus on the game. We’re playing one of our toughest opponents tonight and I don’t want to lose. I told myself we’d win every game this season, which would’ve been easy if Nova hadn’t shown up in my life. I’m happy she did, but she’s been a major distraction from hockey. I’d normally be spending every free moment at the gym or the rink or at home watching replays of games, but instead, I’ve been spending my free time with Nova. I still go to practice, but like Kevin said, I haven’t been paying attention. Even my skating coach yelled at me for not paying attention.
When I get out to the rink, I look up and see my mom in her usual spot, with Nova right next to her. Nova’s pointing at the rink, talking to my mom, probably trying to figure out the game. I can’t believe she’s never watched hockey, never even seen a game. I don’t know how that’s possible growing up in Wisconsin, but I guess if you didn’t have a TV it makes sense.
The game starts and I immediately get into it, my focus now solely on winning. I want Nova’s first game to be one where we win. I want her to see what I can do, how I move on the ice, how I crush my opponent. Five minutes in, we score, and the crowd goes wild, screaming and jumping out of their seats. I glance up at Nova and see her cheering. It’s one of the greatest moments of my life. Seeing my best friend, the girl I love, the one I thought I’d never see again, in the stands, cheering for me? It’s a moment I’ll never forget.
It fuels me to keep going, to win the game. When we do, the crowd goes wild. Nova’s yelling right along with them, her eyes getting huge when she hears them chanting my name. My mom’s clapping and smiling at me, like she always does.
It’s weird not seeing my dad here. It’s the first game he’s ever missed, but I’m glad he couldn’t come. I already know he’s going to kick Nova out, and I hate him for that. I shouldn’t say I hate him. Up until recently, he’s been a good father. He spends a lot of time at work, but when he’s home, he’s there if I need him. And he adopted me and gave me a home, so maybe I shouldn’t be so hard on him. But if he had enough of a heart to take me into his home all those years ago, why can’t he do the same thing for Nova? It’s only for a few months.
When I get back to the house, Nova greets me at the door. “You were amazing!” She hugs me as my mom comes up behind her.
“Another win,” she says, smiling. “And that was a tough team.”
Nova lets me go. “I didn’t really know what was going on, but it was still really fun to watch.” She looks back at my mom. “I think your mom got tired of all my questions.”
“She’s kidding,” my mom says. “I enjoyed explaining it to her. It made me feel like an expert.”
“You kind of are after going to all my games.”
“Too bad your father couldn’t be here.”
“Did he say when his flight gets in tomorrow?”
“At ten. He needs to stop at the office on his way home.” She’s giving me a look like she doesn’t want to talk about it. “How about some pizza? The delivery man just dropped it off. I got three in case Jenna brings some friends over.”
“Sounds good. Could you give me a minute?”
“Sure. I’ll be in the kitchen.” She leaves and Nova follows.
“Nova,” I say, getting her attention.
She turns back. “Yeah?”
I laugh. “Get over here.”
She walks back to me. “I thought you needed a minute.”
“Yeah, to be alone with you.”
“Oh.” She smiles. “I didn’t pick up on that.”
“Let’s go to my room. I need to drop off my stuff.”
“Um, okay,” she says, hesitantly, like she thinks she’ll get in trouble for being in my room.
