Page 8 of Love so Cold

"I know," she says. "But at school, everyone's talking about the hockey team."

"Yeah?" I prompt, encouraging her. This is new territory for us. Olivia isn't the one to dive into social ripples; she's more like a stone skimming the surface, avoiding making any waves.

She nods eagerly, and it's like watching a flower bloom in fast forward. "It's going to be so cool this year because they're getting sponsored. I don't want to miss out on it." The words tumble out with a rush of breath, as if she's been holding them in all day.

My heart does a little somersault. Olivia wanting to plunge into something as communal and spirited as a sports team is not just a surprise—it's a seismic shift.

I push open the car door and step onto the gravel, crunching it beneath my boots. Olivia's right behind me, her backpack bouncing against her shoulders as she hops out.

"Mom," she says, catching up to me with a couple of quick strides, "I also want to show that I can do just as well as any of the boys."

"Is that so?" I ask, keeping my tone playful but my heart swelling with pride.

She nods vigorously, her shyness slipping away. "And Sophia is on the team. She's one of the only girls, and she's awesome."

"Ah, Sophia, huh?" I muse, pausing to unlock the front door. I let us in and flip on the light. Our cozy living room welcomes us home, familiar and warm. "You look up to her?"

"Totally." She kicks off her shoes, sending them flying to their designated spot by the hall tree.

The house fills with the noise of our domestic routine as I head to the kitchen and rummage through the pantry for something to whip up. "Well, you know what, Liv? I'm proud of you. Really proud."

"Really?" She peeks around the corner, eyes searching mine.

"Of course, honey." A box of crackers finds its way into my hand, along with a jar of peanut butter. "If you want to join the hockey team, then I'm behind you one hundred percent."

"Thanks, Mom!" Her smile could power the whole block.

"Go ahead and turn on the TV while I make us a snack," I say, pointing towards the living room.

"Okay!" She dashes off, and soon enough, the sound of some cartoon fills the air.

My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out and start tapping out a message to the group chat with Emily, Jessica, and Samantha. They need to know about this new development with Olivia.

Avery

Hey guys, heads up: Olivia wants to join the hockey team. Looks like our little protest planning will have to adapt.

I hit send and start spreading peanut butter on crackers, wondering how they'll take the news. It's not long before the replies start coming in. They're supportive, as always, full of emojis and exclamation points.

Emily

Way to go, Olivia!

Jessica

Girl power! We'll figure it out

Samantha

New plan: we’ll multitask!

A chuckle escapes me as I carry the plate of snacks over to where Olivia sits, engrossed in her show. The moms are brainstorming already.

"Here you go, sweetie," I say, setting the plate down on the coffee table.

"Yum, thanks!" She looks at me with those big brown eyes, suddenly serious again. "Mom, are you mad about the hockey thing?"

"Mad?" I sit beside her and ruffle her hair, letting my sincerity shine through. "No way, Liv. I already told you, I'll support you with everything I've got. Don't ever beafraid to chase what you want, okay? No matter what anyone else thinks."

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