Page 42 of If You Love Me

Big Pheels

Callie is planning her wedding with Connor. They’re getting married on the ice, obviously.

Kristoff left during the middle of the first period and came back in the last five minutes of the game. *eye roll*

But he bought us both new sweatshirts.

Lexi

I hope you said thank you.

Big Pheels

We both did.

Lexi

Also, a rink wedding is completely on brand for Callie.

I wish I couldn’t empathize with my sister’s irritation. But I never had the kind of parents she had. My mom didn’t step up to the parenting plate until after my sisters were born. I’m glad things changed and that she gave them the attention they deserved.

Sure, they went on vacation often and left the girls with a nanny, but they never missed one of Callie’s hockey games or Fee’s dance recitals. My mom wasn’t interested in my extra curriculars, mostly used my hockey games as excuses for dates with rich men. My dad just sent flowers or a gift card so I could buy myself something nice when he invariably had to miss an event. It’s hard not to be disappointed sometimes, even though it’s expected.

We transition to the Watering Hole to celebrate the win, and surprisingly, my dad agrees to come along. Fee is happy to join us since Tally is there, and Callie is in heaven knowing some of the team will be present.

We grab our favorite table and settle in, the energy positive after the win. I’m in the middle of introducing my dad to the team when Callie drags Roman over. He’s holding her hand; my heart and ovaries are rioting. And then the panic sets in. But my dad was mostly checked out during the baseball game more than three years ago. He spent the first few innings on his laptop and then excused himself to take calls, until he left to handle some emergency. Surely he won’t make the connection.

“Kristoff, this is Roman Hammerstein,” Callie announces. “He’s the Terror’s goalie and my second-favorite player. Roman, this is Lexi’s dad, Kristoff. He’s a lawyer in New York, and he loves his job a lot.”

I shoot Fee a meaningful look. She sips her soda and looks appropriately mortified.

“I’m so used to seeing you in the goalie gear.” Dad shakes his hand, brow furrowing. “Have we met before?”

“Uh…” Roman glances at me.

I’m ninety percent of the way to a panic attack.

“Do you watch baseball?” Dad asks, completely oblivious.

“I mostly focus on hockey, but I’ve been known to catch a game.”

Dad’s brow smooths out. “Right. Yeah. We just…Lexi and I went to a game a few years back when she came to visit me in New York and for some reason…” He trails off and shakes his head, waving away the idea. “What are the chances you’d be in New York for a game and have seats right next to us, right?” He laughs, like the idea is ludicrous.

“It’s not impossible, but unlikely,” Roman says smoothly.

I don’t know if I’m imagining it, or paranoid, but I swear Hollis is giving Roman the raised eyebrow. Roman is a huge New York fan. He wears their baseball caps all the time. Thankfully not tonight, though.

Dad rubs his bottom lip. “Lexi definitely would have mentioned it if we sat right beside a hockey player.”

“I’m sure.” Roman gives him a polite smile. “Anyway, it’s nice to meet you. I hope you enjoyed the game.”

“It was great.” Dad’s phone rings. “I’m sorry. I’m expecting a call. I need to take this. It was nice to meet you, though.” He brings his phone to his ear and heads for the doors.

I heave an internal sigh of relief.

Roman gives me an unreadable look and excuses himself to the bathroom.

Dred passes me a glass. “You look like you might need this.”

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