Page 73 of For the Win

“Root your feet firmly in the mat.Make sure your weight is even between your big toes, baby toes, inner heels and outer heels.”

I focus on the tiny adjustments I have to make, feeling all four points of my feet pressing into the mat.

We follow Arya’s directions, hands on hips.

“Continue to lengthen your torso as you fold forward.When you’re about halfway down, lower your hands and bring your fingertips to the mat beneath your shoulders.Move your weight slightly forward on the balls of your feet.”

She talks us through it, and we walk our hands back, letting our heads hang, then resting them on the mat.

I hear a thunk behind me, a muffled curse, then another thud.

“Jesus Christ,” Russ mutters, followed by a loud “oof.”

With a sigh, I give up the pose to see what’s going on.Three guys are lying on the floor all tangled up with each other.I move my head from side to side disapprovingly.“What the hell?”

“He started it.”Russ points at Nicky.

“I lost my balance.”Nicky tries to extricate himself.“Sorry.”

“He knocked me over and I fell into Archie.”Russ shakes his head.

Arya straightens to regard the mess.“It’s like dominoes,” she says calmly.“Are you all okay?”

They’re lying on the floor laughing their asses off, so I think they’re okay.

“This class is a little off the rails,” Arya says.“I’ll let it go this time, but next time, you’re going to have to be in the right headspace to prepare for playoffs.”

I meet her eyes, which are dancing with amusement.Damn, she’s good.

* * *

I getto the arena early for our Thursday night game and sneak into the visitors’ dressing room.My gaze roams over the cubbies until it lands on JP’s jersey.I grab his gloves and stuff them with the Dubble Bubble gums I have in my pocket, pushing the wrapped gum right down into the fingers.I startle and glance around when I hear a noise, but it’s out in the corridor.Quickly I finish up.I give the gloves a shake and nothing falls out.Perfect!I put them back just how I found them and slip out of the room, chuckling.

I go through my pregame routine, dressing the way I always do.When I’m dressed, I head out into the hall before everyone else and do my moves—some stick handling with no puck, lunges, a few jumps.Then Teddy opens the door and the other guys start coming through.I slash Bergie’s knee, bump gloves with Scotty, bear-hug Bellsy and hold my stick butt end to the floor while Jimmy uses it to practice a couple of face-offs.

The atmosphere in the building is electric; it always is when these two teams play each other.A lot of Eagles fans travel to their team’s away games here, so things can get a bit rowdy in the stands.

Glen, our announcer, calls out the intro.“And nooooooow, here they aaaaare, your California Condooooooors!”

Lights are flashing, and there’s smoke and deafening noise from the sound system and the cheering crowd as we all take the leap onto the ice and do a lap.

Glen announces the starting lineup, we stand for the anthem, and then Jimmy takes the face-off.And wins it.

17

ARYA

Janeyand I arrive at the Coliseum.Harrison gave us directions yesterday about where to park and which entrance to use.I’m more familiar with the Coliseum since I’ve taught classes there, and I lead the way inside.Making our way through the crowded concourse, we find a small shop selling Condors clothing and memorabilia, and I purchase a Condors baseball cap.“In case someone gets a hat trick,” the guy behind the sales register says with a grin.

I laugh.“Right!”

“Don’t worry, if it happens, hats will be on sale after that so you can get another one.”

“Good to know.”

We pick up popcorn and beers and find our seats.They’re in a corner, about the middle of the lower bowl, so they have a pretty good view.The players are on the ice warming up.

“Okay, where is he?”Janey asks, dipping her hand into the bucket of popcorn.

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