Page 49 of Pucking Rebound

Kali adds, “You know what they say about breakups, Lola?”

“What do they say?” She’s clearly giddy with love tonight, I think I like this silly side of Kali she never shows.

“The only way to get over someone is to get under someone else.”

I turn to look at her through the dimmed lighting. “What happened to the professional, sophisticated, reserved Kali Roth I’ve come to know?”

“I’m sorry.” She apologizes, giggling like a schoolgirl. Yup, she’s definitely high on love.

For a fleeting moment, I remember what love felt like.

But now I know everything between Graham and me was a lie.

It wasn’t love.

For him, it was greed.

“Wade clearly fucked all sense of self and manners out of you at the same time,” I reply deadpan.

“He really did.” We both burst into fits of giggles again turning our attention to the rink.

Music louder now, the Jumbotron flashes footage of the Eagles’ winning goals and triumphs one after the other in time with the music.

It gives me goosebumps, and a sense of pride knowing I have a brother who is part of this championship team. The entire arena is electric and buzzing with energy, and so am I.

I’m also grateful and happy that for the next couple of hours, I can forget about the circus that is my life.

One after the other each player enters the rink as they are announced. When Wade skates out and does his lap of honor, Kali and I go crazy, yelling and hollering his name.

“Go get ‘em, baby,” Kali shouts at the top of her lungs when he blows her a kiss and then waves at me.

“Go, Wade,” I shout.

Kali tracks his every move as he does tricks with the puck and skates fast around the ice.

I put on a fake high-pitched voice bringing her thoughts to life. “I love him. My boyfriend is pure perfection.”

She covers her face in embarrassment. “Is it that obvious?”

“The hearts in your eyes say it all.”

She removes her hands from her face. “I don’t care. Wadeiseverything.” She swoons on a blissed-out sigh.

“He is,” I admit as I watch him move like art on ice.

“Oh, there’s Jordy.” Kali points to him kissing the ice as part of his pre-game ritual, before stepping onto it, and the fans go crazy because everyone loves Jordy. He’s professional, hardworking, and never causes any drama on or off the ice. He’s consistently rock-steady and trustworthy.

Skating past us, he looks up and winks at me.

“Who caught Jordy’s eye?” Kali asks while looking at me. I feign innocence and look behind me pretending to search for someone in the crowd who caught his attention and Kali mirrors my action.

“I don’t see anyone,” I say, because there’s no one there. It was me he was winking at.

I look back at the rink to discover Jordy standing at the boards and beckoning me to him.

“Jordy wants you.” Kali elbows me in the ribs.

I pretend to be shocked and point at my chest. “Me?” I mouth, Jordy replies with a nod.

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