Page 67 of One More Chance
TABITHA AND LAURENtrudged up the stadium stairs holding giant bags of popcorn and a soda each.
“How high are these seats, Mom? Auntie Charlotte said that they were good ones,” Tabitha puffed as they reached the top of the Gardens.
“I don’t think she’d let us down Tabitha,” Lauren said, jostling her popcorn into the crook of her elbow so she could show the usher their tickets.
“Right this way, ma’am.” Lauren and Tabitha followed the usher to a door with a sign that read: Owner’s Box.
“See, told you,” Lauren smiled at her daughter as they entered the private box. Tabitha’s eyes were as wide as saucers as she took in their bird’s eye view of the game, along with the private buffet spread, and personal wait staff.
“Looks like we didn’t need these,” Tabitha held up her snack and gestured toward the self-service popcorn cart in the corner.
“Lauren!” A voice rang out. She turned to see Freddie’s movie star grin. “Come, have a seat.” He patted the seat beside him.
“Mom, do you know that guy?” Tabitha whispered.
Lauren sighed, “I do. Come on, Tabitha.” She led Tabitha down to the two empty leather chairs beside Freddie. She didn’t believe in the concept of guilty by association. She rationalized that she could still hate Logan but like Freddie.
They stood for the national anthem and then Tabitha watched as Logan Brush gave the audience a half-hearted wave.
“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” Freddie said. He put his feet up on the ledge in front of him and helped himself to a handful of Lauren’s popcorn.
“Oh, Charlotte’s not going to like this,” Lauren said as she watched her sister walk confidently out on the carpet to accept her plaque from Logan. The camera zoomed in and Lauren and Freddie were transfixed as they watched Charlotte and Logan’s very business-like interaction on the red carpet.
Lauren muttered, “Asshole,” under her breath and shook her head.
Freddie turned to her, his mouth slightly agape, then pursed his lips, shook his head and turned away.
“What?” Lauren asked.
“Nothing,” Freddie replied, his eyes glued on the action as the puck was dropped.
Five minutes after the game started, Charlotte made it to the owner’s box and sank into the chair beside Tabitha. She grabbed a handful of her popcorn, “Did anybody score yet?”
“Not yet,” Freddie answered.
Lauren looked past her niece and sister to see the brother of her arch nemesis. “Freddie,” she said and nodded her head at him curtly.
“You looked great out there,” he said without looking away from the game. “Whoa,” he shouted as one of the players shoved the other. The rest of the team skated to the action and in the first five minutes of the game, there was a power play for the Otters. Things weren’t looking good for the Bobcats.
The camera zoomed in on Logan speaking into the ear of one of his players. His eyes darted back and forth following the puck, while he coached his player. He looked confident, strong, and extremely handsome. Charlotte looked around the arena; it seemed like every woman had their eyes glued to the hot coach on the jumbotron. If Charlotte didn’t know Logan, she would’ve been transfixed as well.
“Was that hard for you?” Lauren whispered to Charlotte.
“No, not really. Wow, I didn’t realize they had such good cameras here,” she mused.
“You wondering if we saw you swear in Logan’s ear?” Freddie asked, stuffing more popcorn into his mouth.
“You really don’t have a filter, do you?” Lauren asked, shaking her bag of popcorn.
“Unless there are lip readers in the audience, I think you’re off the hook. I only know because I saw the look on his face.”
“Like he didn’t deserve it,” Lauren hissed at Freddie.
“He doesn’t deserve any of...” Freddie’s voiced faded off.
“Doesn’t deserve what?” Lauren prodded.
The whistle was blown, and play stopped again. Freddie turned to face the sisters. “I shouldn’t say anything, but Logan spent yesterday saving your ass.”
