Page 32 of Just My Puck
“I thought I heard your voice,” Marissa says, emerging from the backroom. “You look great. Even if the patch was kind of a fun touch.”
I laugh. “Well, I’m glad it’s gone. It was a royal pain, especially for reading.”
“Oh, right. Did you finish that book yet?” Marissa asks, her eyes sparkling.
“I did, and boy was it good. Ican’t wait to dive into another one. That’s why I’m a little early, actually. I was going to go buy another title before we leave for the arena. But then I smelled coffee, so . . .”
They both laugh, and Marissa nods knowingly. “Of course. How about I make you the same coffee you ordered that day you won the ticket?” she suggests.
“That’s a great idea,” Beth says. “Why didn’t we think of that earlier?”
“Sure. Naturally, I don’t remember what I ordered,” I say with a chuckle.
“I’m pretty sure it was a latte macchiato with caramel. Coming right up.”
I take a seat at the table while I wait, and that’s when I notice all the Raptors merchandise they have for sale. Signed posters, coasters, keychains, pucks. Seeing all this stuff, an idea takes root. “Hey, do you guys sell any T-shirts or sweaters? I didn’t think of asking Caleb for one for tonight’s game.”
“That’s a great idea,” Marissa says. “But we don’t sell clothes, since they’d take up too much space. We’ll be able to get you something before the game, though. Here’s your coffee.”
“Thank you,” I say, taking the steaming paper cup.
“So, how are you doing?” sheasks, pulling up a chair. “Settling in okay?”
“I am.” I smile, wrapping my hands around the warm to-go cup. “It’s still a little strange, but Caleb has been amazing, and I started therapy yesterday. I’ll be going every day this week. Honestly, I feel better already.”
“I’m glad. Let me know if we can help in any way.”
“Absolutely,” Beth chimes in, leaning on the counter.
“You’re doing it already,” I say with a smile, thankful for their friendship. Sitting back, I take a sip of my macchiato. The warm, sweet flavor of the caramel and the rich tang of espresso swirl through my mouth, blanketing me in a cloud of comfort and familiarity.
After chatting with the girls for a while longer, I cross the street to No Shelf Control, where I meet the third owner, Emma. I need to get more books and spot two that look fantastic. She and Hayley gift me two more books, even though I insisted on paying for them. It feels weird using Caleb’s credit card again, but the titles are buy one get one half off. Whatever job I had or the amount in my bank account, I’m pretty sure I was able to splurge on discount books once in a while. But Emma and Hayley insist on gifting them to me, and since I can’t be one hundred percent certain I wasn’t a wrestler in my former life, I don’t attempt to fight them over it. The last thing I need is to hurt the kind-hearted people who are helping me get by.
Soon enough, it’s time to go to the arena, and Hayley, Beth, and I walk there together. It takes about thirty minutes to reach the venue, and even if the December air is biting, the walk is pleasant. We admire the holiday decor lining the streets while chatting about books and movies. And even if I can’t really contribute, I take a lot of notes on my phone for later.
As the arena looms before us, the sidewalk gets more and more crowded. Every face sports a smile, with eager fans wearing their team colors and holding banners. A lot of fans are wearing Caleb’s number. I guess it makes sense since he’s the captain, but I didn’t expect to see so many girls here tonight—especially ones who are wearing his jersey.
We walk through the concourse, and Marissa takes me to the event level—the backstage part of the arena where the players hang out—and lets me choose some Raptors merch, courtesy of her dad. There are so many options, but in the end, I go with my gut, taking a jersey with Caleb’s number. It only feels right to support him, considering everything he’s done for me. I slip it on immediately, and I love how the smooth material feels on my skin.
I thank Marissa, and we walk backto the concourse to grab something to eat with the other girls.
“So, I take it you don’t really know anything about hockey, then?” Marissa asks, sipping her Diet Coke.
I wince. “Not really, but to be fair, I don’t know if I even followed the sport beforehand.”
“Wait a second, you’re right! You didn’t. At least, you didn’t know about the Raptors,” Beth says suddenly. “When you won, you asked what the tickets were for.”
“Oh, that’s true. I remember now,” Marissa agrees, then turns to me, her eyes sparkling. “Well, tonight will be your first introduction to this fantastic game.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, Marissa is a huge fan,” Hayley says with a chuckle.
A smile tugs at my lips. “I can see that. What about you guys?”
“I was definitely not,” Hayley snorts. “But I learned to love the sport as I fell in love with Max.”
“Aww,” Marissa and Beth both say in unison. “That is super sweet. And he fell in love with reading while trying to impress you. Such a cute couple,” Marissa adds.
“I always liked hockey, I guess,” Beth says. “At least, I started to follow it when I was dating my ex—and because I was hanging out with Marissa. Now, well, I love it a lot more. I admire the team and the connection they have, and of course, knowing them all personally plays a huge role.”
