Page 65 of Say It Isn't Snow
The last time we faced off with each other was years ago during a showcase game. Most of the times our old teams played each other during the regular season, we were on different lines and never saw time on the ice as opponents in an official game.
He skates in circles around me with clean edge work that stokes a competitive fire in my chest. The drive that made me strive for this career with everything I had to give reawakens.
I get serious and push myself, stealing the puck and flying down the ice. Theo whoops and hauls ass after me.
With him breathing down my neck, I take the shot on the net, crowing with my fist in the air when it sails into the crease.
I feel fucking alive again. Exhilaration and determination pump through my veins. My love for the game is unshakable.
Sitting out of the rest of this season will be worth it when opening night rolls around in October.
We go a few more rounds, each of us bagging a win. I haven’t had this much fun in ages. Probably as far back as my college days.
I’m drenched in sweat by the time we finish. My damp hair curls against my forehead. I shake it out and slick it back as we skate to the boards.
Theo downs half his water bottle and nudges my phone. “Your brother texted. How is he? I miss that kid.”
“He’s good. Did you see his game last night?”
“Hell yeah. I taught him how to make that beauty of a shot when he was a rookie,” he boasts.
“No, I taught him how when he was learning how to skate on my grandparents’ pond.” My brows jump up as I grab my phone and read Elijah’s message and a shocked scoff escapes me. “Oh shit.”
“What is it?”
“You know how Sonia set me up with a meeting to talk to the team’s PR manager? I got the go ahead to make a statement on what happened with Chet at that bar.”
It felt good to speak out about Chet’s character and my belief that he—and anyone like him who disregards a woman’s consent or is a danger to women in any way—has no place in hockey or any other sport. Organizations shouldn’t be protecting or making any kind of concessions for them, either.
The post I made yesterday has thousands of likes and too many comments agreeing with me to keep up with.
“This article Elijah sent me says he’s being put on the inactive list pending investigation by the league after charges were brought against him from another incident he was involved in last year.”
Theo gives a low whistle. “I hope he’s kicked out of the league.”
“It’s what he deserves. Guys like him don’t belong in hockey.”
“Damn right. Ready to call it and hit the showers?”
“Sounds good.”
He smirks, skating backwards towards the exit to the locker room once we’ve cleaned up the equipment. “Are we getting a bite to eat after this?”
I chuckle, jostling him when I skate by. “I’m going home to my girl.”
“No teammate bonding? No love for your buddy?” He messes around with me by gripping my jersey and making me tow him.
“Not as much as I love her.”
I stroll through the crowd of post-holiday shoppers, eager to get home to Holly at the bakery. As I sidestep to move out of the way for an elderly couple, something in the antique store’s display window catches my eye.
A snow globe. The base has ceramic pink bows circling it and if I’m not mistaken, there’s a cabin scene inside. Immediately, I think of Holly.
The bell rings when I enter the store to buy it for her. My nose tickles with the urge to sneeze at the aged scent clinging to the air.
I find the snow globe, pleased to find it is a cabin along with a small figurine of a couple waving in front of it. With a shake, white flurries swirl inside along with flakes of pink and gold glitter. It’s perfect.
“Do you know any recommendations where I can get this engraved?” I ask while purchasing it.
