Page 97 of Snapping the Ice
After taking an Uber to the arena, I met Zoma and Leo at the main entrance, and then we made our way inside and to our seats. We grabbed beers and hot dogs on the go before sitting down for the game, with Leo beside me and Zoma on my other side. It was like they’d set up a barrier around me.
“You’ve seen a few games now, right?” Zoma glanced at me and bit into his hot dog.
“I have. I sort of know what’s going on.” I sipped my beer. In the rink, the players stretched and passed pucks around, some skating at incredible speeds. Ace performed what appeared to be a crazy dance routine, shifting side to side and waving his gloved hands and stick. “What the hell is Ace doing?”
“Oh, he’s warming up. Looks funny, doesn’t it?” Zoma giggled. “Watch for him to do his superstitious routine. He hits the goal posts a certain way before every game or thinks he’s going to play terrible.”
“Seriously?” I watched him, still dancing around. What superstition did Lucas have? We’d never discussed it. “Do all players have?—”
“Yes. Archer has an old, kid-sized hockey stick he kisses before every game. He even takes it with him on the road.” With a sharp laugh, Leo bit into his hotdog.
I’d have to ask Lucas about this later. With warmth spreading across my chest, I locked my gaze on Lucas, passingthe puck back and forth with Laine as they skated along the edge of the rink. He looked good out there. I wouldn’t know it was his first time playing in an NAPH game. But then, I wasn’t an expert.
Leo turned to me. “How are you doing with all the social media attention?”
Gazing at my hotdog, now unwrapped, I pursed my lips. “It’s fine. I only read the positive messages. If someone posts something shitty, I delete it and block them.” I’d spent the morning going through everything. “It got easier the more I went through it.”
“Yeah, it can be tough. That’s the right thing to do and don’t let the trolls get to you. They’re not worth your time.” Leo gave me a pointed look.
“Opinions are like assholes. Everyone’s got one.” Zoma snorted. “If I listened to every comment someone made about my skating, I’d have quit a long time ago.”
I peered at him. He’d been in the public eye too. Maybe not as much as a pro hockey player, but enough. “Thanks, guys. This helps.”
The players lined up on the ice and a woman sang the national anthem.
In the middle of the second period, San Francisco was up by a goal. Ace had fended off numerous shots at his net, but a few had slipped by him.
“Ace is not happy.” Zoma drank his second beer. “Look at him, he’s beating himself up.”
“What about Archer? He’s not having a great night either. He needs to get on that fucking center when he comes around.” Leo pointed at the rink.
The Falcon’s center had the puck, shuffling it on his stick as he swiveled around a Cardinal and sped toward the goal.
Hitting the ice with Laine, Lucas speed skated toward the center.
The center passed to his winger, and the winger drew his stick back.
With a shoulder blow, Lucas struck the winger, and both fell to the ice. Play stopped.
Ace’s cackle carried through the air. “Way to go, little Hopkins.”
Mason raced to Lucas and helped him up, then patted his helmet with his gloved hand. A quick helmet tap and then they went after Jett, who controlled the puck.
“Look at that. The Hopkins brothers playing on the same ice. This has got to be a dream come true for them.” Leo, holding up his beer, gave me a broad smile.
“You’re right. This is so cool to see.” Emotion burst inside me. These guys were a special breed, and I was lucky to be part of it.
Jett passed to Lucas, with Mason close behind him.
Rushing the Falcon’s goalie, Mason spun around.
We all hopped from our seats. Would they score?
Lucas shot to Mason. The puck hit Mason’s angled stick. As the goalie dropped, it slid under his ass and into the net.
As the horn blew, Cardinals players raised their gloves, jumped across the ice and the crowd roared.
“Holy shit, Lucas made an assist!” Leo laughed and held up his free hand.
