Page 72 of Love at Teamsgiving
On the front, it says,Junie.
I unfold the thick paper. All it says is,From Mr. Sensational.
Margo reads over my shoulder. “You have a secret admirer.”
Gracie claps her hands together under her chin. “How romantic.”
“Or creepy …” Or with a massive ego. Mr. Sensational?! I harrumph.
“Let’s see. Who’d send you flowers?” Margo says.
They take turns naming single guys we know.
The real question is, who is the only person who calls me Junie?
A few days later,my so-called secret admirer sends me a box of gourmet Godiva chocolates—my favorite assortment that includes the “Pecan Caramel Duet,” the “Dark Ganache Bliss,” and the sweet little “Raspberry Star.”
The note attached to the box is also from Mr. Sensational. It doesn’t escape my attention that boxes of these chocolates were going to be the favors at Mikey’s and my wedding.
Not going to lie, I ate all of them, even the “Cherry Cordial.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
It’slate October and although I’ve seen Miguel most days he’s home, it’s usually with some combination of family, friends, or team members present.
He’s been busy with games and I’ve been burning the midnight oil, getting things ready for the salon’s grand opening in less than two weeks.
The Knights have a home game and the wives and girlfriends are especially excited because the Ice Maidens have put together a spooky season performance between periods. I get dressed, pulling on Miguel’s jersey as usual, even though we’re not official.
I find Mama waiting by the door, gripping a broom. In Italian, she asks, “What are you supposed to be?”
I glance down at my shirt. “Um?—”
“SignoraCruz, I presume?” she asks.
I wince. “I think that name is taken.”
“By Carlotta? No, tonight, we’re wicked witches.” Mama cackles.
Sounds about right. “Only tonight?” I mutter.
When we get to the arena, the Zamboni driver prepares the ice dressed as the Headless Horseman. On the Knights’side, there are an equal number of fans dressed in Knights gear as there are people dressed in full costume—a few as hockey legends but most as ghouls, zombies, and other typical Halloween fare. The fans of the Reno Rebels are mostly in team merch.
The game is fast-paced, with Beau blocking every goal the visitors attempt. But our guys don’t make any either, even though it’s a treat to watch Mikey out there.
I’ve been coming to hockey games since I was old enough to sit through one and always admired the skill required to do three things at once: skate, defend or attack a goal, and avoid over two hundred pounds of force attempting to slam a player into the boards.
But it wasn’t until I fell in love with Mikey that I saw just how attractive guys kitted out in uniform, savages on blades, and waving sticks could be.
Well, just the one. I only have eyes for him. Like right now. I blow him a kiss and then go feral when Welter from the Rebels tries to body-check him.
The two get into it with gloves coming off, but the refs intervene and they both go to the penalty box.
During the break before the third quarter, goose eggs are still on the scoreboard. The arena abruptly goes dark and streaks of glowing neon dart across the ice as spooky music broadcasts. The Ice Maidens appear through the haze of a smoke machine. Everyone gets excited as they do a quick performance and then throw candy into the crowd.
It’s fun, but it brings to mind the strange incident with the smoke machine at the shop not long ago. There hasn’t been anything else suspicious and I wonder if some kids were bored and figured they’d prank the new business in town.
I have a brother and he was best friends with Mikey, who has four brothers and never has any of them done something to meso rascally and random, at least not that I know of, so they’re not suspects, but who could it be?
