Page 65 of Under Control
“We have to get good seats,” Isaac said.
Olivia smiled at him. “Yes we do, because this is my very first hockey game.”
“Ever?” Isaac looked confused. “But not on TV, right?”
“I have never seen a hockey game, even on television,” she said, and both kids groaned in unison.
She laughed. “Don’t worry, I have a plan. Instead of asking a bunch of questions, I’m going to cheer when you cheer and boo when you boo.”
Derek chuckled and took her hand as they followed the kids into the rink. “That’s a good plan.”
She chuckled. “I’m sure I’ll figure out what’s happening along the way. Julia, are you feeling better?”
The girl turned and smiled at Olivia, all traces of her earlier bad mood gone. “I’m all better. And nobody else got sick, which is weird, so Mommy said I probably ate something bad. But I’m not sick anymore and I can have all the hockey food I want.”
“There’s official hockey food?”
Derek laughed. “Concession food is a hockey tradition. I should have warned you supper might not live up to your usual standards.”
“There you go with that stupid standards crap again. I’ll have you know that concession pizza and soft pretzels rate very high on my personal food pyramid, even if it does take days to wash the sodium out of my system.” She gave him a smug look as the kids laughed at him. “So there.”
They found good seats near some of the other E-59 and L-37 families. Olivia went in first and the seating habit was so ingrained that the kids followed, so Isaac went next and then Julia, so Derek found himself two kids away from her. But listening to Isaac trying to explain the rules to her—with help from Cait’s younger brother, who was sitting with his mom, Cait and Gavin behind them—made up for being too far away to hold her hand.
Once the game started, there weren’t many opportunities for talking. With the stands full of friends and family, and with friends and colleagues facing off on the ice, the cheering was deafening. But watching Olivia and the kids laughing together as she mimicked their reactions to the play, with only a few seconds of lag time, Derek was about as happy as he could remember being in a very long time.
Maybe hecouldhave everything.
When Julia asked if it was time to eat yet, he saw his chance to get a few minutes with Olivia. Not private moments, of course, but away from the kids. After telling the kids to sit tight—under the watchful eye of Cait, who gave him a nod—he gestured for Olivia to go with him.
Holding her hand, he led her to the concession area. He waved and said a quick hello to countless people he knew, but he didn’t stop until they were in the relatively quiet area where they sold the concessions. Because it was a charity game, they had a lot of donated food from local businesses to sell, so Olivia could get her pizza and soft pretzel. Derek asked for a couple of slices for himself, along with one for Julia and a hot dog for Isaac. They’d also have to balance a couple bags of popcorn.
“I hate to question your plan,” Olivia said, “but how are we going to carry drinks?”
He laughed, shaking his head. “I hadn’t gotten that far yet. Usually the kids carry their own stuff, but I wanted a minute alone with you.”
“I’m not sneaking off into the locker rooms or whatever they have here.” She gave him a stern look, but it only lasted a few seconds before it turned into a sheepish smile. “Not that I was thinking about the possibility of it, or anything. It’s too bad you don’t have a minivan.”
“Why would I get a mini...oh.” His cheeks got a little warm when she laughed at him. “I’m keeping the kids tonight, but what are the chances you can hang out for a while tonight?”
He knew it was a long shot, but he had to ask. He’d missed her and even if she couldn’t stay, he needed for her to know he wanted her to.
When she leaned in close, a naughty smile playing with the corners of her mouth, his blood heated. “I wasn’t sure how long hockey takes or if you’d have plans for after the game, so I don’t have any appointments until mid-morning and Kelsey’s going to do some admin stuff until I get there. If you’re sure it’s okay, with the kids and all.”
“Until you get there? So you can stay the night?”
“Like I said, I wasn’t sure if you’d have plans for after the game.”
He had to forcibly remind himself they were at a family hockey game. “Oh, I have plans.”
* * *
“What’s happening?” Even though Olivia had promised not to ask questions, she was confused by what was happening on the ice.
And she wasn’t getting any cues from the crowd. For the first time since the game started, it was quiet in the rink.
“Grant’s in trouble,” Isaac whispered.
She leaned her head close so she could whisper back. “In trouble for what? Did he break a rule?”
