Page 68 of That Thing You Brew
Penny was here tonight and would be playing her harp on the ice, just feet from where I’d be standing for the anthem. I was so proud of her. She’d only had a moment to decide whether to accept the invitation, and she hadn’t hesitated. She knew she was likely to be interviewed after the splash we’d made All-Star Weekend, and she’d told me she wasn’t worried at all.
It was my birthday, Penny was here, and we were projected to win. I hadn’t been the recipient of Zaki’s game day prank. Poor ChaCha had found all his equipment stick-taped inside a bundle of towels. He’d had it coming though, since he told Zaki to “bless his heart” when be bested him in a drill yesterday.
A perfect day, indeed. I didn’t even care that I wasn’t starting.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!The drumbeats from our entrance soon reverberated in the tunnel. Jason’s cue.
Our goalie led us onto the ice while “Livin’ on the Edge” played for the fans. We hit the surface and skated a few circles on our side of the red line. When I came to a stop at our bench, I blew a kiss to Penny, sitting on her stool just a few feet away on the carpet. It was dark, but she knew to expect it, and she was looking. She caught the kiss and touched her fingers to her lip. I was purposely the last guy into the box so I could be as close to her as possible.
That was my girl. Wearing my jersey. In my arena.
Going home withme.
Mine.
The music faded out, and the announcer named our starting lineup. Banging on the glass behind me caused me to turn. Gabby and Brenna waved at me and pointed to the empty seat between them. I grinned. My lucky Penny would literally be behind me all night.
I turned back to the ice while the Air Force representatives presented our nation’s colors. They were followed by two Desert Storm veterans, twin brothers, who were thanked for their service. They saluted the fans, and then Penny and her harp filled the screens of the jumbotron.
“And now, to perform the anthem of the United States of America, renowned harpist and songwriter Penny Palmer.”
Songwriter?I grinned. Another of Penny’s secrets to discover.
Her back was to me, and she’d braided her hair into a thick, single rope so thatSchwannwas clearly visible on her back. Since hearing her play the theme fromTangled,I thought of that song whenever she wore her hair like Rapunzel.
I looked up at the screen as the camera panned from her closed eyes to the short and sparkly blue fingernails that weaved in and out of the strings. I’d never heard the arena so quiet before. The closeup of her hands reminded me of our wedding rings, at home in their velvet boxes. The emerald, on her right ring finger, was the only jewelry she wore.
When the song ended, the place erupted into applause. My teammates whistled and howled and banged their sticks. I slipped out of the box to hug Penny as her harp was carried away.
“You were amazing! Did you hear that applause?!”
She laughed and tapped my helmet. “Will you get in trouble if I try to kiss you?”
“I don’t care.”
She pushed my visor up and pressed her lips to mine. “Did you read your message?”
“I did. As you wish.” And I had a new goal song picked out, just for tonight. Most teams had the same song for every goal, no matter who the scorer was. But on a few teams, like us, Winnipeg, and Montana, players were given the chance to choose their own. It had taken a bit of convincing to get it changed, but since it fit with tonight’s theme, it was happening. And it was worth every chirp my teammates were going to give me.
She grinned. “And I got your back.”
“Seriously, Schwann? You dating the barista?” Dante taunted from the Foxes’ bench.
“Shut up, Leinecker!” I snarled.
He howled. “That’s so rich. Like,gold diggerrich.”
I’d been mad before. I’d been in fights before. But I’d never felt the degree of rage that pulsed through me at that moment.
I let Penny go and turned to face my nemesis. “Do not EVER disrespect my wife like that again or?—”
“Yourwife?”He let out a string of unfavorable expletives, and I lost it.
I dropped my stick and lunged at him.
It took four guys to pull us apart. We were lucky to get only five minutes each in the penalty box. Coach was not happy to start the game four-on-four, but that was the least of my troubles.
I couldn’t get Penny’s expression out of my mind. Shock, betrayal, fear. It was all there.
