Page 62 of Off the Stick
To my surprise, Lenni leaps from the chair with a whoop of excitement.Then she spreads her legs in a jumping-jack motion and raises her hand in the air, making a chopping motion that resembles splitting wood.I stare at my daughter in disbelief.
“Let’s go, Ax!”She dances around and continues to chant and chop.“SKOL, SKOL, SKOL!”
I’m momentarily stunned at this display of Vikings pride.
“Where did you learn this?”I mimic the gesture, and she grins, another characteristic strikingly similar to her father.
“From Ax,” she states proudly, then runs off toward her bedroom, leaving me standing in my kitchen and realizing I’ve just lost all control over this situation.
Her father has already influenced his daughter and endeared himself to her.
I stare down at the note again.And to me, too.
* * *
The game is a nail-biter,ending in a tie in regulation and going into OT.As the crowd thins for bathroom breaks and concession-stand runs during the fifteen-minute intermission, Helena and I explain to Sommer—who came clean about not being a hockey aficionado—about the rules of OT.
“Because they’ve tied, they’ll go into a five-minute overtime period, and the first team to score wins,” Helena says, taking a sip of the beer she’s nursed for the better part of the last period.She’d mentioned earlier that she’s become a lightweight after she finished nursing Ingrid a few months ago.
I can totally relate, although I never was much interested in drinking beer in the first place.If I have a choice, I’ll go for a cocktail or two, but wine and beer don’t really do it for me.
But who needs booze when this night has been a blast.The three of us have clicked in a way I’ve never had with women outside of Carmen.We all come from different backgrounds and are in different places in our lives, but both Helena and Sommer are solid, genuine people.They are down to earth, friendly, and not focused on fame or being social media influencers.
In fact, I took a selfie with both women earlier, and Helena requested that I not post it on any social media.I hadn’t been planning on it but asked her why.
Her eyes grew sad and downcast.“It’s hard to be the wife of someone who has a lot of fans.”
She left it at that, and I made a point not to press any further.But I’ll ask her for the story later if she’s comfortable sharing.
Sommer, also, is easy to talk to.I was taken aback when she told me the incredible way she and Cale met and got married on the same night.As the saying goes, when you know you know.
I wish I were that sure about anything in my life and could decide that quickly.I’m always riddled with indecision and uncertainty about what I should or shouldn’t do.
Case in point: Dane.
Sommer’s follow-up question draws me back to the conversation.
“So, what happens if neither team scores during overtime?”
“They have a shootout!”I exclaim, then lean in with a wide grin.“And Cale had the best record in the league last season for shootout goals.”
Sommer’s face brightens with the heat of a blush, and she chews on her lip.“Oh.”
Helena gives her a friendly bump on the shoulder with hers.“How does it feel to be married to the captain and highest scorer on the team?”
“Strange.Weird.Unreal.”She turns her eyes down to her lap, where her hands are clasped in a tight grasp.“Obviously, I’m not a hockey fan, so this is all new.I didn’t know Cale was a hockey player when we met.He’s just a nice guy.”
“Nice?That’s what attracted you to him?”Helena prods, eyes flashing with teasing mischief.“Come on… not his eyes, or his chiseled features… or that flow?”
Sommer giggles, shaking her head.“Flow?”
Helena and I exchange a look and laugh.I pat Sommer’s knee.“You have a lot to learn about hockey, my friend.”
The way she describes Cale’s compassionate nature has me thinking of Dane and how he’s not only interested in me, but is stepping up for Lennon.I guess you could say he has stake in the game and is doing it for the right reasons.
As if reading my thoughts, Sommer quirks a knitted brow.
“You haven’t mentioned much about you and Dane.There’s something going on between you two,” she observes.“Are you going to spill the tea with us?”
