We were both silent for a while before Cass huffed a laugh. “How weird that we’re going to hockey games for guys. We’ll be wearing team jerseys by the end of the season.”
“Daniel and I won’t be fake dating by the time the season ends, so he might not want me coming to more games.”
They chuckled again, then, after parking their car at the arena, turned to look at me. “Samaya Janmohammad, I adore you, and if you wanted to drop all your dreams and ambitions and move to New York or California with me right now, I’d go in a heartbeat, but you, my friend, are simultaneously the smartest and the dumbest person I know.”
I laughed as I unbuckled my seat belt and opened the door. Cass was the only person who talked to me like that. “Why? Because I can’t see someone like Daniel developing feelings for me?”
“No. Because you can’t see that he hasalreadydeveloped feelings for you. He wants you to meet his mother, for god’s sake. He’s into you ... I guarantee it.”
I shook my head as I headed into the main door of the arena.
We climbed up into the stands and decided to sit near center ice since we were rooting for both teams. I hadn’t been to an ice rink in years and had forgotten how cold they were. Which, duh, made sense. There was a lot of ice here. There were players skating fast around the rink in full hockey gear, the scrape of their blades on the ice echoing through the arena. Some players wore red jerseys and some black, so I assumed it was both teams warming up. I couldn’t figure out which one was Daniel. I thought his team wore red, but all the players looked the same—like enormous, padded beasts. Not people. And none of them looked like my friend.
I looked around at the crowd. I didn’t know what I was looking for—Daniel’s mother should be there, but I had no idea what she looked like. Did she know what I looked like? Had Daniel shown her any of our selfies?
Cass leaned in close. “That’s Owen’s mother,” they said, pointing out a white suburban mom-type a few seats over from us. She beamed and waved vigorously at Cass. Cass gave the woman an awkward wave.
“She likes me,” Cass said.
I snorted. “That’s an understatement. You’ve met his mother?”
Cass nodded. “I met them all at the family day at my dad’s work.”
I grinned wider. This was big—Cass already had parent approval. I had no doubt that thisfriendshipwas actually more than that. I couldn’t believe how much of my best friend’s life I’d missed lately.
“I think the three of us—you, me, and Aimee—are long past due for a dim sum brunch.” It was time to resurrect our old weekend treat of dim sum at one of those Chinese banquet places with the old ladies pushing carts. Cass used to translate so we’d know what we were eating, and we’d gorge on shrimp har gow and black pepper short ribs until we couldn’t see straight. We used to go every few months, but it had been a long, long time. I was deep in thought, wondering if Aimee would even come to brunch with us now, when I heard my name shouted.
“Samaya! You’re here!” It was Daniel ... at the edge of the ice near the railing (wall?), grinning ear to ear. Even with the wire cage thing from his helmet covering his face, I could see his wide smile. How could one person be so happy all the time? He was like the brightest ray of sunshine peeking over everyone else’s dark cloud.
I couldn’t help but grin back. “I’m here!” I shouted.
“Your very first hockey game!”
Of course, since Cass and I were sitting halfway up the stands, everyone heard what Daniel said. A bunch of people turned to look at me, curious what a person in Canada who’d never seen a hockey game would look like. We walked down the steps to talk to Daniel without spectators.
“I’ll tell her the basics,” Cass said. “I’ve already shown her where they hide the baskets between innings.”
“Did you warn her to duck so she doesn’t get hit by a flying bat after a touchdown?” Daniel asked straight-faced.
I rolled my eyes. “Ha ha, smart-asses.”
Daniel laughed at me. “Want a pic for your social?”
I handed Cass my phone and stepped closer to Daniel. He took off his helmet for the picture, and I leaned my head into his. Cass showedit to us after they took it. It was perfect. The bright white of the ice behind us made us glow.
Daniel slipped his helmet back on. “I’ll see you outside after the game? I’ll shower quick. My uncle is going to bring my gear home so we can go study.”
My eyes widened. “Your uncle’s here?”
“Yeah, he drove Mom. Don’t worry, it’s fine.” He looked at the ice. “I’m off. We should be starting soon.”
“Do I say break a leg?”
He laughed. “Just good luck works.”
“Good luck then.”
Somehow, he beamed even wider. “With my small vampire lucky charm here? I’m unstoppable. See you soon!”
