While I approach the bench in the closet I’ve taken over, I remind myself to be grateful that she didn’t go too overboard with my outfit. I could have picked out the jean shorts and white V-neck shirt that has the Bobcat team logo in the center of the chest.
“I know how to dress myself.” I mumble, picking a piece of lint off my arm. We both know that I’m just giving her a hard time. Since that one time we agreed to meet at the club, instead of getting ready together, she’s been the one to pick my outfits. She scolded me formonthsbecause of my outfit choice. Although I still see nothing wrong with the skinny jeans and purple tank top that I wore.
“Lilly please. If I let you pick your outfit you would go wearing that.” I frown at my favorite black tank top. I got it from a website that I came across a few months ago. This one was from my newest order and says, “When I die, delete my kindle history.” I had laughed so hard that I hit purchase without even hesitating.
“What’s wrong with this?” She pauses her swipe of mascara, looking away from her own reflection to glance at me.
“Nothing is wrong with that tank top. Hell, I told you I want one for my birthday. But you can’t wear that to the game, especially considering how intense Bobcat fans are.” I sigh, knowing she’s right, and study the shirt she bought for me, set out with a pair of shorts that she claims makes my ass look like a peach.
“Fine. But you can’t stop me from wearing flip flops.” I stick my tongue out at her when she turns back to finish her make-up.
“Wouldn’t dream of it babe. Now hurry up and finish getting ready, we have to leave in an hour.” I laugh, but head to the bathroom counter to get ready anyway.
Considering we have basically grown up together, it’s no surprise that Paige and I have so much in common. If you compared us by our personalities alone, we could probably convince people that we’re actually related. But when it comes to our appearances, we have almost nothing in common. She has perfectly straight black hair that she complains can’t hold a curl, while I have light brown hair that almost passes for blonde in the sunlight that never seems to stay straight. She could pass for Selena Gomez’s long-lost sister with blue eyes.
Glancing at Paige in the mirror, I can’t seem to hold in the question I’ve been sitting on since she told me what our plans were for the night.
“Are you sure about this?” My voice is quiet, I force my eyes shut and take a deep breath. Her hand clasps around mine, I brace myself before meeting her knowing gaze.
“Hun, for starters, your dad has been a huge help these past few weeks. If I had asked you to go two months ago, you would have called me a fucking psycho for even considering going to a hockey game. There’s clearly some part of you that is ready to move on.” I start shaking my head, but she pushes on. “Plus, you’re not actually seeing him. Your dad is going to beinsidethe arena, doing his job alongside the team. We’ll be outside, even ifwe hang out after the game wraps up. It’s not like anyone that’s part of the team leaves via the front doors. They have their own team exits.” Pulling away from me and applying her favorite pink lip gloss, she continues.
“Also, let’s face it, no one even knows what any of his kids look like because he’s kept you all so separate from everything, so you don’t have to worry about someone recognizing you. I’m sure about this Lil, we’re going to have a night that we will never forget.”
I release the breath I have been holding in and let her words sink in. Taking one last glance to make sure my hair is contained in my braid, I square my shoulders and change into the clothes Paige told me too.
“You’re right. It’s gonna be fun.”
“Tell me again why you think it’s a good idea to be here.” If I had known that Garrett’s plans involved tricking me into coming to this watch party for the first exhibition game, then I wouldn’t have let him through my front door today.
“Dude, you’re signing a contract on Monday and literally just moved here last week. Once you see and experience the ride or die atmosphere that Bobcat fans bring to each game, you’ll see that the trade agreement you’re about to sign is the best thing to happen!”
He grunts as I elbow him hard in the gut, reminding him to shut his trap. Glancing around and noticing that no one heard him helps my shoulders relax, but it doesn’t stop me from shooting the idiot a glare before I turn back to survey the crowd around me. They asked me to keep it hush hush until the Coach had scheduled a press conference and told the team.
Garrett and I met back in elementary school when he moved next door, and the rest was history. He’s never played sports, but he has always been my biggest supporter and could probably tell you more about my hockey career than I ever could. He and my sister, Sarah, would come to every practice or game they could throughout high school, and that continued when I scored the full ride to play in college.
Thanks to a connection he had made during our senior year of college, Garrett launched a marketing and publishing company here in Tampa and has been down here for the past three years. I had never thought much about playing for anyone other than the Colorado Cougars, but this past season gave me the push I needed to get out of there. Sarah, Garrett, and my team were what kept me there.
Everything I had planned for my career changed last September thanks to an accident caused by the team captain. The accident that cost my sister her life.
Garrett must see that he is losing my focus and instantly shoves a beer in my hand, dragging me back to where we set up our chairs with an arm thrown over my shoulder. There’s a live band playing on a stage, inserting puns about the team, and pumping everyone up for the game. When Garrett leans in totalk, he’s not quiet but the speakers blasting the music make it impossible for anyone around us to listen in.
“You’re never gonna have the chance to see fans from this side of the arena again. Once they make the announcement everyone is gonna know your face. Take advantage of being unknown and enjoy the night. You’re surrounded by hardcore Bobcat fans. Plus, you and I haven’t watched a game together in fuckin’ years, man.” He releases me from his hold as we stop at the chairs that we had spread out to save space for some of his coworkers, but Garrett turns directly toward me, clearly not finished with what he has to say.
“You’ve had a shit year man. Fuck, dude, before everything with Sarah you were doing the best you’ve ever done, but everything else…” He pauses, staring down at his feet for a moment before continuing. “When you waived your no-trade clause in your contract you could have been moved anywhere, but you were picked up by Tampa!” He glances around to make sure no one is listening, but he must spot the co-workers he mentioned were meeting us because he smiles widely and waves. Turning his attention back to me with a happy shine to him that wasn’t there before.
“Life handed you a shit hand. You took some hits and some bits of you got chipped away, but you’re here. You’re alive and ready to start up next season at the top of your game. I have never let you down when it comes to a night out, you’re here for three reasons.”
He holds up his fingers, adding another to the mix as he lists his reasons.
“One, how many professional hockey players have you met that can say they have been to a watch party for their team? None that you know cause you all are alwaysinsidethe arena. Yes, you could have easily gotten us tickets inside, and you know that they would happily place you in some fancy box seats ormaybe even by the team, and while those are dope ass seats, there’s nothing like seeing the game from out here, undercover, with your fans.” His tone softens as he continues on.
“Two, you moved down here a week ago and have barely left your condo. Yeah, I know you go to the gym to keep up on workouts, so you don’t struggle when you have to jump right into pre-season practice and games. But we’re twenty-five, finally living in the same city together again and should be socializing with people our age.”
“Which brings me to reason number three.” He throws his arm over my shoulder again to turn me to face a group that I can only assume is his co-workers. Garrett has a stupid smirk on his face that used to drive girls crazy in college as he leans closer to me. Holding up a third finger, he whispers in my ear. “Women.”
I can’t help laughing as he lets me go and begins fumbling around me to help one of the women with the chair she brought.
“Paige! You made it this time!” She smiles brightly up at him as he moves to set her seat up next to his. When we got here thirty minutes ago, he was very specific about how we placed our chairs to save space for everyone else. Paige moves past me to where he is setting her up.
