Faulker chuckles. “You broke her bed?”
“That ain’t shit. I stole her heart, too.” He grins.
By eleven fifteen,we’re wedged in traffic, Dash’s driver, Joel, inching the SUV forward, and I’m scrolling through rings.
“You’re sure tonight’s the night?” Faulkner asks.
“Positive. Icehouse feels right. She deserves this.”
“All right then,” Koa says, flicking through images. “Halo, solitaire, vintage. What’s Claudia’s style?”
“Simple,” I say. “No flash. She wouldn’t wear something gaudy.”
Killer shows me a picture on his phone. “So, not this one.”
Then Dash says, “That. It’s perfect. She’ll wear it every day. Looks like it belongs on her already.”
He hands me the phone, and I see it. It’s perfect. “Yeah, that’s the one.”
Koa taps on the screen and then holds it out for me to see, “Done. They’ll hold it for two hours. We’ll swing by for pickup.”
I don’t go homeafter I get the ring; I head to the arena.
“Marshall, you need to rest, kid,” I call to him.
“Just trying to feel it,” he says, frustrated.
“You talk to Doc yet?” I ask.
“Nah, she’s busy with real problems, I’m sure.”
“She’s not too busy for you. But right now, let’s you and me go get a meal, and I’ll tell you how awesome she is.”
“You see her yet?” he asks as he skates in.
“I’ve seen enough to know I’m going to marry her as soon as she says yes.”
He smiles, “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Ladies and gentlemen,welcome to a thrilling night of action between our Brooklyn Bears and the Vancouver Vortex, here at Costello Arena!”
The roar of the crowd is alive tonight, but I only care about two people in it. Okay, maybe more, but yeah, it’s a big night.
“Are you ready for some hockey?” the announcer bellows, and the crowd answers in unison, a sound that rattles my bones and makes me feel, for the briefest second, like nothing bad can touch me here. “It’s time to get loud, get on your feet, and show some love for your Brooklyn Bears!”
“Moretti.” Coach D nods to the front. “You’re up here.”
I look at Hank, making sure he’s good, although he and I already talked about it, it’s still gotta sting.
Dash yells out, “Plot twist.”
Koa nods. “Moretti is starting in goal, which is where he belongs. He’s put in the time.”
I watch Hank skate back to them. I expect him to be a little off, but he’s grinning.
“You good?” Koa asks.
