Nick
THE FOLLOWING JANUARY | Tarot: Ace of Cups
“Come on. You can do it. I’ve got you.”
Annie scoffed. “Ha. I’ve heard those words before. I know when I’m being lied to.”
I leaned in. “You can punish me as much as you want if I fail. Come on, baby. Just one step.”
Annie made a quick sign of the cross over her chest and pointed to the cloudless sky, then took my hands and stepped on the ice.We were in the middle of Denver’s baseball stadium, gearing up for the Winter Classic. We were playing Colorado, but we still got to enjoy the fun of the outdoor arena. I was stoked to be part of a team that got picked for the New Year’s Day special game.
“There’s my girl,” I said, skating backward to pull her along. She let out a quiet “eeek” noise as I got going, dodging my teammates and their families.
“Go, Annie!” Guy cheered, skating by in tandem with Kitty, looking like a pair of figure skaters with their grace.
Sorrento and his wife directed his kids on skates, all natural talents. Leroy skated with his kids and his girlfriend’s kids. His new girlfriend, Mara, took pictures from the bench. I grinned as Leroy skated to her, pulled her over the boards, and threw her over his shoulder, skating her in a circle while she screamed. It was a real 180 from the drama his now ex-wife had brought into the picture. I don’t know that I’d ever seen Sydney smile in a way that was genuine, but Mara was the complete opposite. I was happy for Jack.
Mikey and Jessie posed for a picture with their new baby, Madeline, who was still in the little lump stage of babydom. Annie and I zoomed by and Jessie let out a cuss.
“Watch it, Obi!”
“Sorry, Mommy!” I called. Jessie was just a few months into being a mom and was quite the protective mama bear. I swirled around them and slid to a stop, making sure the ice didn’t hit Maddie. Annie clutched my side.
Mikey bent to try to put Maddie on one of those little plastic seals that you push kids on the ice with, and Jessie drew a breath, ready to stop him.
“There you go, little girl!” he cooed as he held her on.
“Ben, she can’t even sit up on her own,” Jessie sighed.
“I’ve got her! Look! She loves it!” he insisted. As if to prove that she could care less, Maddie drooled.
“See what I have to deal with?” Jessie laughed to Annie. “He tried taking her to the children’s museum just to show her stuff. She can’t do hardly anything.”
Mikey looked up. “She loved it!”
“She slept half the time and blew out her diaper,” Jessie said.
“Yeah, those are two of her favorite things,” Mikey shrugged.
“Pretty cute, huh?” I said to Annie.
“Oh, she’s perfect,” Annie said, crouching to make faces at the baby. “I want to hold her when I’m not on these stupid skates.”
“Uncle Obi, too,” I said with a grin. I helped Annie get back to her feet and we continued on our lap of the rink.
Annie was skating pretty well this time around, this being only the second time I’d gotten her out on the ice.
“Alright, I think you’re ready,” I said, giving her a heads up.
“No, Nick, don’t you dare,” she warned.
“You are so ready! You’ve improved so much! Look at you go!” I loosened my grip on her fingers, drifting away from her.
“Nick, there are cameras everywhere!” she hissed as she wobbled. I rushed toward her and just like the last time, she fell back on the ice. I knelt between her open legs, laughing with her as the team’s photographer stooped to get our picture.
She pouted at me, but with joyful eyes. “I hate you for this.”
“I know, baby. I’m so sorry.” I grabbed her chin for a kiss. “Now you get to punish me.”
