“Piper gave me a tour. That Stanley Cup photo of you guys from a few seasons ago is precious. Liv looks so small sitting on your shoulders.”
“Doesn’t she? She hit a serious growth spurt the summer after those pictures were taken.”
I pop to my feet and meet him halfway. “You look nice in your suit. How much do you hate wearing that tie?”
“Somedays I wish I coached in the NBA so I could show up in joggers and sneakers and not get fined.” His gaze roams down my body, stopping when he gets to my jersey. He falters, touching the stitching on the shoulders. “Did you actually track down one of my jerseys from Boston College?”
“You have a lot of fans on the internet. Some guy named StickLover69—yeah, the irony isn’t lost on me either—had it for sale, and I figured I had to have it.” I do a slow circle, stopping when my back is to him. “What do you think?”
“I think it’s a real shame I have a job that needs my attention for the next four hours.” A thrill races through me when his fingers graze the hem of my short skirt and the boots I paired the outfit with. Anyone could walk in and see us like this. “Every guy in the arena—and probably on both benches—is going to be looking at you.”
I spin, facing him again. “Are you going to be looking at me, Brody?”
“I’m not going to be able to stop looking at you.”
“That’s all I care about.”
“I wish I could stay,” he says, “but I?—”
“Am a very important coach getting paid a lot of money to lead his team to a victory.” I smile. “I know. I get it.”
“I’ll come find you after. The media got two answers out of me. They don’t need anything from me the rest of the game.” Brody checks the door. Sure that we’re all alone, he kisses the top of my head with the faintest brush of his lips. “Have fun tonight, sweetheart. I’m glad you’re here.”
The Stars are playing well,but Grant is on fire. He’s the first one down the ice every possession, and from the way he’s taking shots and diving to protect Liam’s net, I swear there’s someone in the crowd he’s trying to impress.
He has two goals through the first two periods, and during the last intermission, I stand and stretch my legs.
“Did either of your parents skate?” Kali asks, standing with me. She waves to Liv who disappears down the tunnel to grab a bucket of popcorn, then looks my way. “You and Grant are both so talented.”
“Nope. We’re from Florida, so it’s a mystery how we both ended up playing sports on the ice.” I smile. “He puts in so much work.”
“I had no idea who Brody was when I met him for the first time. Come to find out he’s the greatest skater in the last twenty years, and it’s very apparent our daughter takes after him, not me.” Kali shrugs. “I don’t give two shits about sports.”
“Funny, because Liv is really talented.”
“She loves the sport, but that’s all her. We don’t pressure her. We never forced her to put on a pair of skates. Brody even signed her up for a gymnastics class so she wouldn’t feel like she had to follow in his footsteps, but nothing stuck like skating did.”
“That’s important,” I say. “My parents weren’t pushy at all—these sports aresoexpensive, and I think they were actively hoping I’d pick up something that cost less money. But so many of the other adults in my life were forceful about my skating. When I finished fifth at an event when I was fourteen, my coach told me if I put in ten more hours of work a week, I’d finish fourth. So, I did. And I did finish fourth.” I shift on my feet, the prickle of unease rising when I think of the people in the past who have failed me. “The cycle continued until I recently broke out of it. Now I’m skating when I want to skate and how I want to do it, which is something I wish more young skaters did.”
“Liv talks really highly of you. About your skills, yeah, and how beautiful your program was at your recent competition, but also you as a coach.” She pauses. “Your encouragement means a lot to her. You speak to her like she’s an adult. You listen. We’d love if you kept working with her after her event in August.”
“Gosh. I’d be so honored.” Pride blooms in my chest. I pull on the hem of Brody’s jersey to distract myself from that warm and bubbly feeling nestling behind my ribs. “This is going to sound silly, but working with her—and Brody—has really made me appreciate skating again. Liv encouragesme, and it’s my motivation.”
“She’s a good kid.” Kali clears her throat. “Brody told me you and him are spending time together.”
The pride shifts to the hint of anxiety. Does Kali think I’m too young for him? Does she not want Liv around me now that she knows we’re sleeping together? “He did?”
“To be fair, I kind of pulled it out of him, but, yeah. He did.” She nudges me with her elbow. “I’ve been around that man for many, many years. And I’ve never seen him so happy as he’s been these last few months.”
“Oh.” Butterflies again. They never seem to go away when Brody’s around. “Really?”
“Really. He’s not very open about his feelings, but I learned a long time ago Brody’s love language is acts of service. He says the right things, of course, but he also shows you he cares by the things he does for you. Being there when you need him. Remembering your favorite food or favorite movie. Hell.” Kali snorts. “I promise I’m not in love with him.”
“I didn’t take it that way,” I hurry to say. “You do know him better than anyone else.”
“A blessing and a curse. He doesn’t do casual. If you’re in his life, it’s because you’re important to him. And I can tell that you are.”
Liv bounds up the stairs, dropping in her seat with a snack and a water.
