"Can I see your office?"
"After the game," I answer easily. Depending on how the game goes tonight, Gabe has said he'll either go out and celebrate with the team, or head back to his dorm. I'll have to get Owen home and in bed soon after anyway. I offered for Gabe to come over, but he has some exams coming up he needs to study for.
The announcer’s voice comes over the speakers, grabbing everyone's attention. "Let’s make some noise, for the first time this season, the Phoenix Penguins!"
The crowd goes wild and I hold back a smile as Owen joins them, scrambling to stand on his seat and almost spilling his food. I make sure it's set down before picking him up so he can see the guys come up the tunnel.
Each player grabs their gear before hitting the ice and making a few laps around. Some wave and smile at people they recognize as they pass, which makes everyone cheer louder. Not once does the crowd lose momentum until the announcer starts up again, calling out numbers and names to announce the lineup for this year. Owen squeals in excitement when he hears Gabe's name, and it makes my heart soar for so many reasons.
"Can we go up to the glass?" Owen asks. I can see why he's asking. We are in the third row and the stands are elevated, but he's only five and is surrounded by adults.
"Maybe for a bit when the game starts," I answer.
He finishes his nachos, kicking his feet with excitement the entire time. I eye the guys on the ice, slipping back into work mode to watch each of them. No one needs to know that my eyes keep drifting back to jersey number twenty-six. My initial fears about our personal and work lives mingling have mostly been settled. There's still a small bit of uneasiness I feel when I'm directing the whole team to do certain stretches during practice, or when Coach thanks me for taking Gabe 'under my wing'.
The game is intense from the puck drop.
I've had to brush up on my hockey knowledge now that I'm dating a hockey player. I knew the basics, enough to get this job, but the way Gabe talks about the game, I couldn't keep up with thedifferent positions and rules. I'm still learning, but I know enough to truly enjoy the game. I explain as much as I can to Owen, but he doesn't seem interested in anything past when the guys get smashed against the glass.
Gabe plays Left Winger, which is unfortunate for us as he's playing on the other side of the ice from where we're sitting, but he does get pushed against the wall a few times. During the second intermission, when the guys are catching their breath and regrouping, the score is 3 to 1, with us in the red. It doesn’t look good, but we still have one more period left, and I’ve learned that teams have beaten greater odds than that in the final minutes of a game.
"Dad, what's that?" Owen catches my attention and points to the Zamboni on the ice.
"It's cleaning the ice so that when the players come back, the rink will be clear like in the beginning of the game. Too much ice being scratched away can cause buildup and it can slow the players down or cause them to fall."
"I like when they fall," Owen says happily and so, so innocently. I roll my eyes and laugh.
"It was a little bit funny when Wallace fell, wasn't it?"
Wallace is one of our team players and I do need to go make sure that everything is okay. "How would you like to go meet the team real quick? I bet they could use some high fives from you."
"Yes! Yes!" Owen jumps up, completely ignoring his grandparents. They haven't said much during the game, but it's also been so loud. They look over at us now.
"We'll be back. Would you like anything to drink or eat?"
“We're fine, Justin. Thank you." Karen gives me a quick smile and Harold holds up his half-filled beer.
I flash my badge to the security guy standing by the door and he lets us through easily. Coach is giving a pep talk and giving the new plays for the last period when we walk in. Owen stands close to me, his hand firmly in mine. Half the guys are sitting, others are throwing down some fresh water and cramming energy bars. We wait quietly until Overton is finished. The guys have another ten minutes before they need to be back on the ice for the final period.
"Little man!" Gabe calls when he spots Owen. He shoots me a wink before motioning for Owen to run over to him. There is only a moment's hesitation on Owen's part before he drops my hand and goes full speed. "How are you liking the game?"
"It's awesome! I like when you bump into the wall and how everyone screams when you score." Owen's voice falters a bit when he realizes that most of the room is looking at him.
"I didn't know you had a kid, Gabe," someone says.
"He's not mine," Gabe says. "He's Justin's. We're just really good friends, aren't we, Owen?"
"Yes!" Owen nods excitedly.
I watch as Gabe introduces most of the team. Owen is not going to remember any of their names, but it's worth a shot. He ends up giving everyone a high five before we have to head back out. I check on the players, make sure no one needs anything from me. Frankie and I will be splitting the team for about half an hour after the game as they all get out of their uniforms, but nothing has happened to cause any injuries.
Knock on wood,I think.
We're back in our seats just in time for the last period to start. The crowd is more amped up than they've been the whole game. We score pretty quickly into the period, which seems to give the guys the motivation to push harder, skate faster, be even moreaggressive. One of the guys on the other team gets thrown into the penalty box for trying to start a fight, which gives us a power play and the advantage we need to score once more.
With five minutes left in the game, we're tied.
I look from the ice to Owen. His eyes are tired, I can tell, but he's fighting it. They're glued to the ice, darting this way and that. I don't know how much he understands, but I can see a future obsessed with hockey. I'll have to look into skating lessons for him. He's never been on ice before, but I recognize that glint of excitement in his eyes.
