I don’t know much about relationships, but I do know that night was more than friendly. No kissing, no sex, just being real. I think they call that intimacy.
Nicole had come home about an hour later, gave me an appreciative smile, and left me with parting words that have replayed in my head every day since.
“It’s nice to see Eliana let someone else take care of her for once.”
I knew it was hard for Eliana to lean on other people, and I was determined to show up for her. I wanted her to feel like the world was a place she could enjoy, instead of a burden she had to manage.
“I feel like we’re due for a celebration.”
“A celebration?” She looks instantly skeptical.
“Yup. I passed my exam, and you were a big reason for that. So a celebration is in order.”
I wait for the immediate shut-down. Instead she says, “What are you thinking?”
“We have a big game against Boston College this weekend. Why don’t you come out and watch?”Come watch me in my element.
“Oh I was already planning on it.”
That catches me off guard. “I’m sorry?”
“Jake, I grew up in New England. You can’t be surprised that I’m a hockey fan.”
“Well you didn’t exactly treat me like a fan when we met.”
“That’s because I was trying to be professional. And you pissed me off by showing up late.”
“Fair enough. So you’ll be there Saturday?”
“I wouldn’t miss it.” She gives me a smile like it's no big deal. “I can’t promise I won’t heckle you if you mess up a play though.”
“I’d expect nothing less. This doesn’t count as our celebration then, since you already had this planned.”
She hesitates for a minute, looking a little shy. “Is there a party planned at Hockey House after the game?”
For once, there actually wasn’t. We’d been pretty swamped with practices and exams the past two weeks so no one had time to coordinate. “If there was, would you be interested in attending?”
“Potentially…” She hesitates, likely wondering what she might be getting herself into.
Her openness to the idea gives me newfound energy to plan something. “We can keep it small. It’ll be fun, and less chaotic.” I would make sure of it. The last thing I wanted was for Eliana to finally let her hair down and regret it.
“Then count me in. But only if you score a goal.”
“Make no mistake, Ellie. I’m scoring a goal.”
“Are we playing a game or taking a nap out there!” Mason yells in frustration. He’s fallen into the assistant coaching position with ease. There’d been a bit of tension between us after he’d moved me down to the second line and stuck me with two freshmen but that tension was resolved after we beat UCONN, one of the best teams in our division, and I had to admit there was a method to his madness. “If you boys actually want to make it to the Frozen Four this year, we have to try harder. We have to act like every game we play is the last game. Understood?” He locks eyes with each and every one of us before leaving the locker room.
He's right. It didn’t matter who we were playing or that this was one game of many we’d have to play before we started tournament season. But I also wasn’t going to play it safe knowing Eliana was in the stands. I was never one to let an opportunity to show off go to waste. I wave Craig and Johnny — my new linesmen — over and break down our next few plays before we get called back for the start of the second period.
From the bench, I watch Adam win the face off but struggle to get any pucks past the goalie. Mason waves for a line change and I come barreling onto the ice, ready to knock any Boston College player on their ass if they even try me. As I skate over to center ice, I take a second to scan the student section for Eliana, and I manage to find her in a sea of navy blue, screaming one of the chants the band was leading.
“Looking for your mom, Keeley? Pretty sure she’s still sleeping sound in my bed.” James Conoway’s irritating voice is in my ear.
“Five years on the team and still on the fourth line.” I click my tongue. “Not looking too good for you.”
The ref yells at us to stop running our mouths, and I lockback in, eyes fixated on the puck. The second my stick drops to the ice, I make contact with the puck, easily pushing aside James and his feeble attempt to block me from moving into their zone. I pass the puck to Craig when I see one of BC’s defensemen come charging behind me, and snicker when he loses his footing and falls in a failed attempt to intercept my pass. We close in on the goal, and I call for Craig to take the shot. The goalie is able to block it with his stick, but he loses control of the puck immediately after, allowing me to scoop it back up.
James comes up on my left and forces me into the boards. We struggle to overpower each other when I decide to send the puck around the boards, hoping either Craig or Johnny is there to get it. I hear the puck hit the goalie post and turn to see Craig with a look of disbelief on his face, wondering how his shot didn’t make it in.
