Instead of answering my question, Daddy shoves the milkshake straw into his mouth and slurps.
“I guess you and Watts have done well together,” I say. “You’ve won a lot more in Colorado than you ever did here.”
He raises a thin eyebrow in surprise and lifts his gaze off his milkshake. “Something’s different with you.”
Yes, I met a man who cares about me far more than I ever believed possible.
“I grew up, Daddy. That’s what happens between sixteen and twenty-two.”
“Well!” he says brightly. “Yes, we’ve won, but I’ve got other things to be excited about too! A last chance for your old man to marry and be a father again. Quite a lesson, huh?”
“Yes.” I force a smile. “Congratulations. When’s the wedding?”
“Soon. Flora’s been ready for months.”
“That’s great. Well, we better go,” I say. “The game’s about to start.”
Daddy gives me a kiss and hug even though I barely touch him.
“See you after the game!” He points at me.
I point back at him and quickly head for the stands.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The game is close throughout and filled with tension.
Watts didn’t make the trip due to an illness, so at least that’s something I don’t have to deal with. Still, the Caves are bullies, and Molly, Celie, and I have no problem rooting against them. One player in particular, some massively tall guy wearing number 47 with the name Sully on his jersey, seems to be on the team solely to pick fights. And his main target is Cam.
He’s clearly trying to get into Cam’s head and throw him off his game any way he can. Cam handles it like the star that he is. He dodges Sully’s checks and barely manages to avoid a few flying elbows aimed at his head. But everyone cracks eventually, especially when they’re being goaded.
When Sully slams Cam into the boards so hard I shriek, Cam comes back swinging. He shoves Sully to the ice, and the two of them start rolling around and exchanging punches. By the time the refs pull them apart, Cam’s got blood on his face, and Sully’s bent over holding his busted nose.
They get sent to the penalty box, and I take a look at my father’s expression. Sure enough, he’s smiling. That crazy, competitive smile he always got whenever he thought he was getting what he wanted, no matter the price.
I glare at him and then turn my attention to Cam. He’s banging his stick on the ground inside the box. His cheeks are red, and the blood is coming from his lip. He wipes it away impatiently, looking like he just wants back on the ice.
“He’s really hot when he’s mad, huh?” Celie says.
“He’s always hot,” I say. “I just hope he’s okay.”
By the time the buzzer sounds, signaling the end of the penalty, the score is still tied at zero. But only one minute is left in regulation.
Cam breaks out of the penalty box like a man on fire. He skates across the ice effortlessly, heading for the puck. He swipes it away from the Caves player in seconds and passes to his wingman, McLain. When McLain passes it back, Cam avoids Sully’s hook and eludes the only defenseman in his path before winding up to take a shot from just inside the blue line. It’s a long shot, but the goalie gambles and jumps out to narrow down the angle. The puck is hit so hard that it careens off his shoulder and slams into the top of the net. Right at the buzzer.
Celie and Molly and I jump up and down and scream like we won the title.
Making the playoffs felt impossible two months ago. But now—
I turn toward the ice. Cam, in typical Cam fashion, is tearing off his team jersey and grinning. He takes off his pads and tosses them over the boards, and then removes his t-shirt.
Half-naked as usual, he turns to find me.
“Playoffs!” he shouts to me. “What’d I tell you?”
I laugh and hold up my phone to take a picture of him celebrating.
* * *
