The kind of music they play when the night isn’t done yet.
The announcer’s voice booms through the arena.
“Nashville! Don’t go anywhere just yet!”
The crowd cheers even louder.
“Tonight is Fan Appreciation Night! Some of our players will be on the ice throwing jerseys and t-shirts into the stands. And, we’ve got one more performance for you. Our own Raina is about to take the stage again to perform her brand-new single, dropping next week!”
Applause rolls.
“And since it’s a love song…” he pauses deliberately, “we’re turning on the Kiss Cam!”
The jumbotron flares to life.
The crowd cheers.
I laugh under my breath.
Of course they are.
Helmets come off. Gloves loosen. A few of us spread out across the ice, grabbing bins of T-shirts to toss into the stands.
This part’s fun, especially after a win and everyone's juiced.
The song starts.
Lights sweep the arena.
The kiss cam cuts to a couple in the lower bowl.
They freeze.
Crowd laughs.
Then Dex’s voice blasts from the announcer booth.
“ALRIGHT NASHVILLE, THAT WAS CUTE, but I’ve seen stronger chemistry between two water bottles!”
The arena loses it.
"What the..." I shake my head, grinning despite myself.
Bryce’s voice, on a microphone, cuts in from the bench.
“YOU’RE ON THE JUMBOTRON, MAN. COMMIT.”
The couple kisses harder.
Crowd roars.
Dex again. “THAT’S WHAT WE CALL A MID-GAME ADJUSTMENT.”
Eli’s voice cuts in, flat and unimpressed.
“Acceptable.”
Bryce’s voice booms right after, delighted.
