MAISIE
The following day,when I walk into the rink, there’s a flurry of nerves bouncing heavily in the pit of my stomach that has nothing to do with theactualevent and everything to do with the man I’m supposed to be working with.
Who, thankfully, isn’t anywhere to be seen as I make my way toward the table I’ve set up near the stands and set my bag down.
A sense of pride swells beneath my rib cage when I see everything put together. The banner I painted hangs above the table of books that the players will be reading, along with the bags that I made for each child to take home after the event. I had Lennon help me cut out bookmarks that double as coloring sheets so they can create something special and then use it when reading.
The best part?
I was able to connect with a local children’s book author who writes books on Louisiana’s colorful culture, and she signed enough copies to give every single child a new book.
The program wasn’t able to fund that aspect, but after the next couple of months of fundraising with the team, we’ll be able to do so much more. I paid for it out of my own pocket withoutbatting an eye because it’s worth it to me. Every child should have a book to read.
This work is so incredibly important to me. I’m already so proud of what we’ve accomplished so far, and I truly can’t wait to see what the rest of the year will bring.
I’ve been looking forward to this day for weeks. Even though it’s a small-scale event compared to the ones in the coming months, it still feels like all of the time and work I’ve put in is coming together.
I just keep imagining how excited they’re going to be, and it makes all of the late nights and hard work even more worth it.
It only takes a few minutes for me to put out the tray of cookies I brought and arrange the table, so I’m finishing up when I hear the doors of the rink slam shut, followed by the sound of someone walking up.
“What up, Mais,” Tyler Gravois, the Hellcats’ center, says as he drops his hockey bag onto the floor beside the boards.
I smile. “Hi! Thanks for coming today. Seriously, it’s so sweet of you to be here.”
Heat blooms along his cheeks, and I stifle a laugh. I don’t think I’ve ever seen ahockey playerblush until now.
He reaches up, rubbing the back of his neck. “Oh yeah, it’s nothing. Coach Hawthorne said we had to be here.” I chuckle as he continues, stammering, “I mean, I would’ve been here either way, but you know, I just mean?—”
He’s cut off by the sound of the heavy metal doors shutting again and his teammates’ boisterous conversations as they make their way into the rink.
I think I might see his shoulders sag in relief a little bit, and this time, I do laugh and make a mental note to ask Lennon more about him.
A handful of the guys say hello to me on their way to the locker room, and of course, there are a couple who try to swipe a cookie until I promptly slap their hands away.
“No, those are for the kids. Go away!” I laugh, shooing them from the table.
I glance down at my watch again and chew the corner of my lip. It’s almost time for the event, and I still haven’t seen Wilder.
Not that I was looking for him… I just noticed the lack of his presence. That’s all.
I guess I kind of expected him to be here with the team early.
The guys are standing around talking and playing on their phones as the kids start to arrive, and I pause from greeting everyone to check my watch.
“Hey, um, have you seen Coach Hawthorne?” I ask Bennett as I move my gaze around the room, scanning the area full of people. “We’re about to start in like five minutes, and I haven’t seen him.”
He shakes his head, lifting a shoulder. “Nope. I’m sure he’ll be here soon. Traffic, maybe.”
I nod.
“Yeah, sure. Thanks.”
“If you need anything, let me know. Oh, and youbettersave me a cookie.”
I roll my eyes and huff out a laugh. “The cookies are for the kids.”
“I’m basically a kid.”
