“Okay,” I agree. Because, why not?
His grin grows. “I’m leaving here around four, is that too early for you? You’re welcome to hang around the arena. There’s also some shops around the place that could keep you busy.” He reaches into his pocket. “I’ve been meaning to give you this.” He hands me a black card.
I blink at it in confusion. Taking it in my hand, I realize that it’s a credit card. “What?” I whisper, looking up at him with big eyes.
“So you don’t have to ask your mother for money. Use it for whatever you want Addie, don’t worry about the price.”
Tears sting the back of my eyes, emotion clogging up my throat. “I don’t understand.”
“I don’t agree with some of the things your mother does, but I have to pick my battles. It might not seem like I’m always onyour side, but I am.” He kisses the top of my head and walks away. “See you tonight, Addie.”
I stand there, dumbfounded. Did he really just give me a credit card with no limit?
I’m about to cry in relief. I’ve been pretty much starving myself because I didn’t want to use too much of the money that I’ve been making, knowing it would set me back from my goal. Now, I can eat without my mother bitching at me for eating all their food and not paying for any of it.
Despite the morning encounter with my mother, I’m in better spirits for the rest of the day. I avoid her like the plague, streaming earlier than normal, not wanting to waste time when I don’t really have much of it.
When it gets close to the time to leave, I shower and change. Not wanting to draw too much attention because this is my stepdad’s and stepbrother’s place of work, I try to go for something more subtle than my typical style.
What does one wear to a hockey game anyway?
I decide on pastel pink jeans and a pink tube top. I leave my makeup light, still keeping to my signature baby pink eye shadow and lip gloss. My hair is curled but I put two cute small messy buns on the top of my head.
I finish it off with a white and pink letterman jacket that says Pink Princess on the back, and a pair of pink sneakers.
Okay, so it looks like a bottle of Pepto-Bismol threw up on me, but that doesn’t change the fact that I look cute as fuck.
Happy with my outfit, I grab my purse and phone, before heading downstairs to meet Elliot.
“Hey.” I smile. “Ready to go? Hope you weren’t waiting too long for me?”
He chuckles. “You look beautiful,” he says and god, it makes me love the man even more. Best stepdad ever. If my mother sawme in this, she would have said I looked tacky and told me to go change.
“Thank you,” I say, looking around. “Is Damien coming with us?”
“He’s out with some friends. He’ll meet me there before the game.”
I nod, not knowing what to say, or why I asked, and follow him to the car.
The ride is quiet, but comfortable. He lets me control the radio. I go easy on the guy and decide on music that wouldn’t cause him to do a double take. It’s okay, Ashnikko isn’t for everyone.
When we get there, Elliot gets me set up with a VIP badge, and I can’t help but feel excited.
It’s not that I’ve never been to a hockey game before, it’s just that I never felt welcome at any of Damien’s games after we started to drift apart.
I can’t wait to go to my first KP game.
Elliot stays, but I decide to go for a walk, checking out the shops nearby. I mostly just browse, but there are a few things I can’t leave without.
Before I know it, it’s almost time for the game to start. I speed walk back, cursing myself for not paying attention to the time.
I didn’t get a chance to grab something to eat, so once I’m inside, I beeline for the concession stand. A nice hot dog and soda sounds good.
I take a look around while I’m waiting in line. It’s packed. Like, crazy packed. Almost everyone is wearing either pink and teal Royal Alpha colors and merch, or red and black for the opposing team. I don’t even know who they’re playing today.
I feel a little underdressed, so once I get my food, I make my way to the team shop to buy some merch.
“What number would you like?” the person behind the counter asks.
