I laugh and look at my phone to see if she wrote back.
Nope.
The game Friday night is brutal. Wisconsin comes out fast. Physical. We’re down 3-1 by the second period.
Coach is furious. He pulls us into the locker room between periods and yells about effort and execution and a bunch of other shit I tune out.
We come back in the third. Score twice. But it’s not enough.
We lose 4-3.
Sunday’s game in Minnesota is better. We’re sharper. Faster. More aggressive.
Rowan’s back in form. Passing is clean. Jax and I connect on two goals. Zephyr shuts down their best forward.
We win 5-2.
The plane ride home feels longer than the ride there. Everyone’s tired. Sore. Ready to be done traveling.
I text Tiger the whole way.
Me: Home in an hour
Tiger: Can’t wait
Me: Miss me?
Tiger: Maybe
Me: Just maybe?
Tiger: Fine. Yes. I missed you
Me: Stay at my place soon?
She doesn’t reply.
When we finally pull into the parking lot, I’m first off the bus. I grab my bag and head straight to my truck.
Jax and Zephyr are right behind me.
“You driving straight there?” Zephyr asks.
“Yeah. You?”
“Yeah.”
We caravan to the house. I’m speeding slightly. Can’t help it.
When we walk in, Tiger’s in the kitchen. There’s music playing. She’s dancing while she cooks something.
“Where’s your sister?” I ask immediately.
She turns and grins. “She’s not here.”
“For how long?”
“Overnight.”
