The crowd reacts instantly.
Maddie stands again.
“THAT WAS GOOD!” she shouts.
The fans around us laugh again.
I glance toward the scoreboard as play suddenly stops.
A whistle.
The players glide toward the bench.
The arena broadcast screen flickers to the commentators above the rink.
Maddie leans forward curiously.
“Why did they stop?”
“Probably a penalty,” I say.
The announcers’ voices echo through the speakers.
“Another strong shift tonight from Shelly…” one commentator says.
“He’s having another great season,” the other adds. “Speed, consistency, leadership on the ice…”
Maddie sits up straighter when she hears his name.
Then the first announcer chuckles lightly.
“And judging by the way Shelly’s skating tonight… I’m hearing his wife Natalie and daughter Maddie are actually in the building.”
My entire body freezes.
For one full second I’m not sure I heard correctly.
Then the arena camera swings.
And suddenly the giant jumbotron screen lights up.
With my face.
And Maddie beside me.
The crowd cheers instantly.
Maddie gasps in delight.
“WE’RE ON TV!”
She waves enthusiastically at the camera like she’s been preparing for this moment her whole life.
I instinctively lift my hands to my face.
“Oh my god.”
Annabelle laughs beside me.
