“Exactly,you’regonna have to see him,” she adds.
“I’m still lost.”
“You never get used to it,” Tate says. “She’s a complicated one.”
“You’re gonna see him in action,” Brinley clarifies. “On the ice.”
“Nice try, but they’re in Michigan tonight,” Maia says.
We all look at each other, hoping that someone catches on to what Brinley’s trying to tell us.
“And we’re driving up there.” Brinley grins. “Surprise.” Her hands flare out into jazz fingers.
“What?” I gasp.
“We’re going to tonight’s game!” she squeals. “I already told your boss you need tomorrow off to deal with somepersonalissues.”
“What about your party Brin?” I wonder. “You said you were excited that the guys were out of town so you could use their house.”
“But then I realized how much better it’d be to celebrate my birthday with people who don’t know my brother,” she replies. “What better way to ring in the new year and my birthday than hooking up with some hotties?”
“I’m not going.” Maia shakes her head and stands up. She grabs the empty plate of fries and heads into the kitchen to get more. Even when she’s not working, she is.
When she gets back to the table, Brinley crosses her arms.
“Yes, you are,” she says. “I already bought the tickets.”
“Brin, you know I don’t want to see him.”
“And you won’t have to! Well, in some sense, you will, but—” She pauses as if she’s rethinking her approach. “Ember told me how much you used to love going to hockey games with her. Or how much you enjoyed going by yourself because—”
“Because I had a boyfriend I was in love with, and I wanted to support him,” she says. “Neither’s true now.”
“One game.” Brinley brings out her puppy dog eyes. “We’ll leave the second it’s over, so you don’t have to worry about him seeing you.”
“We aren’t going unless we all go,” Tate adds.
“But just think about how happy Ember and Declan will be to ring in the New Year together?”
“I don’t know, what if he sees me in the stands?” she asks.
“My trunk is full of Michigan State gear, so no one will even know,” Brinley replies.
“Why do you have Michigan State gear?” My eyebrows furrow as I look at her.
“Don’t worry about it.”
And that’s how the four of us end up in a car on our way to Michigan.
thirty-one
Declan
We’ve been on fire this season. With our current playing record, there’s no doubt we’ll be in the playoffs this year. And for the first time in school history, we might become this year’s Frozen Four champions.
We have less than five minutes left in the game and are up 3-0, so I don’t think any of us are worried. It’s also Jeremy’s first night back on the ice since his accident back in October. I know he was pissed about recovery taking longer than the few weeks he was initially told, but honestly, I think that extra rest paid off.
He's on fire tonight… responsible for two of the three goals, and by his drive on the ice, I know he’s looking for that hat trick tonight.
