Page 61 of Strange Love

But as much as I wish I could stay, I’ve made my decision. I’ll be attending Boston University and playing hockey. Time is running out for me to tell Ivy before someone else does, like the local paper who came by yesterday for a small interview. They promised to run the story before graduation. And our athletic director at school wants to announce it and hold a big commitment ceremony for me. But I can’t let anyone find out before Ivy, my girlfriend. I need to talk to her soon...before it’s too late.

With under twelve minutes left in the third period, our team is down 4-2. It’s been a frustrating night - we’re known for our quick moves and tight defense, but tonight it seems like all of our skills have abandoned us. Cruz, usually a decent defenseman despite his complete incompetence in daily life, is having an off night. He seems constantly out of position and letting too many pucks slip by.

Desperate for a change, Coach benches him at the start of the third period. But even without Cruz on the ice, we can’t find our rhythm. Our puck handling is slow and sloppy, and penalties have added to our deficit. The other team has capitalized on two power plays already.

Looking up at the stands, I search for some motivation. And there they are, Ivy, Sarah, Sascha, and Kerri. Sascha lounges with her black boots propped up on the seat in front of her, giving off her usual “I’d rather be anywhere else but here” vibe. But Ivy, Sarah, and Kerri are on their feet, jumping around and cheering wildly. My eyes linger on Ivy wearing my jersey, which hangs loosely on her small frame. A primal feeling stirs inside me as I take in her beauty. The pink tint on her cheeks from cheering for me only makes it stronger. Suddenly, winning this game feels like a foregone conclusion with them in the stands supporting us.

On the ice, their star player is a young French-Canadian prodigy named Gagne, who recently moved to the United States to pursue his hockey dreams. He glides across the rink with effortless speed and fearless aggression. I’m determined to send a message to Gagne’s team that we’re serious contenders.

I patiently await my opportunity as Gagne receives a pass from a teammate. He swiftly moves towards the corner of the net, but it’s too late, and he’s forced to retreat behind the goal. Seizing my chance, I meet him at the boards with a powerful check reverberating through the arena.

The crowd erupts into a frenzy, and my teammates’ sticks bang against the ice in approval. The energy has shifted in our favor. Taking control of the puck, I dart towards Taz racing down the rink. With precision and skill, I maneuver past defenders and set up Taz for a perfect shot, which he delivers with a powerful slap into the back of the net.

From that moment on, our team has all the momentum. We fight hard until the end, eventually securing a thrilling overtime victory with a final score of 5 to 4. It may not have been the ideal first game playing alongside Landry, but we battled together and emerged victorious.

In the bustling locker room, we all struggle to prepare for the evening ahead. Prom has been brought up, a thought that has crossed my mind but never dwelled upon. My mind has been preoccupied with Boston and conversations with Ivy.

“Are you taking your girl?” Landry asks, interrupting my thoughts.

“I’m not sure,” I reply, lost in contemplation. “I haven’t considered it. I don’t know if she’ll see it as a big deal.”

Taz chimes in from beside us. “Dude, you have to ask her to prom. You may not realize it, but it’s a big deal for girls.”

“I think I’m going to ask Kerri,” Landry declares, causing Taz and I to exchange a knowing look.

“What?” Landry questions.

“Nothing,” I quickly assure him, my hands raised defensively. “I like Kerri, she’s bitchin’. It’s just that she seems more interested in being friends. I’d hate for you to get your hopes up for nothing.”

“Well, she’s the only person I want to go with,” Landry says determinedly. “Even if we go as just friends.”

Turning to Taz, he asks, “What about you?”

Taz laughs. “Oh, Man, I don’t know if I want to be tied down to one girl. Going with one person means you can’t talk to anyone else or dance with anyone else. And forget about leaving with someone else.”

“You’re such a pig,” Landry teases with a chuckle.

“Why don’t we all go together?” I suggest. “The girls are all friends and Sascha doesn’t have to go as your date, she can just come with us. Maybe Sarah, too.”

“Yeah, I don’t know, Man,” Taz says. “I spend a lot of time with Sascha as it is. I’m worried every night she’s going to kill me in my sleep.”

“Come on. It’s your Senior Prom. Don’t you want to spend it with your friends? I bet I can check if Alan can get us a car to rent that’ll fit everybody?”

“That’s cool, I guess. Let’s see what the girls think about it,” he agrees.

Under the stars, Ivy and I are lost in each other’s touch amidst the rustle of leaves and the faint sounds of laughter from other park-goers. My hands roam across her warm skin as we lay on a blanket on the grass. In a moment of stillness, I pause and look at her. “Would you maybe want to go to prom with me?” I ask, heart racing.

“Really?” she responds with surprise. “You haven’t mentioned it, so I figured it was something you weren’t interested in?”

“I’m interested in anything you are,” I tell her sincerely. “Supposedly, it’s one of those experiences we must have, like a rite of passage or something. Some of the guys were thinking we could all go together.”

“Oh my gosh, that’s a great idea,” she exclaims. “As long as we don’t have to go with Amber, Stacy, or anyone from that group.”

“No way. Those girls know to stay as far away from us as possible. Have they given you any trouble?” I ask, concern evident in my voice.

She shrugs nonchalantly. “No, not much. Sometimes I hear little remarks and comments about you feeling sorry for me, but it honestly doesn’t bother me anymore. Thanks to you and my friends, I’ve found my little groove in high school.”

“Well, that makes me very happy,” I say, shifting my weight on top of her as she widens her legs to make room for my hips to settle between them. The cool night air sends shivers down my spine as Ivy’s hands run through my hair and pull me closer.