Page 14 of Playoffs & Promises

Nate's pulling out his phone as I walk towards the doors to the back of the bakery, I stop in my tracks. Right there, sitting by the light switches I flipped on when I came in this morning are the bags of lemons Lou gave me yesterday. When I came in this morning I'd put them all on the side counter so my hands would be free. They're sitting out in the open, completely visible. I don't turn back to look at Nate, I have cupcakes to decorate.

Five

LOU

Game day arrives and I'm up early listening to the game day playlist on my phone and eating my game day lemon ricotta pancakes I made from scratch. The music is blasting when I see a text on my phone from Gavin.

Gavin: Think you could have a house guest for a couple of weeks?

Me: ?

Gavin: I need Cinnamon's kennel for a pregnant dog that needs monitoring. It'll just be for a couple of weeks, maybe longer.

Me: I have away games coming up. What are the chances it will go longer?

Gavin: We'll make something work when you're away.

I've fostered for him before, and it didn't go well, but it's Cinnamon, and I really hate leaving her in that kennel. After quickly checking my game schedule I send him when I can pick her up, and when I'll be leaving town for my away game and need to bring her back. Then I use my phone to order a dog bed and some toys for Cinnamon to enjoy. There's a big red ball, and rope toys, and toys to hide treats in. I see the brand of treats Gavin keeps in the barn and add those to the checkout as well.

A pop-up asks if I want to order again with a picture of a lemon next to it. I add those to my cart too so Maria will have plenty of lemons for my lucky lemon bars. Making sure she's stocked up on those is the best decision I've ever made for my career.

I send a text to Nate to remember to bring me a lemon bar.

Later at the arena I carefully pick out a lemon from the same bag as the one used at practice the other day. It's got a good color, and is a little bit softer than the others. I'm carefully cutting it up into evenly sliced pieces. It's the same routine I follow each game before the rest of the team arrives. I don't share the lemons, ever. I'll use the rest of the bag, and then the process will start again with me handing a lemon to Coach before practice for a new lemon line. Unless we lose, then I'll need a different bag of lemons. But I won't even think about losing as I keep cutting the lemon.

The knife slips and cuts my hand holding the lemon in place. I hiss as the lemon juice stings and drop the knife on the cutting board so I can inspect the cut. It's bleeding, and I rush to the sink to wash it away so I can take a better look at it. Coach will be pissed if I need to get stitches. After running it under cold water I see that the cut runs along the tip of my finger.

The cut is shallow thankfully and using a paper towel I dry my hand and after a little bit of applying pressure, the bleeding stops. It'll need to be bandaged for the game, so I go in search of the kit the trainers use with gauze and tape. I find it and to my luck there are regular band aids too. I apply one and after cleaning up the first aid items I return to the scene of the accident. The lemon slices are no good to me now, and I don't trust the rest of the bag after this. Picking up the bag and the cutting board, they all go in the trash. I'll get a new one for the next game.

The lemons were just an extra precaution anyway. I don't need them thanks to discovering the power of Maria's lemon bars. All I need is for Nate to get here with it.

Needing to get away from the cursed lemons I retreat to the quiet locker room where the only sound is from the ventilation system overhead. I sit down on the bench and try to shake off the pregame nerves that are starting to amp up. Putting on my earphones I blast my playlist and focus on getting in the zone as I go through my warm-ups.

I don't need to add another injury to my day.

Time passes with my teammates arriving one by one. Dan puts something in Nate's locker. The long-standing prank war between the two of them is part of their tradition. He gives me a nod before he starts suiting up. Shane sits next to me, using the locker that belonged to Matt. He tapes up a picture of his parents, followed by a picture of a pretty brunette.

"That your girlfriend?" I ask him.

He smiles, but it has that hint of longing, "Yeah."

"You doing the long-distance thing?" I ask, as Shane was recruited from a collegiate league out of state.

He cocks an eyebrow, "What's it to you?"

I lift a shoulder and drop it. "Just being friendly."

Nate arrives and I stand up, eager to get my hands on the lemon bar. He sets his bag down in front of his locker, but I don't see a bakery box.

"Where is it?" I ask him.

Nate looks at me apologetically. "She ran out."

"Out?" I'm stunned. I had enough lemons delivered to her to ensure plenty of lemon bars on game day. "What do you mean out?"

"She didn't have any and when I asked she said she was out."

"That can't be right." I return to my locker and pull out my phone.

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