Page 129 of The Love You Win

Until the final buzzer sounds and the announcer tells everyone to stick around for a special presentation on the ice. And then I’m lost in my panic.

“That’s your cue,” Mira says with a huge smile. “Come on, I’ll show you where to go.”

People eye us curiously as we make our way through the crowd. Lots of people stand and head for the exits, but plenty of others stay in their seats, waiting to see what happens next.

A few crew members hurriedly place long mats on the ice so we don’t slip once we’re out there. Mira leads me toward the tunnel where the guys file through. They smile and wave when they see me. Maddox isn’t with them. He must already be in the locker room. I can’t deny the pulse of disappointment that reverberates through me at that.

After the show he put on tonight, I thought for sure he’d stick around.

Guess not.

Two guys in suits who are obviously big wigs with the team and a smiley young brunette who introduces herself as the Rogues’ social media manager greet me. One man holds one of those ridiculous checks the size of a child. They shake my hand and introduce themselves, but the moment they say their names, I’ve already forgotten them. I’m too lost in my head to do more than smile and nod.

“Okay,” the social media manager says with a huge smile. “Just follow them out onto the ice. They’ll say a few things, hand you a big check, and I’ll get some video. You’ll shake, say thanks, and then you’re done. Think you can handle that?”

I glance at Mira, then back at the brunette. “Uh, sure. Yeah. Smile and accept a big check. Got it.”

The brunette laughs. “This is going to be the cutest video ever.”

Right. More like the most awkward video ever. But I don’t have time to dwell on how much I’m dreading all of this, because a moment later, the announcer begins to speak.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have a very special guest with us tonight.”

The two men in suits stroll out onto the ice like they were made to command the attention of a crowd of thousands. I hesitate, and the social media manager has to give me an encouraging push to follow them. If it weren’t for the camera she then points in my direction, I’d probably turn tail and flee. Instead, I paste a fake-ass smile on my face and pray to Chris Hemsworth that I don’t slip on the ice and fall on my ass in front of all these people.

“The Minnesota Rogues are proud to partner with Center High. They’re a local high school with big dreams for their students. At the beginning of the school year, we partnered with them to expand their after-school programs. Now, we’re excited to provide all new computers for not only the school, but its students.”

People in the audience clap. A few get up and leave. Apparently, seeing some random teacher accept a big check isn’t all that exciting. If only my nerves would get the memo.

The announcer continues to speak as we find our marks out on the ice. A commotion at the tunnel draws my eye.

“As a thank you to the teacher who made this partnership possible, a few of Ms. Isla Harding’s English students have prepared short essays which they will present tonight.”

Four of my best students grin at me as they file onto the ice, and my heart swells. Nerves forgotten, I beam as they clutch their printed essays and wave at the crowd.

One of the suits has a microphone now, and says some things I don’t really hear. It’s all nice stuff. How the Rogues are proud to be investing in Minneapolis’s future. That they look forward to partnering with Center High for years to come. And then they flank me on both sides and we pose for photos with the stupid big check.

The announcer thanks the suits, who begin to leave the ice. I go to follow, but the social media manager stops me with a hand on my shoulder.

“Hold on. You won’t want to miss this next part,” she says with a wink.

The lights in the arena dim, and a spotlight shines on the first of my students. She holds a microphone in one hand and her speech in the other, smiles brightly, and begins to speak.

“Some of you may have heard of our amazing teacher, Ms. Harding.” I flush when people in the stands cheer. “Yeah, you should know her because she’s one of the best teachers around. But you probably know her because she was dating Maddox Graves.”

The crowd goes nuts at that, and I can feel my face growing hot. “Teresa,” I hiss. “What are you doing?”

My student just winks at me. “Oh, come on, Ms. Harding. We all saw the pics. You two are cute as hell together.” She grins when the stands erupt in laughter. “You were happy with him. And then you weren’t. Which is why when Mr. Graves asked our class to help him win you back, we said yes.”

“Plus, he promised to sign jerseys for us,” one of my other students says, leaning toward the microphone. Teresa rolls her eyes and pushes him away. No one is leaving, now. They’re all watching this spectacle unfold.

And I’m frozen in place while I try to compute what she just said.

He asked my students to help him win me back?

“Mr. Graves said you don’t really like being the center of attention like this, but he wanted the world to know how great you are.” Murmurs break out in the arena as Rogues players take to the ice. Each holds a paper lantern, complete with flickering tea lights. They encircle the rug I’m standing on, each giving me winks and waves.

I turn to Griffin and mouth What’s going on? He simply shrugs with an impish grin.

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