Page 92 of What if I Told You

“Come on, El. Let’s get some lunch.”

Today’s the day.

Ella’s big Tournament of Mascots debut.

The entire team is seated in the stands to cheer on Ella as she shines among the western conference’s mascots. Our friends, the Chicago Red Tails are also in attendance tonight to cheer on their mascot, Remi Red Tail.

“What the hell are you wearing?” Dex asks from behind us as Griffin plops down beside me with a beer and a box of popcorn.

He glances at the pajama pants he chose for today’s event.

“You like them? I had them custom made.” He grins and lifts his jersey enough for us all to see his bubble butt of an ass. He’s sporting dark blue pajama pants with yellow stars on them along with our team logo up and down each leg. “This is the inaugural wearing of these pants,” he adds. “Thought today would be the perfect day for them.”

Dex leans over to Colby Nelson and asks, “Why don’t we have cool pants like that?”

“Because clearly Anaheim is the superior team.”

Griffin points to Colby with a mouthful of popcorn. “You heard it here first folks! Fuckin’ right we’re the superior team.”

“That was sarcasm, dumbass.”

“Doesn’t matter. You said it out loud mother fuckaaaa!”

“I approve of the pants, Griff,” Ledger says with a laugh. “Because team spirit and all.”

He leans over to Ledger and asks, “Hey. Do you know who else thought these pants were amazing?

“Who?”

He smiles and tosses a piece of popcorn into his mouth. “Marlee Remington.”

We all know Ledger has had a thing for Marlee Remington for some time now but he’s never done anything about it. At this point, it’s just plain fun to razz him.

Ledger looks around the general area of where we’re seated but Griffin chuckles. “She’s not here, asshat. I saw her earlier when I came in this morning. She said I had nice pants and thinks we should have them made for the team shop. Pretty sure she tossed me an air kiss too.”

Ledger smacks Griffin’s arm, causing him to drop some of his popcorn. “Shut up, turd. She didn’t blow you anything.”

“Nah, you’re right. She didn’t. But maybe one day she’ll blowmeriiiiight up.”

Ledger’s cheeks heat and he flips Griffin the bird. “I hate you right now.”

“No, you don’t. You love me. Also why don’t you just ask her out already?”

“Oooh who are we asking out?” Milo Landric asks. “Spill the tea back here, buddy.”

Ledger’s about to answer when the music fades and Jim Stabler, our team announcer, introduces today’s players.

“Gooooooooood evening hockey fans! Welcome to the thirty-second annual Mascot Tournament! Tonight, we welcome our beloved mascots from the hockey league’s Western Conference and celebrate our love of hockey with them as we raise funds for an incredible charity. Let’s put our hands together for St. Jude’s Research Hospital!”

The crowd goes wild as a video is played on the jumbotron advertising St. Jude’s and the many families they have helped over the years. And then Jim continues, “Let us cheer on our favorite team mascots as I bring them to the ice starting with our very first ever female mascot, LUUUUUUUMIN!”

I pop up from my seat to cheer on my girl and the guys follow suit, each of them clapping their hands and shouting for her as she skates into the arena. As she twirls onto the ice chasing her tail and then showing off her light-up hockey stick, I notice they not only put her in our team jersey but added a sparkly blue tutu as well.

She’s so damn cute out there.

I’m so proud of her.

Lumin remains on the ice giving high fives, fist bumps, and hugs to the rest of the mascots as each of them is called to center ice. In attendance tonight is Chicago’s Remi Red Tail, Vancouver’s Wally Wolf, Minnesota’s Grizzy, Seattle’s Bracken Brawler, Boulder’s Yensen Yetti, Milwaukee’s Pete the Parrot, L.A.’s Flip the Dolphin, Kansas City’s Growler, Wyoming’s Bucko Bronco, Alberta’s Icer, and Portland’s Ozzie Osprey.

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