Page 87 of Body Shot

“I’ve never met parents in this situation before.”

“It’s going to be fine. They’ll like you.”

“What if they don’t?”

He shrugs. “There is nothing you can do about that. Just be yourself. You want me to come along for moral support?”

I hesitate.

I shouldn’t need moral support, but what I feel for Claudia is too important to leave anything to chance. Johan might be the perfect wingman for this because I’ve never been nervous like this before.

“Where are you going?” Aiden asks, falling into step with us. “Aren’t we going to the bus?”

“You are,” I say. “I’m meeting up with Claudia and her parents.”

“Oh. Cool.” He keeps walking with us. “I want to say hi.”

I start to protest but Johan elbows me. “Distraction is maybe a good thing,” he murmurs.

Fine.

Claudia and Aiden obviously spent time together in Florida, so it makes sense he’d want to say hello.

I see her as soon as we round the corner to where I was told to meet them since this isn’t our arena and I don’t want to wind up in Philly’s locker room.

“Hey, sweetheart.” I lean over to brush my lips across her cheek.

“Hi.” She smiles sweetly.

She introduces her parents, Jeff and Laura, and I introduce Johan and Aiden. Then we stand there talking about the game, which her father seems to have really enjoyed. Her parents are as laid back as she said they would be, so it doesn’t take long for my nervousness to fade away.

“What a game,” Jeff says, shaking his head. “I’m more a football guy, but now I’m going to have to pay more attention to hockey. Although I’m not sure I can be a Lauderdale fan.”

“Quite all right,” I say diplomatically. “I wouldn’t expect you to abandon your home team.”

“Well, it wouldn’t be abandoning them since hockey was never on my radar.”

“I, for one, will be wholeheartedly following the Knights,” Laura says. “In fact, I need a jersey just like Claudia’s. Sooner rather than later.”

“I can take care of that,” I tell her with a chuckle.

“Fine,” Jeff says, shaking his head. “I guess I need one too. I can’t be the only one in the family without a Nyberg jersey.”

“I found it difficult to follow the puck,” Laura says, frowning, “but Claudia says we can watch some games online. Maybe that will help.”

“Sometimes it’s nice to sit up high,” I say, “even though those are technically the cheap seats. The higher you are, the better the view, and I find you don’t lose sight of the puck that way.”

“Oh!” Laura looks excited about this. “We’ll have to try that. When do you play here again?”

“In January, I believe,” I say. “Although we’ll be in DC in November. I think Claudia’s going to try to get to that game.”

“I think it’ll be more fun to go to a home game,” Jeff says. “The home crowd is always more fun.”

“Any time,” I say, nodding. “Just let me know and I’ll make sure you have VIP tickets.”

“Sounds great.”

Johan and Aiden ask about Claudia’s new job, the possibility of Hana getting hired, and we chat a few more minutes before I see one of the assistants motioning to us that it’s time to go.

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