Page 186 of Snap Shot

“Blow me.” Gary barges over and shoulder-checks him.

“Didn't I saylanguage?” Delaney's scowling face goes bright red.

“I thought you own a gym. Ever tried using it?” Landon pokes him in the chest with the butt of his stick. They continue to antagonize each other as everyone else groans.

“Enough horseplay.” Landon's uncle pries them apart. “If I wanted to freeze my ass off while watching grown men bitch, I'd have stayed at work.” He whistles and calls the rest of the adults over.

“It's like no one cares that I keep saying 'language!'”

“Shut it, Delaney!”

“You know the drill. Sticks in the middle.”

I end up on the same team as Landon's sister and Dad, and his least-favorite cousin. He, his brother-in-law, and two more cousins, Addie and Clara—I can't tell the sisters apart—are on the other side.

“Yes! Indi!” Gary holds up a hand for a high-five. “My team.”

I offer a weak slap in reply. “Oh,uh…”

“Heard you played with Landy back in the day.” He nudges me with his elbow.

Landon's jaw ticks from across the way.

“I did, but that was a long—”

“Bet you'd like to kick his sorry, cocky ass, eh?”

“Hmm. That is enticing.” I tap the stick on the frozen surface and flick my eyes over to Delaney, then Landon. “Let's do it.” She winks at me.

Her brother narrows his eyes, smile going downright evil. Uncle Phil readies the puck and Gary and Landon face off in the middle. I hang back with his sister.

“Pond rules: Fourveefour. No goalies, no slap shots. You shoot it, you get it. Sticks down, heads up. Watch out for the kids, and don't be a cherry-picker.”

Everyone nods and gets into position. When the puck drops, Landon breaks away and goes for a goal by skating a circle around us. It goes right in. He moonwalks in celly.

Delaney rolls her eyes. “Show-off.” She smiles my way. “Watch this.”

We lose the next possession, but Delaney tricks Seth into passing it to her while Landon argues with Gary. Leon gets control of the puck and I tap it into the net. Landon realizes too late and holds up a gloved finger. “That's the only one you get.”

“We'll see,Landy.”

The satisfaction from the goal is short-lived. His team wins the first game, fair and square, before switching up players. I take a few minutes to keep an eye on the kids with Dêda while Daisy gets some playing time.

“I'm glad you're here.” It's the first time Barto's said anything to anyone this weekend, at least within earshot.

My mouth stays hanging open as he continues.

“He's the most loved, the youngest Radek.” His crossed arms tighten, never taking his gaze off the game. “I haven't seen him this happy in some time. There's a light in his eyes. And if I were to guess, from the way he looks at you, it's because you two are closer than you're letting on.”

A lump swells in my throat. “How does he look at me?”

His slight grin pulls at the silver goatee portion of his beard as he focuses across the pond. Babi furiously waves, boasting a giddy, joyful enthusiasm at her husband while showing off her stick handling. “Like she looks at me.”

Sadie's yelp from losing her balance interrupts us.

“You okay?” I call out.

She nods and rolls over to pull herself upright, taking wonky steps until she plops herself between us.

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