Page 46 of Holiday Power Play

"Let me get this straight. You want me to go in there, dressed in that and get mocked by a bunch of thirteen year old girls," Trevor says, pointing at the Ice Queens team mascot costume.

Rina Lopez looks at me and I just shrug.

"I'm guessing you didn't tell him."

Once we decided to go on a date, it didn't take long for the Heatwave fans to spot us around town. The little debacle with the calendar quickly got replaced with rumors of "The Rookie" hooking up with his teammate's sister.

A rumor that was true. Very, very true.

But Rina had reached out to me before Christmas and told me that one of her players needed some community service hours. So without even knowing him, I had volunteered him to be the mascot for some of our home games in the new year.

"It's not as bad as he's making it out to be," I say.

Trevor cocks his head at me.

"He'll be a natural lady snow leopard."

Izzy, Trevor's ex, and the Heatwave team photographer comes up to us with her camera.

"I gotta admit. I've been waiting for the day when Trevor Sincaid would get his mascot debut."

She snaps photos of him as he suits up, the long fluffy tail swinging out and nearly hitting us.

"Who usually wears this thing?" Trevor says, slipping the head of it on topped with a crown and all.

"That would be me," my brother says, coming up behind me. "Sorry I'm late. I wanted to make sure the guys knew where to go."

"What guys?" Trevor says, inside the suit.

The doors burst open and the Heatwave starting lineup and a few of the others on the roster come wearing Ice Queen jerseys, drinks and popcorn in hand.

"You invited the whole team?" Trevor says, arms trying to cross in the suit.

"I didn't invite them."

"Don't worry," Keelan Landry, the team captain approaches. "We came to watch the Ice Queens take down the Storm. It's the rivalry of the year."

"Thanks for coming," I tell them.

"No problem, coach," Keelan says, saluting me. The guys all take the seats near the opposing team's bench and start chirping at the other team.

The Storm team coach looks at me arms raised in question.

"Sorry," I mouth to her.

"Alright, Rookie," Rina tells him. "You're up."

The music starts and the small crowd gathered comes to life as Trevor walks up to me and squeezes me into a hug.

"I'll be back," he says through the mascot head.

The girls I coach line up to get onto the ice behind us.

"Ew, is that your boyfriend?" One of them asks.

Trevor turns to the little forward.

"Yes! This beautiful, intelligent, incredible woman ismygirlfriend," Trevor says, hugging me close to his side. "And I'm the luckiest snow leopard in all the land."

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