Page 30 of Icy Pucking Play

"It has his number on it."

"Pure coincidence."

"Sophie." Julia's voice softens. "It's okay, you know. To care about him. To want…"

"Look!" I cut her off maybe a bit too loudly. "Natalia's doing the thing!"

The "thing" turns out to be a surprisingly complex maneuver involving a stick-handling fake-out that ends with a neat littlebackhand shot. Natalia executes it perfectly, then beams up at her father and uncle.

"Did you see? Did you see what I did?"

"Not bad, squirt," Ryland says, ruffling her hair. "But can you do it while someone's defending?"

"Try me!"

What follows is possibly the most adorable game of keep-away I've ever witnessed. Ryland plays defense while Natalia attempts her move, with Evan offering pointers from the goal.

"Keep your head up," he calls out. "Watch his stick, not his feet. That's it. Now fake left..."

Natalia's face screws up in concentration, her small form darting around Ryland's much larger one. She tries the move once, twice, three times before…

"Yes!” She throws her arms up as the puck slides past Ryland. "Did you see that, Daddy? I got past Uncle Ry!"

"Sure did, baby." Evan's voice is warm in a way I've never heard before. "Want to try it on goal?"

Her big brown eyes go wide. "Really? But you never let me shoot on you during practice!"

"Special occasion." He winks at her. "Not every day my girl masters a new move."

I'm not crying. I just have...ice dust in my eyes. Is ice dust a thing?

"You're staring again," Julia whispers.

“You’re reading too much into just a look,” I whisper back, but there's no heat in it.

Because I am staring. How can I not?

Evan Daniels, the big bad goalie, is letting his daughter score on him while Ryland cheers her on.

He's smiling—really smiling, not just that slight uptick of his lips he sometimes gets during our coffee...meetings.

"He's different with them," Julia says softly. "This is who he really is, when he's not trying so hard to protect everyone."

"I'm starting to see that."

Natalia scores—definitely not because Evan lets her—and immediately launches into what can only be described as a victory dance.

"Sophie! Did you see?" She skates over to the boards where we're standing. "Did you get that on camera? Can it go in Uncle Ry's story?"

"Actually..." I glance at Evan, who gives me a small nod. "Want to show me that move again? This time I'll film it properly."

"Yes!" She punches the air. "Can I wear my jersey with the 'C' on it? Since I'm going to be captain someday?"

"Natalia," Julia warns, "it's already way past your bedtime."

"But Auntie Julia…”

"Tell you what," I cut in, "how about we save the captain footage for your next roller hockey game? I heard you have a big one coming up..."

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