Page 106 of Play to Win

“Sorry,” she mumbles.“Captain Obvious, huh?”

I try to repress my smile.She’s cute.

“Oh my God!”she says moments later, staring at the TV.“Can theydothat?He just punched him in the face!”

“Not supposed to,” I answer.“Guess the refs didn’t see.”

“Well, they should be watching better!”

Then she really makes me laugh.

“Oh, nice shot!Yay!”And she claps for a Sharks goal along with everyone else.

“Babe.”I nudge her.“Wrong team.”

“Oh.Right.But still ...thatwasa nice shot.”

Can’t argue with that.

Everly shows up between periods.I have no idea how she knew there was a party going on.Maybe she didn’t.

Lacey jumps up and dashes over to hug her.“Hi!”

“Hey.”Everly gives her a hug in return.

They’re best buds now, apparently.Weird.

Everly smiles at me.“Hi, Théo.Haven’t seen you since you got back from Buffalo.How was it?”

“Productive.”

“Good, good.Oh, hi,” she says unenthusiastically to Wyatt, then turns her back on him and sits next to Rosa and Marshall.“What’s the score?”

Wyatt’s face pinches up.

Lacey brings out more food.I hand Everly a glass of wine and refill other drinks.

Pittsburgh scores early in the second period, tying it up.Lacey and I high-five each other.“Got it right this time,” I murmur to her.

She knows I’m teasing and gives me a little elbow in the ribs.“I’m learning.”

The Sharks take a terrible penalty for an illegal hit to the head, and in the power play, Pittsburgh scores again, taking the lead.This opens the flood gates, and they go on to score two more unanswered goals.But the game’s not over.Late in the third, the Sharks put the pressure on and score twice.With seconds left in the game and their net empty, they’re cycling like crazy in front of the Pittsburgh net, in total control of the puck in a last desperate attempt to tie it up.We’re all on the edges of our seats watching, cheering, groaning, and shrieking with every shot attempt.

The horn sounds to end the game.

“Yeah!”I pump my fists in the air.I turn to Lacey and she raises her arms to smack my hands.

The Sharks fans are disappointed, but nobody here was that invested in the outcome.So our party continues as we watch the players shake hands, celebrate, and carry the Cup around the ice.Of course, I feel that pang of longing, that wish that someday I could hold that beauty in my hands.

I’m working on it.

Hockey season’s over for everyone now; things are going to ramp up even more for me.

* * *

I’m back in Vegas.

It’s weird coming back.Everything is so familiar.

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