Page 76 of Your Pucking Mom

“Are you in love with her?” Alex questioned. “Drunk Ledger admitted to being in love with her, but I need to hear you say it now.”

“Dammit,” I groaned, feeling a sense of desperation creeping in. “I don’t know what that means, which is why I’m asking.” I paused. “Last night, we told each other we’d just be friends in public but in private we’re something different. I don’t know how to balance all of that.”

“Fuck…” Alex turned his gaze toward the lockers.

“Answer me,” I pleaded, my eyes darting to where Coach was still occupied with his phone call.

“I don’t know, man. I just knew. When I met Stassi, she was going through a rough patch with her ex. We didn’t start off in love, but from the moment I saw her, it felt like she was meant to be in my life, even though she belonged to someone else.”

Stassi had been married to a guy who was presently in jail for domestic violence. She and Alex had crossed paths earlier in life, then drifted apart, only to reconnect later. Alex’s voice dropped as he added, “She was mine.”

His words sank into my head as I thought about how Auburn was mine. “The world has somehow put Auburn into my life so many times. I’m so fucking worried?—”

“She’s in the family suite. Nova saw her arguing with her mother,” Coach said.

I let out a deep breath. Her mom…? I shook my head. I’d deal with it after the game.

“She’s safe.”

“Yes, now will you fucking get your head back in the game?”

I closed my eyes for a second, the weight lifting off my chest. The words Alex said about his wife drifting into my brain.She’s mine.I wondered if it was that simple—knowing what was yours and then keeping it tightly to your chest.

“Let’s fucking go,” I breathed out. Alex gave me a pat on the back, and the rest of the team waddled back onto the ice as the buzzer indicated the start of the third period.

39

auburn

20 minutes earlier

The game was going terribly. My mother bothering me about my future and how working at a coffee shop wouldn’t get me anywhere wasn’t helping. During the second period, Ledger seemed on edge, throwing his gloves and fighting for the dumbest reasons. Something was wrong.

Austin was playing an amazing game, but Ledger was fucking destroying it for the team. But what struck me during my mother badgering me about how shitty of a team the Ravens were and how I should’ve done better research before letting Austin join this team, was seeing Ledger in the penalty box looking toward where I should’ve been.

“I don’t understand why they are constantly taking breaks.” The corners of my mother’s lips turned into a frown.

“What?” I asked.

“They’re always jumping into the box again after they get tired of skating for a few minutes. You need to tell Austin to work on his endurance.”

I laughed hysterically.

“What’s so funny?”

“Mom,” I said, laughter still pouring from my lips. “They aren’t taking a break. They’re switching offense and defense as the puck moves around the rink.”

I might not have grasped the details of every play, but I knew the basic hockey terms.

“How am I to know that?” She huffed.

I wasn’t a hockey pro either, but she would know if she had been there more for Austin. I sighed, leaning into the seat as I realized Ledger was looking for me around the rink, which was getting him checked more often.

It was silent until someone came and sat next to us in the seats next to the box. My mother not-so-quietly whispered, “I’ve come out here for one game, daughter. You put me in a suite with strangers and now your son’s team is losing.”

I balked. “How would I know they were going to lose?”

She shrugged. “You should teach him better. He needs more instruction or something, but I can’t believe I am…” She looked at the beer in my hand. “Here.”

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