Page 107 of As You Ice It

“Great. Greyson is going to meet you at the back door and escort you all to the suite. I’ll be down in my normal seats with Liam and Bailey until the first intermission. Then I’ll come up with Liam.”

“We can’t wait to meet you!” Camden’s mom says.

“I can’t wait to meet you too! How was the flight?”

“The flight was good! First class was an unexpected surprise.”

“You can thank Camden’s credit card for that,” Jordan says.

He assures me that Camden won’t notice the charges, which would give away the surprise.

Since they moved into the new house with the garage apartment, Jordan has taken over more and more administrative duties for Camden. With Mike mostly needing companionship and not any kind of hands-on caregiving right now, Jordan has added on household duties like cooking and grocery shopping as well as managing some of Camden’s business tasks.

Apparently, Cam doesn’t ever look at his credit card statement—must be nice—and has an accountant who reconciles everything. Jordan has his own card for purchases, and he insisted we put all the flights on it—with upgrades to first class. It was a good call, though I wanted to vomit when he told me the total.

Jordan had only laughed. “I don’t know if you are aware of this, but your boyfriend is doing just fine.”

“I know, but I’m spending his money without permission. It feels weird.”

“You’re doing something really amazing,” he’d said, his tone changing to serious and sincere. “It’s the kind of thing he wouldn’t have done for himself, and he’ll be thrilled.”

I sure hope so.

When the puck drops, I can hardly watch the game because I keep glancing up at the box where Camden’s family is. I can’t see them or anyone else, but Jordan texted me that the Wolf Pack is in position.

“Mom!” Liam says, grabbing my arm. “Look at Coach Cam!”

Even though Cam is no longer Liam’s Coach, that’s the name he’s been using, and no one’s arguing about it.

Camden is doing his defense thing, sweeping a loose puck away from the goal and sending it up the ice to Logan. “What?”

“His jersey! Look at his jersey!”

I look. And see nothing.

Bailey leans close from my other side. She’s become our game day companion, and one of my very closest friends. “Look on the front. Above the logo.”

I see the C while she’s still talking. “He’s wearing the C today. I think Coach had him wear it a few games ago too.”

“No, Mom—it’s bigger. And look!” Liam points down to the program in his hand, which we hardly need to look at these days. In the program by Camden’s name, he’s clearly identified as captain.

“They made Camden captain!?”

Everyone is standing to cheer for the goal that someone scored—Eli, by the sound of Bailey next to me—but I’m screaming for Camden. As though he feels my eyes on him, Camden looks over to our seats and raises his glove. I wave and point to my chest and the spot where the C is on his. He nods, grinning, and then, it’s right back to the game.

“Wow. He’s made captain and his family is here—this is going to be some night.”

Bailey laughs, then says, “It sure is.”

* * *

As we’re making our way up to the suite, an announcer says that there will be a slight delay due to some issues with the ice. I can see the ice crew down there with their shovels, the Zamboni waiting in the wings.

That will give me a little more time with Camden’s family, and I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing. Good, probably. They’re wonderful, and I’m excited to have them here. But a little tiny part of me is terrified they won’t like me or Liam or that Camden will be upset rather than excited by the surprise.

“Hey.” Bailey pulls me to a stop just outside the suite while Liam bounds inside. Going to find the food, I’m sure. “You look like you need a minute. Just take a breath, okay?”

“Okay. Do you happen to have a paper bag? That might help.”

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