Page 119 of Pucking Strong

He just laughs, leading the way out of the elevator. “What stupid metaphor would you prefer? Rye bread? A good slice ofpumpernickel? Man, if Tracy was a bread, I think she’d be a nice, crispy French loaf.”

I just shake my head. “Why did I think I could talk to you about this? Why did I even bother? I have only myself to blame.”

He laughs again. “You’re talking to me because I’m older than you, I’m wiser than you, and I have more success in relationships than you do. I’m basically Yoda.”

“My god, does that make me Luke Skywalker?”

Before he can respond, Karro perks up in her wheelchair. She’s decked out in a Karlsson jersey, glitter on her cheeks, and pigtails I’ve fixed with silver and teal streamers. “Morbror loves banana bread.”

Colin and I both stiffen, eyes wide.

Fuck, I havegotto remember that this girl understands English! And the longer she hangs out with my dumb ass, the better she gets.

“That’s great, sweets,” I say, patting her shoulder. “We should make some this weekend. Wouldn’t that be fun?”

“Yeah!”

Colin just shakes his head at me.

“Shut up,” I hiss, pushing Karro forward.

“You’re going to hell,” he mouths.

“You can leave now.”

He just follows at my side, a new spring in his step. “Delusional Rejects, table for one.”

“I’m unfriending you, effective immediately.”

“Hey, when I meet your man later, should I refer to you as my Padawan or my hopeless case?”

“I’m gonna murder you in a lake.”

“We’ve got a looooong way to go if you’re gonna keep that attitude.”

“Morbror!”

I turn to see Teddy and Karolina standing at the end of the rink up against the glass. She’s wearing a Karlsson jersey so large, it falls past her knees. There are sparkly ribbons in her hair.

Smiling, I leave my teammates and skate up to them. “Hej, mitt lilla lamm.” Glancing at Teddy, I offer him a smile too. “Hej, Teddy.”

“Hi,” he says on a breath. He’s not wearing his WAG jacket tonight. He’s in a black T-shirt, ripped jeans, and my leather jacket. His locs are pulled up in a bun, held in place with a teal Rays bandana. I had hoped to see him yesterday when I got home, but he volunteered to help at some rehabilitation hospital event the Rays were sponsoring. He didn’t get back until after I was asleep. And I was out the door early this morning.

Karro presses both hands to the glass and says in English, “Teddy got me cotton candy!”

His smile falls slightly. “I will not be letting her eat it all.”

I pull my glove off, press my hand to the glass over Karro’s, and say in Swedish, “Did you have a good time while I was gone? Were you good for Hanna and Mr. Torres?”

She pouts. “He makes me do math.”

I give her a solemn nod. “Math can be hard. But we want to be bright like Mamma, ja?”

Lindberg skates up on my left, popping his mouth guard free tosmile at Karro and say in Swedish, “Hej, hej. Look at you growing so big and strong.”

Her eyes go wide as she notices his missing front teeth. She’s only ever seen him with his flipper. Laughing, I sling an arm around his shoulders. “See? This is why you practice your math. Otherwise, you have to become a hockey player, like Morbror and Mr. Lindberg, and then you’ll lose all your teeth.”

Leaning into the bit, Lindberg lowers his face to the glass, flashing his gummy smile. “Give us some cotton candy, little girl. We can’t chew without our teeth!”

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