Page 35 of The Import Slot
I look around and back at Vicky and she nods enthusiastically, so I hop up, walk down a few rows and lean over to greet her.
“Hi, Jenna. Can you spare us some time after the game, please?” She gives a bright smile.
“Sure, everything okay?” I ask. I don’t know what she’d want to see me about.
“Yeah, everything’s fine. Can you meet me down by the double doors?” she says, and my curiosity has me agreeing before I settle myself back into my seat in time for the third period.
Becca returns just in time, sitting back down next to me. “Did I miss anything?”
“Only ‘Chuck-A-Puck’; they did it early for some reason. Oh, and Vicky Koenig asking me to meet her after the game,” I shrug.
“Vicky Koenig? What did she want?” Becca asks, sipping her drink.
“I don’t know. But I’m curious, so I’ll find out.” The lights dim again as the announcer welcomes the players back onto the ice.
We come out strong from the period break and slip another goal in, getting Ryan his first of the season. He drops to one knee and skids along the ice. His teammates group around him in celebration before he glides over to the bench and bumps everyone’s fist on the way past. The beaming smile on his face sends my heart beating wildly. He looks so happy, like he’s high on life.
I follow his movements, watching as he sits back on the bench. He’s sitting the furthest side away from me, which means I can see him from the side. He chews on his mouthguard while watching the game, waiting for his shift. Pure concentration on his face. Every few moments he’ll lean forward and shout something out toward the ice and he’ll tap his stick on the boards at a good play.
There’s a defensive change as Johnny and Bettsy leap over the boards, heading into the offensive zone. They take positions at the point and the puck heads toward Betts. He misses it, sending it offside, causing a whistle, stopping the play. As the skaters position themselves for the face-off, Matt Rodgers makes his way over to Bettsy and shoves him hard into Ryan, who has just stepped onto the ice for a line change.
I can’t make out the shouting, but Johnny has to skate over and speak to the ref, who gives Matt Rodgers a two-minute minor for roughing. At this stage, there’s only four minutes left on the clock, and the power play burns out, Ryan having aimed about seven shots on goal.
“He’s good,” Becca says, draining the rest of the beer.
The final buzzer sounds and we stand up to cheer, my eyes fixed on Ryan as he joins in the victory lap.
I can’t be sure, but I think he’s looking for me. He looks like he’s frantically searching the crowd, which Becca must notice because she jumps up and down, waving her arms like a loon.
It works because he raises his stick in our direction before coming to a stop at the edge of the ice. He leans over the boards and grabs a water bottle, squirting it over his face before tossing it down.
I wait until they present the award for the man of the match before heading down, dragging Becca along with me. Security lets us through, and we loiter by the double doors with a prime sight of the dressing rooms.
The team is just leaving the ice as we get there. I grab my phone and reply to a message from Travis when my ears perk up at the conversation Bettsy and Danny are having with Hutch as they head out.
“Yeah, one guy from juniors said it was all the talk in the dressing room during the break. They reckon that one of us has been shagging Rodger’s girlfriend,” Hutch says.
The teams crowd on the ice after the game, and I’ve known Danny to say that it’s often an opportunity for a quick chat with guys you’ve played with before.
“Who?” Danny says, and he catches my eye, giving me a nod in greeting.
“Rachel? Racquel?” Hutch says, his face twisted in thought.
“Rochelle?” Bettsy says, turning white.
They disappear, so I miss the rest of the conversation, but I spot Ryan, still on the ice, chatting with Coach Adams. It’s not until the assistant coach summons Coach Adams that Ryan glides over to the boards, his helmet in his hands.
Ryan turns and grins at me as he heads to the dressing room. He almost bumps into Danny, who’s on his way out, half-dressed, heading toward the equipment manager with a shin pad. He looks over at us, but Becca turns away.
“What was that about?” I ask, but she shrugs. I recognise that look though. A lover scorned.
Vicky shows up and signals me for ‘five-minutes’ before saying something to Danny, who disappears into the locker room. Ryan comes out moments later, still fully dressed, Vicky beckons him over, but he spots me and excuses himself. Becca gives me a wide-eyed look before he reaches us.
“Hey, how’s it going?”
“Congratulations on your first win of the season, and for being the man of the match!” I say, offering him a hug. He’s quick to pull me in; he stinks, but I don’t care. I love how he smells if I’m honest. I try to pull away, but he doesn’t let me go straight away. Instead, he whispers into my ear.
“You’re wearing the wrong name on your jersey,” he pecks me on the cheek, causing my face to flush red.
