Page 75 of The Ex Puck Bunny
“Like unicorns, moms have superpowers.” She laughs. “It was while Sophia was probing you about whether we’ve set a date for the wedding.”
“Is she invited?”
Heidi shrugs. “She’s the worst. That woman can turn an innocent question into an inquisition that makes me feel this big.” She pinches her fingers together.
“Does that mean we’re moving the date up?” I ask.
Heidi smiles. “You know me so well.”
“Let’s not make any reactionary decisions based on what the Snoots think.”
“Well, except for the fact that they’ll be vacationing in the Hamptons if we do it earlier. I guess Mr. Sophia’s parents have a place there.”
“Meaning she won’t be able to attend our big day.”
“I’d rather she not.”
“Then just don’t invite her,” I say simply.
“Easier said than done. She used to be my best friend. She’s our neighbor. There’s no escaping her.”
I squeeze Heidi’s shoulder and say, “But she doesn’t have this.” Then I point to the phone. “Or this.”
“No, she does not.”
We both laugh and watch the video of us trying to put on the unicorn suit, more or less playing bumper cars as we crashed our way through the kitchen, and then paraded around outside.
The voiceover says, “When you fall in love with the right person, magic happens.”
It’s very, very true and I have a whole new appreciation for what it means to win—it’s not just about the game anymore.
EPILOGUE 2
Bunnyand I match in our Knights jerseys with the number eighty-one printed on the back—Grady’s number. He was number eighteen when he played in high school and flipped it when he joined the NHL.
It’s the Stanley Cup final against the Pittsburgh Generals. The VIP suite is full of the players’ friends and family. Mom, Dad, Derek, Deborah, and Uncle Stan are all here, too.
At dinner earlier, they announced they’re already expecting which means Bunny is getting a cousin. We celebrated and I tapped Margo, the team’s event planner extraordinaire, to orchestrate the baby shower.
I’d have done it myself, but Derek said he worried I’d take every opportunity to ‘Welcome him into the parenting club.’ I think by that he meant I’d preempt what’s sure to be an embarrassing montage of video footage when he gives his best man speech at the wedding next month. There’s no way I want to remind my brother that he’ll be changing diapers in the middle of the night, walking into a grocery store with spit-up down hisback, or seeing his future husband again for the first time in years with his shirt inside out. Oh, wait. That last one was me.
It’s the second period and Bunny squeezes my cheeks, then angles my head toward the game where her Daddy—GG, not Trey—takes the ice. Ironically, he’s playing his old team.
I realize that the guy who was taking the performance-enhancing drugs might be out there somewhere. What is his name? Lucan Ketsi-something? Sure enough, I spot Ketsivalis on a General’s jersey.
“Badaszek is playing Grady?!” I say to no one in particular.
Even though the various lines of defensemen get rotated in and out throughout the game, Coach has left Grady to keep the bench warm and let Ted get the glory of these last games before he retires.
I understand the logic, but also want to see my guy out there.
My Dad’s expression turns serious, “This is serious.”
“Dad, Grady has been at every practice. Working hard. I think he can handle it.”
Derek posts up on my other side. “Not only is Grady a defenseman, he has the special title of Enforcer.”
“The goon,” Dad adds.
