Page 74 of Just One Season
“We do what we have to do, right?” Bri says.
I nod.
“Bear’s actually in my office having a nap.” I lean forward to talk to Ava, who is now playing with a Barbie doll dressed in scrubs. “Or destroying things, it’s hard to predict with him.”
“Aw, I wish you could’ve brought him.” She pauses for a second, then stands and jumps up and down twice. “Oh! I thought of the best name!”
“Sit, Ava. And I don’t think Lucy needs help naming her dog. He already has a name.”
Ava sits. “Mommy, Coach Lucy changes his name all the time.” Ava glances up at her mom and then back at me.
I nod. “I mean, that’s technically true. I’m trying to find the right one for him. One that he really likes.”
“Okay. Ava, but don’t be upset if she decides not to use the name. Deal?”
“Deal!” Ava squeals.
“What do you got, Ava? What name should we try next?”
“Are you ready?” Ava leaps up again. “Mister Barky McBarkface.” The little girl bursts into laughter and slaps her hands on the sides of her face, clearly delighted at her creativity.
There’s a roar from the crowd, and my eyes lift up to the ice, but I don’t want Ava to think I’m ignoring her, so I look back at her.
“I think that’s absolutely ridiculous, and amazing, just like Bear himself.” I purse my lips, like I’m really thinking about the name. “Mister Barky McBarkface. It’s perfect. I’ll test it out on him after the game.”
“Really? Hooray!!”
“But honestly, when he gets a new owner, they might change his name anyway.” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I wish I hadn’t voiced them. Why would I say something like that? In front of a five-year-old who’s in love with my dog?
This is exactly why Kellen probably doesn’t want to bring women around his daughter. It’s confusing and they all end up disappointing him and her.
The crowd roars again and we all turn to watch Kellen make a breakaway, shooting neatly past the final defenseman and goaltender to score.
Everyone cheers, but I just about hear what Ava whispers to Bri.
“Mommy? Can I be the new owner of Mister Barky McBarkface?”
I press my lips together at her sweet words, pretending not to have heard them. Ava would be the perfect person to love that dog forever.
As Kellen skates back to center, he veers to the side of the rink and heads directly our way. To see his daughter, obviously. He blows a kiss in our direction, and Ava squeals and waves.
Then he winks. At me.
I glance behind me up at the corporate sponsorship box, where Savannah and Paul are supposed to be. I don’t see them, and they certainly aren’t watching us.
The rest of the game, I keep my eyes on the game in between chatting with Ava and Bri. Kellen scores a hat trick, and the arena goes crazy for him.
Ava gives me a giant, warm hug before she and Bri leave. I promise to give her a full report at soccer on Wednesday of how Mister Barky McBarkface likes his new name.
The team is all smiles when they skate through the team exit. Kellen looks right up at me as he passes and grins brightly. This time, there’s no confusion about who the smile is meant for. His daughter is gone.
It’s all for me.
I head back toward the double doors in the arena that lead to the players’ gym, locker room, and administrative hallway so I can fetch Mister Barky McBarkface.
My insides are swirling. We checked the box of me wearing his jersey to a game, but I don’t know if Paul and Savannah even saw.
I scan my badge, and the noise of the arena fades as the doors click shut behind me. I stride down the hall to my office. I can’t believe I agreed to rename my dog Mister Barky McBarkface. It even takes a long time to think it.
