Page 47 of Searching for Sadie
"There, number 91, he's playing right winger today," said Mr. Fipp pointing to him on the ice.
Sadie found him by the blue line. He looked almost recognizable, like a giant. As the whistle blew and the puck dropped, the game was on. It wasn't like anything she'd ever seen before. She couldn't take her eyes off Lucas. The ideas of this giant man in padding towering on ice skates skating gracefully around the ice was hard to wrap her mind around. In football, it was more big guy run hard and fast and knock you down. Here is, more big guy skate gracefully across the ice stopping on a dime and sprint the other way, but all on skates. She didn't really know how to deal with that. But she sure did love to watch it.
Before long Lucas was on the bench huffing and puffing and squirting water into his mouth. Even with the game going on, her eyes were still glued to him. She hadn’t expected to be this turned on...but damn.
As the game went on no one scored a goal. Kate was an incredible goalie from what Sadie could tell, but I guess when you were from a hockey family like she was it made sense. She was engaged to an NHL player for crying out loud. But soon the buzzer sounded, and they were done with the first period.
"What do you think of the game?" Mr. Fipp asked.
"It's incredible. I've never been to a hockey game before."
"We'll have to see about getting you tickets for a Magic game when the season starts back up."
"Oh, that would be fun," Sadie said with a polite smile.
"Hey Wes," Mr. Fipp said loudly. "What do ya think, this is Sadie here's first hockey game. Don't you think we should get her to a Magic game in the fall?"
A muscular man with a disarming smile turned and ran his hand through his blond hair. "Of course, name the date and I'll get you guys a block of tickets."
"Good man."
"This is your first game?" he asked Sadie.
"Yeah, it is."
"What do you think?"
"Not quite as violent as I thought it would be, but much faster than I thought it would be.”
The Wes nodded. "Yeah, the fights and heavy hits don't happen in rec leagues. What brought you out today?"
"She's Lucas's neighbor," Mrs. Fipp provided.
"I am," Sadie agreed. "Kate’s pretty good out there..."
"She's incredible, isn't she?" Wes said grinning from ear to ear.
"She's something else," Sadie agreed.
"I'm going to get some hot chocolate. Do you want any dear?" asked Mrs. Fipp.
"Oh sure," Sadie said, reaching for her purse.
"My treat," Mrs. Fipp said, patting her on the leg.
Mr. Fipp stood and walked over to talk to a distinguished looking older gentleman with red hair, Sadie would wager he was related to Kate as Mrs. Fipp got up and made her way to the concession stand. It really was like being in high school all over again. That was particularly apparent as Lucas took the ice again and skated by the glass where she was sitting. He stopped and smiled and waved at her. Her stupid heart skipped a beat.
"I think I saw you at the book club the other night, right?" asked Wes.
"Yeah, you did."
"How are you liking Mystic Falls?"
"I love it," she said plainly, because it was the simple truth. Mystic Falls had been a good place to get back on her feet and figure out who she was after everything that happened in Nashville.
"It's great, isn't it? I love the off season, and I get to spend more time here."
"Are you not from here?"
