Page 122 of Finding the Forward: Part One
“Goalies are a different breed,” AJ chuckled.
Jonas tapped his helmet to Dean’s in a helmet kiss.
Gameplay resumed, and AJ explained things to me. A fight broke out on the ice. Grif slammed a guy into the glass, right in front of us.
The ref and linesman came over and broke it up, both getting sent to the penalty box.
Grif took off his helmet, face lighting up as he saw us, the linesman trying to tug him away. He blew on the glass, then used his fingers to draw a heart as he pointed to AJ and to me.
“Hey there, Tiger.” I waved.
“Hey, Gorgeous. Hey, Pepperjack!” Grif yelled.
“Hi, Boo-Boo,” AJ called, waving back.
“Get in the box, Grif Graf. Don’t make me eject you.” The linesman pulled him away.
Grif let her but continued to blow us kisses.
“That’s adorable,” Janessa told me, one of the kids half-asleep on her lap.
It was.
If things went well with Grif, and Dean for that matter, was this my future? Evenings sitting in the family section with AJ and rooting for our boys? Watching Dean dance, Grif fight, and Jonas protect. Maybe one day while holding a tiny child wearing their dads’ jersey?
Oh, I wouldn’tmind that at all.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Grif
The mood at Tito’s was lively, as most of the team came out to celebrate our win. We found a table for the five of us, ordering drinks. It had been a good game, with a close score. Cooter, their goalie, was easily as good as Dean. Not to mention, getting through the Yeti was tough.
“That’s not a cocktail. It’s what you make in a bathtub at a party.” AJ eyed Verity’s fruity little drink.
Verity pursed her lips around the straw like it was a cock. Taking a deep pull, she made a pretty good version of her o-face. She smacked her lips. “Delicious.”
Mmmm. I could use some of that.
“Why can’t you stay the night?” Dean pressed, leaning on Verity.
“Dare’s staying over so I can help him with a paper. Incoming.” Verity’s eyes flickered over to Mercy, who wore a dress, and a guy a little older than her, who had Verity’s face and hair but not her eyes. He wore a BosTec hoodie, dress pants with a thick chain, and combat boots. There was an industrial piercing in his ear and his eyeliner rivaled Mercy’s.
“Ver Bear.” The guy hugged her. “You would’ve loved the concert. She sang so well.”
“I’m sorry to have missed it. Dare, meet Dean, Grif, and AJ. Jonas is the one over there with the blue hair,” Verity replied.
Jonas seemed to be having a very earnest conversation with our rookie defender who was struggling a bit.
“You’re Griffin McGraff. Fuck.” Dare’s eyes focused on me, then looked at Verity and his head cocked in confusion, hair falling in his face. “How do you know him?”
“He’s dating Verity. Airplane Guy? Her hot hockey boyfriend? Dean’s the one who owned the sweatshirt.” Mercy laughed.
“Wow. Okay. I must have missed that?” He made a face.
Mercy slugged him. “That’s what happens when you mute the group chat, you ding-dong.” She turned to her sister. “Come with me to the bathroom. I have gossip.”
Verity got her crutch and downed her drink. She kissed Dean on the cheek. “Get me another?”
