Page 114 of Shutout
“Aren’t you glad we decided to come?”
“Yes.” I sound like a little kid with my face all smooshed between her hands. Meanwhile, I run mine up the back of her thighs to remind her I’m not a little kid. Just in case she forgot.
I don’t know if Dad can guess at what’s happening behind the counter, but he clears his throat. “Anyway, are you staying with us for the last days? Your bedroomanda guest room are ready for you two, if you want.”
“Sorry, Dad.” I lean way from my girlfriend’s manhandling hands to look at him and his wife. “Liv and I already have plans.” Plans that I can’t tell him about, if I go by the gentle warning behind the wordsguest room.
“We’re going to my parents’ next,” Liv says, and clever girl that she is, she drops that half truth without adding the other one. We rented a literal cabin in the woods where I’m going to show her how spectacularly, unbearably hot I find her.
We spend a couple more hours at my dad’s, which includes some street hockey with Lee and some of his friends from school, and head over to Liv’s to have lunch with the entire clan, including both of her siblings and their spouses. It’s pretty wild that soon I’m going to be playing against Max and Aran.
But the real dream coming true is finally getting actual alone time with my girlfriend, my best friend, the love of mylife. And also reminding her that I’m not a teddy bear or a golden retriever, but a feral raccoon. Only for her.
CHAPTER 38
OLIVIA
A YEAR AND A HALF LATER
No one warned me that a graduation hat could get so close to poking my eye out. I rub my forehead, regretting every second of tossing it in the air as if gravity also wanted to stop and celebrate the moment. At least I find mine among the vacated chairs easily. It’s the one bedazzled in black—my favorite color—and also the colors of every damn hockey team I’ve been forced to care about.
Diploma in one hand, lethal weapon on the other, I join the throngs of students vacating the St. Cloud hockey arena that’s also been converted into the graduation hall. This is the last time I walk out of the premises and a lump catches in my throat.
The first time I came here was with my brother, Aran, and my best friend, Brooklyn, so we could cheer on my big sister. Then it was just Brooklyn and I to watch my brother’s games. And then it was just me, to cheer on Brooklyn.
Now it’s just me.
“Girl!” Mina screeches in front of me.
“Girl!” I shout back.
“Giiirl.” Dee hauls us in a massive group hug. We all compete to hug each other harder, but in truth, Dee’s got us beat. She’s the one who just got invited to the women’s Olympic hockey team, along with luminaries like Ryan Avery—friend of Aran and Maddie—and JT Brewer—my sister Luz’s bestie from her Thunder Strikes days.
“Okay, I need to breathe.” I tap Dee’s shoulder and she releases us.
“Can you believe this? We’re done with educationforever.” Mina drags the last word for emphasis.
“Speak for yourself. The master’s in public health and nutrition of my dreams awaits me.” I bend my hand in a delicate way.
“Nerd.”
“Yes.”
“I hate that we won’t be living together anymore.” Mina lips form a downward arch.
Dee nudges her with her elbow. “But hey, you’re moving in with your new boyfriend so that’s a major upgrade.”
“I mean, yes.” Mina doesn’t sugarcoat it and I start laughing.
“I’ll miss you guys so much.” I put my arms around their shoulders and hug them again.
“Butyou. You’re the one who must be the happiest.” Mina tips her chin down and gives me the evil smirk that is capable of making an entire Division I hockey team do her bidding. And that’s definitely not because she’s the girlfriend of said team’s graduating captain.
I lift a shoulder. “Well, it’s not a competition.”
“You don’t need to lie in front of us.”
“Yeah, okay. I’m excited enough to power an entire continent.” I press my hands against my warm cheeks. “I can’t believe I’m moving in with Brooklyn.”
