Page 156 of Face Off
“It is. I feel good, though. Detroit has been sneaky the last couple of weeks. They went from out of the playoff hunt to theseventh spot in the East, and you don’t do that without grit. We have to keep our eye on them, especially as the season winds down. I have a feeling they’re going to sneak in as a Wild Card, and I sure as hell don’t want to play them with the kind of momentum they’ve had as of late.”
“If I have to root for anyone besides my hometown Blades, I’m glad it’ll be Emmy on the Stars.” Alan smiles. “You’ve had a good career in DC.”
“Thank you, sir. It’s not as good as I would’ve liked, but we’re getting there. The last few months have been a game changer for us, and your daughter has played a big role in that. Emmy is a talented athlete, and we’re lucky to have her on our team.”
“She’s good, isn’t she? I remember when she got her first pair of skates. After she figured out how to make it around the pond behind our house without falling over, I couldn’t pry her away from the ice. I knew then she was going to be a special player.”
“Very special,” I agree.
“How long have you been in love with her?” Alan asks, and I blink.
“Pardon?”
“How long have you been in love with my daughter?” he asks again, and the room feels like it’s a thousand degrees.
“Um. I’m not…” I clear my throat and look at the door behind him. I wonder if I can escape and make up an excuse for my disappearance. A sudden illness forcing me to evacuate the premises immediately. It wouldn’t be a total lie. My skin is clammy. I feel nauseous, and there’s sweat on my forehead. I wipe it away with the back of my hand. “We’re not?—”
“You’re clearly something if you’re going to all this effort for her old man. It’s definitely not to impress her; she’s already smitten with you too.”
“She is?” I ask. I can see it in her eyes and the way her hand always finds mine, but it’s nice to hear it from someone else. “That’s good to know.”
Alan grins. “I didn’t mean to put you on the spot, and it’s okay if you haven’t figured it out yet. Sometimes it takes us a while to put a word to the feelings we have.”
I scratch my ear.
Love?
Do I love her?
What the hell does love even mean?
I’ve only ever used that word with my friends, but I don’t feel that way about Emmy. It’s deeper, like someone reaches into my chest and squeezes my heart whenever she’s nearby. I get warm and tingly when she touches me, and every time she laughs, I swear to god I’m floating.
Is thatlove?
“I, uh, care about her very much,” I mumble. I’ve never been more confused, and all the wheels in my head have decided to turn at the same time.Love. Love. Love. I say it a dozen times, and I’m still not sure. “I like her a lot.”
“Like who a lot?” Emmy asks, and she looks at me from the door.
Love.
I love her?
The blood drains from my face and I pinch the bridge of my nose.
Oh, god.
I love her.
I fucking love her.
I love her, and I’d do anything for her.
There’s no way she loves me back, is there?
Except… when she looks at me, she brightens up. Her smile is wide and her eyes twinkle.
That has to mean something, right?
