Page 63 of Check the Halls
I swallow the lump in my throat.For me, notwith me.There’s a difference.
The guys are still talking and carrying on, oblivious to us.
I know she hates the attention I get. I know it bothers her when girls smile at me or try to talk to me after games. I know she thinks she doesn’t fit in with the other players’ girlfriends.
And part of me wishes she would. Wishes she’d try harder to belong in this world I’m building. I’m about to go pro and sometimes I feel like she’s looking for the nearest exit.
But none of that changes how I feel about her.
I reach under the table, catch her hand, and lace our fingers together. She looks up in surprise.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
This time, she smiles back for real. And the knot in my stomach relaxes.
We’ll be fine. The draft’s coming up. They’re saying I’ll be called in the first round. Once I’m picked, everything changes. New city, new place, new life.
Maddy will catch up.
Everything will be fine.
NOW
“Surprise!”
The dark bar floods with light as the entire Ottawa Otters team screams “Happy birthday” at me. Everyone is here—the players, the coaching staff, hell, even a few of the higher-up management.
While the guys didn’t tell me when my surprise party would be, it wasn’t hard to put two and two together. My actual birthday was three days ago and aside from Will singing me an off-key a capella version of Happy Birthday after practice, no one really acknowledged it, which is unusual for our team. Especially for a milestone birthday.
Then there’s the fact that every time the annual Otters Halloween party was brought up, my teammates’ eyes always seemed to seek me out involuntarily. Just for a moment, like they were gauging my reaction, then they’d look away just as quickly.
The private room at Jinx looks the same as it always does except for the massive banner hanging from the ceiling that readsHappy Birthday Ben!
Subtle. Real subtle.
“Happy birthday!” Beth runs into my outstretched arms and I lift her off the ground in a hug. She’s dressed in a blindingly pink bunny suit and glasses.
“Wow, Bug. This is amazing. How did you pull this off?” I think I’m doing a pretty good impression of someone who’s shocked when my sister narrows her eyes at me.
“Okay,” she says, flatly. “Who told you?” Her penetrating gaze moves to Will and Foster.
Will, who is decked out in a full Santa suit and beard, immediately points one white-gloved finger at Foster.
“I’m sorry, baby.” Foster confesses without hesitation as he pulls Beth into his arms. “I tried to keep it a secret, but your brother read my damn face.”
“Ugh.” She appears to be trying her best to scowl at him, but it turns into a halfhearted pout. “You’re lucky I like your damn face.”
“So lucky,” he agrees, pressing a kiss to her forehead, erasing the lines caused by her frown.
“Even though it wasn’t a surprise, I still really appreciate you planning all this,” I tell her, waving my hand around the packed lounge. “I love the banner.”
“My kids made it!” She beams. Beth teaches 5th grade at a local elementary school. “They worked on it all week.” Upon closer inspection, I see that in addition to the text, there are drawings, hand tracings, and my number, #6, sketched in various places on it.
“It’s amazing.” I grin, making a note to record a quick video thanking the kids. I snap a picture of it with my phone to show Sam when I see him next week. He’ll probably roast me on how old I am.
“Where is your costume, roomie?” Will demands, taking in my game day suit. “I would have lent you my elf costume.”
I shudder at the thought of being forced to endure tonight dressed in yellow tights and a pointy hat, like some tragic extra in a low-budget holiday movie. Will’s always been a great friend. When I called him and asked if I could crash at his place for the foreseeable future, he didn’t even pause before saying, “Hell yes.” No questions.
