Page 17 of More Than Chemical
“Ade, get your school colors on.” Priya was jumping up and down. “We snagged you a ticket to the game!”
I swallowed hard. This was the main reason I couldn’t tell them who I was. They were super fans. They’d never understand. And I was afraid they’d hate me forever.
“Wow,” I said. “I wasn’t expecting that.”
“The team sucks this year,” Priya said. “All because of the despicable Coach Bianchini. But the seats are sold out. So much support out there for them this year.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, ignoring the comment about my dad, “but I really can’t go.”
Silence dropped over the room. You didn’t have to be the daughter of a hockey legend to know that, whether you were born here or were a transplant, this state lived and breathed hockey. Saying no to a chance to go to a game was unheard of.
“Youhaveto go,” Emma pleaded. “Afterward we’re going to the Station, and I need you for encouragement.”
The muscles in my neck corded. The Station was a sports bar and nightclub where the hockey team went after their games. Recently, Emma had become obsessed with one of them. Thankfully, it wasn’t anyone I knew, but still. I couldn’t chance it. Being near anyone who might know my dad was a very bad idea.
I cleared my throat. “I could use a quiet night to catch up on some studying, so I’ll pass.”
“It’s Friday.” Luke tipped his head. “No one studies on Fridays.”
Well, I needed to. Especially if I wanted to make the dean’s list.
“Luke.” I squared my shoulders. “Haven’t seen you in a couple of weeks. How are you?”
Every home-game hockey weekend, Luke made the four-hour drive from his college to ours. His presence meant I’d be vacating my room and staying with Emma for the next two nights. Priya had said I could sleep in my own bed while he was here. But really, I didn’t need to listen to them humping on the other side of the room. No thanks.
“I’m good,” he grumbled. “I was just saying…”
I shrugged as if it were no big deal that he’d called me out. But the thing was, I always worried that someone was on to me.
Priya sat up straight and rested her hand on Luke’s arm. “Ade, I think you should go. You need to get out and do something.”
“I’m not in the mood.” I went to my closet and hung up my jacket.
“But tonight’s a big game. They’re playing Duluth.”
I looked at Priya. “I’ll be fine.”
“We’ll call you one of those campus security escorts to walk you back here so you don’t have to go out with us afterward.”
I frowned. She wasn’t listening to me.
She leaned in and opened her eyes wide. “You’ll still have time to get some studying in later tonight.”
It was hard for me to resist Priya. She had a way of making me feel like if I didn’t do what she asked, I would disappoint her. Disappoint my friends. Disappoint the world. I took a deep breath and sighed. I supposed I could wear my winter hat and jacket the whole time so I would be unrecognizable.
“And if you end up going to the Station with us, we won’t mind.” Emma’s smile was as shiny as the jumbotron that hung from the ceiling of the arena.
“Fine, I’ll go to the game,” I said to Priya, but then glared at Emma. “But not to the Station.”
So, we went—all of us.
Between periods, I realized that Priya had been right. I was having fun. At first, I’d scanned the stands looking for Dallas, but eventually I stopped when our team scored a big goal and the entire student section rose to their feet, pointed to the goalie on the opposing team, and chanted, “Sieve, sieve, sieve!”
I’d really missed this. I’d grown up going to these games.
But after the second period buzzer sounded and I’d finished singing my favorite school song, I remembered Dallas again. I came close to taking out my phone and staring at his number just to make sure I hadn’t deleted it. Instead, I gathered my willpower and stayed my hand. I didn’t want Priya or Emma to see me.
Luke and Emma left to use the bathroom, and Priya and I watched the Zamboni driver wave to the crowd before he exited the ice. I loved the Zamboni. It was satisfying to watch it going back and forth in rows, covering the ice in strips of water until there was nothing but a glossy finish.
