Page 71 of In The Game

“Well, I definitely wasn’t as tall as Strassburg, but I had quick reflexes.”

“Is that why you have a jersey?”

I look down at the jersey I put on over my hooded sweatshirt. I used to wear it as a dress back in the day.Not anymore.“I’ve always liked hockey, but I’m only a fan now. I don’t play anymore.”

“Are you as quick as that goalie?”

“Nope, that goalie is much faster than I ever was.”

“Can I play hockey?”

I swallow. “If that’s something you want to try, we can get you signed up for lessons.”

His arm shoots out. “Look! Thirty-three!”

My eyes follow his finger to Barrett. He’s coming around at a fast clip, but he’s mostly facing the other direction while skating backward. I hold my breath until he moves away from us again. I try to focus on different players, but I can’t take my eyes off Barrett. Neither can Arthur.

“Hey, he has an A on his jersey!”

“Yup, that stands for alternate captain.”

“Or Arthur!”

He makes me laugh again.“Or Arthur.”I smile.

“Barrett is fast.”

He sure is. Why are all hockey players so attractive?They aren’t, you’re trying to make excuses for your attraction tothatone.I give up, he’s fucking hot. There. I said it. And Barrett Conway on skates only fuels my staring. He’s so focused and coordinated and aggressive. And tall. Jesus. Thank God for all the ice to keep my internal temperature in check.

I enjoy watching hockey, but it’s usually done through a television screen these days. I forgot what it’s like to be so close to the action. So close I have to look up to see his face. I didn’t text him to tell him we were coming. He’s bound to see us at some point, but I’m not going to bang on the glass and be a distraction.

After the national anthem and the puck drop, the game gets an energized start. It’s amazing how enthralled Arthur is already. I suppose there’s hockey in his blood, so it only makes sense.

“They’re super speedy!”

I nod and try to track the puck—old habits and all that. A puck battle breaks out ten feet down the glass from us and everyone jumps to their feet. Glass seats give the advantage of seeing the true speed of the players. They’re impossibly fast.

Once they get a breakaway, Sully and Banks push it toward the goal, Lonan sneaks around the side, and when they deke the puck back to him, he snaps it in. Everyone jumps to their feet screaming, including my four-year-old. I’m not sure he even knows what happened. The horn blares and the Lakes take the first point.

“Every time a team gets a goal, they blow the horn!” I yell.

“I know, Mom!”Well, look who’s the expert now.“This is so much fun! Barrett is awesome!” I roll my lips together and nod.

We finish the period and then I take him to the bathroom during intermission.

“Can we get something to eat?”

I don’t want to pay nine dollars for a pretzel, that’s why I stopped for fast food on the way in.

“Let’s see if we can wait a little longer, the lines are really long.”

I hope he forgets about it. He can’t be that hungry, he ate all his meal, plus half of mine.

He asks about the Zamboni and the peewee hockey players that play before the second period begins. The Zamboni is definitely a hit, might have to take Barrett up on that offer to give Arthur a ride sometime.

After the game starts up again, things get a little more tense. A fight breaks out nearby with Kucera and another player. I cover Arthur’s eyes, and he tries to peel my fingers off his face.Not happening, kid.

“Mom! I can’t see! I can’t see!” He tugs at my arms, but I keep him shielded.

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