Page 147 of Slap Shot
“Jesus.” Liam lifts her out of her chair like she weighs less than a sack of feathers and puts her in his lap. He’s not big on PDA, but it’s nice to see him soft and sickeningly in love. “Why are you crying, sweetheart?”
“Because people talk about how… how shitty professional athletes are and how all they care about are sports, but then there’s people like you guys—and everyone else on the team—who are sonotshitty, and I wish the world could see more of that.”
“Maybe we could pitch a reality television show,” Maverick suggests. “The cameras can follow Liam around all day. He’d love that.”
“Fuck you, Miller,” he growls, kissing Piper’s forehead. “Want to give us one more lesson before we head down to the film room, baby?”
That brightens Piper up, and she introduces us to signingcatanddog. By the end of the hour, I’m able to sign,Hello. My name is Hudson, and I have two dogseasily, and I’m grinning from ear to ear.
That might be a side effect from being around someone like Madeline; eternally optimistic, even when she doesn’t have to be. Bright and full of life in a way I feel like I haven’t been in years.
Maybe she and Lucy have been the missing piece all along.
FORTY-THREE
MADELINE
GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN(DAMENTAL RIGHTS) AND GOOD SEX
Lexi
I didn’t think I could meet someone with a worse name than Beaumont, but then I went and matched with Axel.
Piper
Is he a musician?
Lexi
I wish.
Me
This sounds like a fun game. Is he a data analyst?
Lexi
That would be too obvious.
Axel is a mime. Something I learned halfway through dinner when he stared at me and wouldn’t speak.
Emmy
What the actual fuck? I’m so glad I’m married.
Lexi
Rub it in our faces, why don’t ya?
Me
I appreciate you taking one for the team and sharing your horrible stories. You’ve saved me from having to suffer too.
Lexi
Wait until I tell you about Basil. He was a horse guy.
Maven
