Page 33 of Slap Shot
You said I’m going to know who he is!Is it Elmo?
I laugh and pull her close to my hip.It’s not Elmo,but I think you’ll like him.
Who could be better than Elmo?
I didn’t say he was better, I tease, and she giggles.We’re going to meet him at the park then walk to get ice cream.
Okay. It’s warm today, and I have on my boots.She lifts her leg and shows off the rain boots she demanded to wear to school this morning even though there’s not a raindrop in sight.We can walk as far as we need to.
We make our way into the park through an iron gate, and I spot Hudson right away. He’s scrolling on his phone, and when he looks up and our eyes meet, he grins. He gives me a wave and flips his hat backward before walking toward us.
Jesus Christ.
Shit like that should be illegal for men to do in public.
His gray joggers hug his thighs and his plain white T-shirt stretches across his chest. He slips his phone in his pocket, smile never wavering.
Do you know who that is?I ask Lucy, and she covers her mouth with a hand before answering me.
He plays hockey!What is he doing here?Are we going to play hockey?
No hockey today, sweetheart. Remember how I told you I was starting a new job?I’m working for Hudson,and he offered to let us live in his apartment.
Wow.Lucy stares at Hudson, and she giggles.He’s famous!
He is famous,I agree.Should we say hi?
Duh.We have to!
“There y’all are. Glad to see the Metro didn’t defeat you.” Hudson stops a few feet away from us. He squats and smiles at Lucy. “Is it okay if I say hi? Except… I’m realizing I don’t know any sign language.Fuck. Could you—is it rude to ask you to say hello for me? I’m sorry. I should’ve thought about this ahead of time.”
“It’s not rude at all.” I stroke Lucy’s hair and bend down to her level. She’s staring at Hudson like he’s the coolest thing she’s ever seen, and it’s hard to break her attention away from him. “This is Hudson,” I tell her, making sure to speak at the same time so he can understand. “He doesn’t know sign language, but he wants to say hi.”
Hudson waves, and my daughter lights up. She giggles and waves back.
He looks just like he does on TV.
“She says you look like you do on TV,” I explain. “She watches the Stars games while I cook dinner.”
“I’m flattered.” He reaches in his pocket and hands Lucy something. “I brought her a gift. It’s nothing big, but I figured she might like it since she’s a fan.”
What is it, Mommy?Lucy asks.
“It’s a trading card,” I say and sign. “And it looks like… Wow, baby.It’s signed by all the boys who play on the Stars.”
I’m going to be the most popular person at school!Thank you…She frowns and looks at me.How do you spell his name again?
“H-U-D-S-O-N,” I say, going slow so she can learn it.
H-u-d-s-o-n,she signs, and I kiss the top of her head.
“Thank you so much,” I say when she examines the card, not caring about us anymore.
“Happy to do it.” He stands upright and rolls his shoulders back. “The frozen yogurt shop is around the corner. I thought we could get our bowls then hang out here. It’s nice enough to sit outside.”
“Lead the way, hockey guy.”
It takes us forever to make it back to the park. Lucy loaded up her cup of yogurt with eight different toppings, and Hudson and I had a disagreement at the register over who was paying before he tapped his phone against the card reader and told mebetter luck next time.
