I couldn’t describe those scenes from experience, but I had a heck of an imagination. And the Seals gave me inspiration too.
I needed to get close to them like I needed my next breath. But not in a weird, stalkery kind of way. I didn’t want to actually abuse the privilege I’d been given. I wasn’t going to get all weird and throw myself at them. I just wanted to bask in their pro-hockey aura, their confidence, and their talent. If I was lucky, some of it would rub off on me.
Or maybe one of them wouldactuallyrub off on me. A girl could certainly dream.
I was trying not to get my hopes up. I’d somehow managed to appeal to Dad’s entrepreneurial spirit and persuaded him that we could learn a lot from the Seals. Dad had a dream ofDelaware’s helping to elevate Australian ice hockey to the same dizzying heights as the NHL. He wanted to be the rising tide that lifted the boats—and he wanted to get richer than sin while doing it.
But I might have uninvited myself by standing up for Mum.
I’d deal if I had. The disappointment would crush me. But I wouldn’t back down, not if it meant compromising on my morals—morals that Dad had so hypocritically drilled into me.
The trip was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The Seals were open to us tagging along. As a new team to the NHL, they were still building their fanbase. Having international connections worked well for them. Mum’s best friend’s son was captain of the team. Jacques had put in a good word for us. It had cinched the deal.
I bit the bullet and read the email. The teams were arriving in a month, two weeks after the end of the regular season. The timing wasn’t ideal—a pre-season matchup would have meant fewer players out with injuries—but it was an all-Californian showdown between an old favourite and a new challenger. Every venue had been sold out for months. People were champing at the bit to see the clashes.
The team’s dietary requirements and allergies were already being accommodated, and the players and staff had asked to be booked on a few tours in the various cities they were visiting. Easy stuff, mostly.
The harder part was Ms Fisher’s request for me to provide details of who would be accompanying them. Security passes needed to be arranged and hotel rooms confirmed.
I couldn’t delay any longer. I emailed Dad. I needed to know whether I was still invited. If he wanted Danielle with him instead, I needed to let the dream go.
His response came quicker than I anticipated.
Cara,
I trust you. You know ice hockey better than any of us, and I know that you will represent Delaware’s to the best of your ability. Please travel with the team and enjoy the experience.
As much as I would love to spend the time together, I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to leave right now with everything in such a state of flux. I will attend the opening game in Brisbane, but you should find a travel companion to help you out with each location.
Dad
I was gobsmacked. I was still on the invite list!
But who the heck would I take? I could ask Mum, but Dad didn’t want to be there because everything was uncertain. Did that mean he wanted to try to work things out with Mum? I couldn’t pull her away from a chance to repair their marriage.
I could ask Zali or one of her guys. One of them might want to come. But it was unlikely any of them would be able to, given their commitments. So, who?
four
Hux
Late April
My teammates surrounded me, but not one of them spoke. To me at least. There were plenty of muted conversations and even more gazes being averted when I met their stares.
It was tense with a capital T.
Normally we joked around and shot the shit together. The team was tight. I was closest with the starting lineup, especially my line mates Gauthier and Hewitt. Our D-men, Minns, Mironov and Rune, were as thick as thieves too. The team was always the loudest group in the room, and we were always laughing.
Except today.
I’d caused the clusterfuck of all clusterfucks to land on our doorstep yesterday. I hadn’t meant to get caught—that’s why I’d parked in the alleyway. That’s why I’d snuck out without turningon the lights. It was also why I’d jumped the fence rather than opening the creaky gate.
But apparently it wasn’t enough.
I’d been photographed leaving Minns’s house late at night. The paps had jumped to the conclusion that I was sleeping with Minns’s wife.
The tight knit group our team had been only days earlier had been shattered.
