“You’re grinning.” Lindsey took a bite of her roll.
Emma looked up and put her phone back on the chair under her leg. “Sorry, I saw a funny meme.”
Lindsey raised an eyebrow, and Emma pretended to be deeply involved with her ground beef and green beans. Lindsey was the only one that scrolled social media feeds in their relationship, and they both knew it.
ChapterFive
Emma stood shiveringoutside the ice arena, her breath pluming above her in the air. It was Tuesday night. As her dad noted on Sunday, the Snowballs were set to play Pucks Deep for the second time in a week, and this was the game that counted. Losing to them in the tournament didn’t affect their provincial standings, but it did mean that Sean would be out for blood tonight. Those were always the best games to watch.
She wrapped her scarf tighter around her neck and stared at the entrance. Once she walked through that door and sat behind the boards, Tyler would know he’d had something to do with her showing up.Was she okay with that?
Though, after the tournament, this game would be packed for the rematch. It wouldn’t be difficult to play it off as a game she’d already planned to attend if she needed to. The Elite League had plenty of fans, especially since there were three teams here in Calgary. They were also hosting the playoffs this year, which meant everyone was even more invested than usual.
Emma strode toward the doors, avoiding a frozen puddle beside the curb. The warmth of the arena enveloped her instantly as she pushed into the airlock, as did the familiar sounds and smells of the place. Echoing voices layered over each other. The thump of bodies against the boards. Smells of buttered popcorn and funnel cakes that caused cavities simply through inhalation.
Taking a calming breath, Emma descended the stairs and pushed through the doors leading to the stands. As she scanned the rows of seats, her eyes landed on a petite woman with striking features, her dark hair pulled back into a ponytail. Kelty, Sean's girlfriend, waved when she saw Emma approaching.
Kelty’s face split into a wide smile as she stood and pulled her into a hug. She pulled back, and her dark eyes sparkled in the overhead lights. "Emma! I can't believe you made it! It's been way too long."
"I know! Couldn’t miss this one.” Emma sat down on the bench next to her.
“Tell me about it. Sean was pissed when they lost in the finals Sunday.”
Emma groaned. “What time did they get home?”
“Late. I was already asleep, so I’m not sure of the exact time.” She picked up a thermos of hot cocoa and took a drink. “If they don’t win tonight, I’m sleeping at your place.”
“Done.”
Kelty passed her the thermos, and Emma took a drink. The cold metal bleachers bit into her skin through her jeans. She was out of practice. She owned a foldable seat pad, but it was sitting at home, forlorn in the front closet.
"Did you have supper with your parents Sunday since the team was out of town?" Kelty asked.
“I did! Lindsey and Vaughn came with me.”
“Friends from work, right?”
Emma nodded. “I think you may have met Lindsey at my birthday in the fall.”
“Red hair. Loves to wear green. I remember.”
A voice crackled to life over the PA system announcing the national anthem. The bench shifted as people rose to face the red and white flag hanging from the rafters. A little girl walked out onto the ice holding the hand of one of our players.
“Wait, is that Ryan’s daughter? Is she singing?” Ryan had been on the team almost as long as Sean, and the last time she’d seen Amaya, she’d been barely out of diapers.
Kelty grinned. “Yep! She’s six now. Isn’t that wild?”
Emma watched as Ryan skated over to get the mic from behind the penalty box, then took it out to his daughter and stood next to her while she sang.
Six.How long had it been since he’d gotten divorced? Amaya’s little voice soared through the arena, and she only mispronounced ‘patriot’ and ‘glorious,’ which was understandable since she probably hadn’t graduated Kindergarten.
Minutes later, the game began with a face-off at centre ice. Sean squared off against the Pucks Deep centreman. The referee dropped the puck, and after a scuffle of sticks, Sean tapped it back to Ryan. His hair hung out the bottom of his helmet, so even though they didn’t have names on the backs of their jerseys, Emma could always spot him.
She recognized Tyler immediately. His height set him apart, but the way he held his body cinched it. His easy, relaxed manner at Tim’s the other night seemed to grow exponentially on the ice. He leaned and glided—none of the harsh, jerky movements she saw from other players. He wore a number four on his jersey, and Emma wondered if it had any significance.
Country sprayed ice as he stopped beside the boards and received a crisp pass from Ryan near the blue line. He danced around two Pucks Deep players with a series of dekes, and the crowd erupted as he shot past centre ice.
His stick slapped the ice sending the puck in an arc around the edge of the boards where André was ready to receive it. He took a shot, deflected by a Pucks Deep defenseman. The fans groaned with disappointment, then cheered as Curtis knocked a player into the boards and stole the puck.
