Page 218 of So This Is War
“Haveyou ever been to a game before?” Winnie asks.
“Did you really just ask her that?” Ollie says while we carry our pretzels and drinks down to our seats. “She’s the coach’s daughter. Of course she’s been to a game.”
“I meant as Posey’s girl. Maybe she hasn’t, you don’t know,” Winnie counters as she shuffles down our row and finds our three seats. “She could have been banned from all games like she was banned from all penises on the ice.”
“And look how that turned out,” Ollie says with a wink.
I chuckle. “Yes, I’ve been to several games, but I’ve never sat three rows back, and I’ve never cheered on a boyfriend.”
“Ooo,” Winnie says while bumping her shoulder with mine. “This is so exciting. I feel like I go feral at games.”
“She does,” Ollie says as she takes a bite of her pretzel. “It can be scary at times.”
I look out toward the ice, where the boys stretch and warm up. It takes me a second, but I spot Levi over with Eli. They’re both stretching their hip flexers and chatting it up. I glance around the arena, taking in the energy and, for the first time, fully appreciate the love for these men. Grown men cheer, children wave their hands, and women toast their beers. There are signs asking for pucks, telling the players how much they love them, and even a few proposals. There’s one for Levi that makes me chuckle.
It truly is a sight to see, and I can understand why someone like my dad would revel in such impassioned energy all the time. It’s addicting.
Speaking of Dad. He’s behind the bench in his standard black-on-black-on-black attire, hands behind his back, looking out over the rink. Sterling, his assistant, talks to a few players on the bench while the staff prepares for the game around them.
But my eyes remain fixated on my dad, as I take in the stoic yet intimidating set of his shoulders. The way he casually observes but is calculating every little advantage in his head. He’s conniving and smart, one of the many reasons the Agitators are the team to beat this year.
“You okay?” Winnie asks.
“What? Oh yeah. Just thinking.”
“About your dad?” Ollie asks, mouth full of pretzel.
“Yeah,” I answer.
“Have you spoken to him since everything went down?”
I shake my head. “No, and that’s okay. I’ve come to terms with it. It sucks, but like Levi has said, it’s his loss if he doesn’t want to be a part of my life.”
“He’s right,” Ollie replies. “And I don’t say that very often.”
“It’s taken me a second, but I’m coming to terms with that train of thought.”
“Good,” Winnie says. “If anything, you’ve gained a whole bunch of brothers and sisters.”
I smile. “I can get on board with that.”
“I can barely talk,”Winnie says, her voice hoarse.
I rub my ear. “Yeah, and I think I can barely hear.”
“Glad you were the one in the middle,” Ollie says as we walk toward the players’ locker room. “Usually I’m the one with a ringing in my ear after a game. Told you she was loud.”
“Like, way louder than I ever could have imagined.” I glance at Winnie. “You’re so small. How do you do it?”
“Blessed with powerful lungs, I guess,” she answers.
“It was a good game, though. I will admit that,” Ollie says. “Do you think Posey got in that fight because you were watching? He was barely checked into the boards, and it looked like he lost his cool.”
“I don’t know,” I say. “But it was really hot.” I bite the corner of my lip, recalling the fight. Levi was hardly touched, but he got the other player a few times in the ribs and once on the face. Levi went to the penalty box with a sweaty head of hair and a ripped jersey, while the other player went in with a bloody nose and a dazed expression.
“Posey could have given him a few more wallops. I think he held back. He was showing off but not being barbaric about it.”
“I’m sure it will aid in tonight’s festivities,” Ollie says.
