Page 3 of Rise Above

“Just like Dad,” I said on a laugh. “Go on then.” Dre sat and cracked her knuckles. It was a habit of

hers and one of the few that got on my nerves. I let it slide as she began her lecture. “So, you’ve got Nicholas Blighten, number 74, who plays defense. Then you’ve got Ryan Craigson who plays center and totally kicked ass against the Kodiaks. Fuck the Kodiaks as an aside…” She continued on for a bit. “Lastly, you’ve got TJ Walker, number 15, who is a right winger and one of the best enforcers in the game.”

I nodded along until that last part. My brow lowered

in confusion. “Enforcer?”

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The buzzer sounded again to signal the final period.

Dre let out a whoop of excitement. “Yeah, Aife. Look, it’s not really an official position in hockey. It used to be a bigger role, but times do change. Essentially, an enforcer prevents dirty plays like that hook earlier from Gregor. That’s why we saw a fight. Walker is smart and massive. He rarely has to be an enforcer because he’s got great stick skills, but he’s protective of his team.”

She let out a holler as the center headed to goal on a

breakaway. Damn, those guys were fast. The center, Carpenter I think, did some crazy back hand and scored. I released a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. The Hammers had won, and hockey had found its way into my heart.

“So, be honest. What did you think?” Dre gently

pulled me toward her car, guiding me through the throngs of people. Davis had left to meet up with his hockey friends. “Did you love it, or did you really love it?”

I smiled. “I still don’t understand it, but I did enjoy

myself.”

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Dre whooped as she unlocked her car. She

shimmied into the driver’s seat and held her hand out for a fist bump. “Hell yeah! You down for another game?”

“Only on a weekend. I don’t think I’d be able to

sleep after that,” I said, laughing at her antics. “You certainly don’t seem like you’re going to sleep any time soon.”

“No ma’am. Ask Davis! There is like a sports high

after a win. I am dropping you off and Ubering to a bar.” Dre slowly backed out of her parking space. “I’d invite you, but I know you and bars don’t really mix.”

“More like me and vodka.” Gagging at the name of

the liquor, I held back my disgust. Or tried to. “Plus, I absolutely have to finish the intro to my dissertation.”

“Jeez.” Dre groaned. “Why—oh why—did you

think working full time and returning to get a PhD was a good idea?”

The lights of Chicago whizzed by as we finally

made it out of the Chaos Coliseum parking lot. Davis got us great tickets, not great parking. Chicago was such a beautiful city, and it reminded me a little bit of Houston but with way better public transportation. There were lots of buildings and lights and bustling people. It didn’t quite feel like home, but I’m sure it would, even though it had been three years at this point. I missed humidity. Texas would always hold my heart though. Texas was my home state, where I grew up, where I was born—a home when other places never felt like it.

“Well, we know I love a challenge.” I turned away

from the window. “School is something I love with