Page 125 of Offside Rules

I head back to the couch, where Ellie has saved my seat and placed a brown butter cupcake beside my wine.

"I protected it," she tells me.

"From who?"

"Myself. Show some appreciation."

"Thank you for your sacrifice."

"You’re welcome. It was considerable."

The Hawkeyes are still tied halfway through the second when Wolf takes a hit along the boards.

I stop peeling down the wrapper.

He gets the puck away before the contact, then pushes off and follows the play. He’s skating fine. His stick stays down, and he gets back into position before their forward reaches the middle.

I still watch him all the way to the bench.

Ellie’s hand touches my knee.

"He looks okay."

"I know. I just hate that side."

Natalia glances over. "Kendall’s with them. She’ll check him."

I nod, grateful she doesn’t make me explain why I’m suddenly less interested in my cupcake.

The camera moves to JP, and I finally take a bite.

A few minutes later, Hunter gets the puck to Wolf near the blue line. Wolf sends it toward the net, and Luka gets his stick on it.

The puck goes in.

Natalia is on her feet before the goal light finishes flashing. I get up with her, nearly catching my wineglass with my knee.

"Yes!"

Ellie grabs the glass before I can spill it.

"Apparently, we needed supervision after all."

I laugh and sit down while Natalia celebrates with Peyton. On-screen, Wolf bumps gloves with Luka, then Hunter says something that makes him grin.

I miss that grin.

I saw it this morning when we video chatted after my deliveries, before the team headed to the stadium in Utah. Apparently, that doesn’t matter.

By the third period, my shoes are tucked under the coffee table and I’ve eaten enough that I’m considering whether Ellie will judge me if I ask her to roll me to the car.

I’m leaning forward with Peyton and Natalia when JP covers the puck.

They clear it after the faceoff, and the other team barely gets back into the zone before the horn.

The room breaks into applause. Somebody behind the couch yells for a player who wasn’t on the ice, and Penelope calls it an excellent team effort.

I watch Wolf skate over to JP, then follow Hunter toward the tunnel.