Offensive Plays: A Surprise Baby Hockey Romance (Heatwave Hockey Series)

11. Michael

”And once the photographer arrives, we”ll need everyone ready and waiting for photos. Got it, Michael?” Lillian”s voice cuts through my thoughts of a wild and panting Libby last night.

”What? Uh, yeah. Yeah,” I say, distractedly.

”What did I just say?” Lillian crosses her arms over her chest and waits.

”Photos. You need everyone for photos,” I repeat, meeting her suspicious eyes.

”What”s wrong with your brother?” Lillian says to Jonah, who”s passing out the desserts.

”You do seem rather distant lately, Mikey. Are you okay?” my mother says from the other side of the table.

”I”ve just got a lot on my mind, Ma,” I say truthfully, leaving out that the thoughts are about a certain 5’7” woman with legs for days and a fiery mane.

”Conference finals start this weekend, right Mike? That”s a pretty big deal.” I look over to my dad at the head of the table.

We haven”t always seen eye to eye. But he”s trying.

”It is, Pops.” Something in me lights up when he mentions my work without me prompting it. “I can... I don”t know... get you guys tickets for one of the games if you want.”

”That”s very nice, Mikey. But these are the final weeks before your brother gets married. We have way too much to wrap up to be wasting time watching a game,” my mom says.

And as quickly as it comes, the feeling of finally being accepted in my family passes. And I”m reminded, yet again, that I”m an outsider for choosing hockey over the church.

”Yeah, how stupid of me to even offer,” I mutter.

”Oh, I”m sure we can make it out to a game,” Lillian says when she sees my reaction.

”Lillian,” my mother says. ”You of all people won”t have time for such games, young lady. You”re the bride. This is your moment. Hockey will always be there.”

I sigh, remembering why I”ve avoided coming out to these family dinners. Even if I wasn”t in the most demanding time of my career. My family leaves much to be desired.

”We”re doing what we can to support Mikey and his team. The donations we”re sending are doing a lot of good for the city,” Jonah says.

”I”m sure it”s doing a lot of good in getting the word out about the church and it’s new campus, too.”

”Well, yes, that too,” Jonah admits. ”Everybody needs God, Mikey. Or have you forgotten that?”

I hate when my brother gets all high and mighty.

”Not at all, Jo. You especially, from what I can recall.”

”Michael,” my mom warns.

My phone vibrates on the table next to me. It”s BlindBang. My brother”s eyes catch it just before I flip the phone over.

He eyes me warily.

”Tell us, hockey star,” Jonah says. ”How are things going for you in the dating world? Have you met any potential wifey candidates?”

”You know, Cassidy Jones from that big Pentecostal church on the other side of the highway has been asking about you,” Lillian says wriggling her brows.

”Is that right?” My mother says sitting up straighter.

”Yep, she brought his name up in our women’s bible study just last week.”

I know Cassidy Jones. Daughter of the great Reverend Jones. A man more conservative than even my own family. I nearly yawn at the bore it would be to be apart of that family.

”She”s such a good girl. I”ll need to reach out to Donna and set something up,” my mother says. ”The hockey season”s almost over anyway. Surely you”ll have the time, right?”

I groan, ”I”m not interested in Cassidy Jones, Ma.”

”Don”t be ridiculous, Michael. You”re nearly thirty. Good girls your age are hard to come by.”

Well, what if I don”t want a good girl. Bad girls taste so much better.

”I told her you”re single,” Lillian admits. ”So she might actually be reaching out.”

”You gave her my number?” I complain.

”No, just your social media accounts.”

Awesome. I”ll be sure to delete those the first chance I get.

In the meantime, I have a message waiting.

I excuse myself to use the restroom, and open BlindBang.

You have a new match.

So...not Libby. I sit on the toilet disappointed.

This is ridiculous. We are grown adults. What does it matter anymore what we decide to do as grown adults? Obviously we’re a match. And that wasn’t even my doing.

When I open the door, Jonah is waiting in the hall.

”Can I help you?”

”Don”t think I”m so disconnected that I don”t know what that app is?”

I roll my eyes. ”What does it matter to you, Jo?”

”Mikey, trust me when I say this. I”ve had my fair share of trying out what the world has to offer. And as intriguing as it is... nothing comes close to living a life dedicated to serving God and people. Things like that...” he motions toward the phone in my hand. ”They just lead to heartache and confusion.”

I narrow my eyes at him. ”Says the great Pastor Jonah Ferguson.” I give him a slow clap. ”You”re doing so great convincing everyone that you”ve changed. You almost believe it yourself, don”t you?”

He shakes his head at me. ”I”m praying for you, Mikey. You”re going to need it. Especially hanging around with the likes of Libby O”Connor.” He pushes himself off the wall and heads back toward the dining room when I call out to him.

”Jonah, what actually happened between you and Libby?”

”What has she told you?” he turns back to me with a glare.

”Nothing that makes sense.”

”Well, that”s because she doesn”t make sense. She”s a confused girl. But Libby and I are on good terms. Lillian even invited her to the wedding.”

”So I”ve heard,” I say.

”Then, you have nothing to worry about. Now, can you come help me decide where the flower arrangements need to go for the pillars?”

”Sure,” I say, following behind him.

But I’m not letting him off the hook that easily.