Chapter 18
Eighteen
Tucker
I’ve never been to a professional sporting game, but I thought I had an idea of what I was in for with all the college football games I’ve been to. The University of Georgia games are insane in the best way. Go dawgs!
Nothing could have prepared me for the absolute spectacle that is professional ice hockey.
Cami and I arrive early with Ajax, the name fans settled on for the team puppy, and our special passes let us into Olympus Arena without any issues.
Cami guides us through the building, following directions provided by McKenna again, and we end up at a hospitality room where families are milling about.
McKenna sees us and rushes over, catching the attention of a few women with children around them.
“Welcome to opening night!” she says, smiling brightly and bouncing so her ponytail swings.
“I’m so happy Ajax is finished with his intensive training and can join us tonight.
He gets the honor of dropping the ceremonial puck, which is a big deal around here, especially with the home opener.
Look at this adorable jersey I had made just for him! ”
We ooh and ahh appropriately as she hands the small jersey over.
“We’ve been working with him on his drop command to prepare him for his big moment,” I say, trying to find my excitement.
“He’s ready to wow the crowd with his cuteness,” Cami adds, looking up at me with a smile that barely hides her warning.
She’s been on me all week, knowing something’s going on because I’ve been off, but she hasn't been able to get the details. If I told her Sebastian is interested in me, she’d wallop me upside the head and tell me I’m stupid for turning him down and to go get my man.
Which is why I’m keeping the information quiet.
I don't need any outside influences to sway my already precariously perched decision.
“Great! Tucker, Cami, please meet the Olsen ladies!” she says, gesturing to the women who have come up beside her. “Paige, Harlowe, and Ainsley are married to Hayes, Zander, and Payton, the brothers who own Olympus International and built Olympus Arena.”
“And brought professional hockey back to Atlanta,” Paige, the dark-haired woman with red lips, says as she shifts a little boy on her hip. “The guys are quite proud of themselves for that fact.” She smirks and shares a look with the other women.
“No kidding. You’d think they invented hockey with how much they like to talk about their accomplishment,” Harlowe, the tallest and curviest of the three, with a stunning beauty even I can appreciate, says.
She expertly catches the hands of a little boy as he hurtles by, stopping him from launching himself onto the puppy.
“Axel, you rocket-fueled menace, you have to slow down so you don't hurt yourself or the dog. Gentle hands, like we’ve taught you.”
“I wanna pet the puppy!” he shouts, swinging from her hands with his momentum.
“You have to watch that one,” the blonde, Ainsley, says with a side-eyed look at the child.
She’s the only one without kids clamoring around her and seems to be the most reserved.
“I’m praying to any deity that will listen that my child will only have a fraction of his energy and rebelliousness.
Otherwise, I don't know what I’m going to do. ”
“Ainsley is pregnant with her first. She’s a bit nervous now that she knows it’s a boy,” Paige says, putting an arm around the petite woman’s shoulders.
“Don't worry, between me and Harlowe and the six kids we’ve had, we’ve experienced everything and know how to get you through it.
” She smiles reassuringly at her sister-in-law.
I swallow hard, thinking of six kids. That’s a lot.
Those billionaires like making babies, it seems. I love kids, but no one has ever liked me enough for me to even consider having a family of my own.
I’ll probably be the fun gay uncle to Cami’s future kids.
Enzo is really sweet, though. I’d want to have kids of my own if I could have a kid like him. Or even him.
Oh, shit. Nope, I'm not looking at Sebastian’s kid as a potential child of my own. That’s too much to even consider.
“Sounds like you have a wonderful support system around you,” Cami adds, because I have no idea what to say as my brain unhelpfully fixates on wishing I could be a parent to Sebastian’s kid when I’m actively trying to convince him I’m not worth his interest.
Ainsley smiles and looks between the other women. “I do.”
“Thank you so much for partnering with the team this year,” Harlowe says, bending down and making sure her son gives Ajax gentle pets.
“We’ve loved hearing about Combat Companions’ mission.
It’s really important to us that the team has local charitable partners and uses this incredible platform to highlight organizations doing great work,” Paige adds.
A little girl who looks like her mini-me runs up and tugs on her sweatshirt, pointing at the puppy.
Paige nods, and the little girl sits down next to Axel to pet Ajax.
“If you’re agreeable to the idea, I’d love to write a story about this partnership and Combat Companions for the Atlanta Free Press newspaper sometime this season.
I think it would be a perfect feature story that sheds light on our local heroes and the work you do, which allows veterans to live out normal lives after service injuries,” Ainsley says.
“Oh, my goodness, yes, we’d love that!” Cami says before I can answer. “We’re always looking for ways to get our name out there. We’d be honored.”
“We can exchange numbers, and I’ll reach out,” Ainsley says as she pulls her phone out of her bag and quickly swaps info with Cami.
“We won’t keep you longer. Grab some of the chicken tenders before my kids eat them all,” Harlowe says, gesturing at the food set up along the back of the hospitality suite.
“But don't pass up the pretzel sticks. They’re legit the best. The Hypnotic Hydra is the house cocktail. It’s potent but super tasty, if you like to drink. ”
“It was nice to meet you,” Paige says.
“I’ll be in touch about the story,” Ainsley adds.
The women wave as McKenna pulls us away.
“Come on, I’ll show you around, and you can catch warm-ups in just a bit.
I got you great seats where you’ll see all the action.
I’ll have someone grab you when you need to come back to get ready for the puck drop.
After that, we’ll do some photos, and you can head back to your seats for the game.
We kept it pretty simple for this game. I’m saving more of the fun for our theme nights.
” McKenna leads us to the buffet area as we wave goodbye to the Olsens.
I try to keep up with everything she’s telling us, but my mind wanders to Sebastian. Is he getting ready right now? What’s his pre-game routine? Does he get nervous? As the team captain, does he have to give some kind of motivating speech, or is that just for the coach?
Cami elbows me in the side, and I snap my eyes down to her.
“Let’s grab snacks and go watch warm-ups,” she says. I look around and realize McKenna has flounced off and left us alone by the buffet. “You’re extra weird tonight. You sure you’re feeling okay? Are you going to projectile vomit all over the ice like a frozen version of the Exorcist?”
I scowl at her. “I’m perfectly healthy and won't be throwing up anything.”
“Then what’s your deal? You’re extra cranky and quiet, and you’re looking around like you’re expecting someone to pop out of the wall and ambush you. Wait! Oh my God, you’re looking for Sebastian, aren't you? You have such a thing for him.”
“Cami, I swear to God, I will Super Glue your lips together if you don’t stop shouting about him.” I purposefully don’t address her accusations. I know how to tactically evade questioning when I want to.
“It is about him. You’re so transparent. God, Tuck, if you’re trying to be nonchalant, you have to get a better handle on things before you see him again, or it’ll be completely obvious. Now, let’s get food and go find our seats.”
Thankfully, she drops it there, and we do exactly that.
Our seats are front row to the ice, which McKenna tells us is called on the glass, and across from the home team bench. We’ll get to watch the Hydras’ coming on and off the ice, face-offs at center ice, and any puck battles that happen along the boards. I’m learning so much about hockey.
I put my backpack of dog gear on the floor between my feet and settle Ajax on the unoccupied seat next to me with special ear protection while we eat.
The pretzels are as good as Harlowe claimed, and I share the tenders with Cami.
We skipped the cocktails as neither of us needs to get buzzed while we’re technically working.
A cold Coke is good enough for me, even if Callum thinks it’s too much sugar.
He can pry the full sugar sweet treat out of my cold, dead hands.
The music changes to something fast with a dubstep sound, and the teams skate onto the ice, doing laps around each side.
Players take the pucks that are scattered on the ice and slam them into the open net one after another.
They circle in a fast rush of navy blue and neon green uniforms that match Ajax’s puppy jersey before dropping to the ice for stretches that are way more appealing than they should be.
Is humping the ice therapeutic in some way?
I see a flash of dark hair and the uniform of number twenty-two with Montenegro across the back.
Sebastian.
He looks good out there, talking with his teammates as he passes pucks and takes shots. He skates back and forth across the ice, doing fancy-looking puck handling that I’m sure is easy for him now, but I’d never be able to manage.
Cami slaps my knee. “Give me the dog.”
I look over at her with a raised brow. “Excuse me?” I don't trust her motives for asking out of the blue like that with a devious smile on her cherubic face.