Chapter 24
NORA
I try to school my features as I approach the Parks and Recreation office. I don’t think I’m going to be able to hide what happened between Alex and me last night from my friends, but I can’t just walk around all day with a goofy, I-have-never-been-this-well-fucked grin on my face. Can I?
But I feel that grin the second I step inside the office and realize Andi is here as well. They’ll be so happy for me…
“Oh my God, Nora!” Sutton says the instant she sees me.
But that’s not a celebratory or a you-go-girl exclamation. She looks panicked.
I stop in front of her desk and look between the two of them. “What’s going on?”
Sutton looks worried, but Andi looks amused.
“My dad is texting and calling, asking if he can get tickets to the first game,” Sutton says.
Of course, I remember Sutton and Beckett’s dad. They grew up here, not moving to Minnesota until Sutton and Beckett were eighteen. Their dad lives in Texas now.
I nod. “I’m sure we can arrange that.”
“Ask her why her dad is so excited about it suddenly,” Andi says, lifting her to-go cup from Perks and Rec.
“What happened?” I ask.
“Astrid was on a podcast this morning. She got into a big argument with the host,” Sutton says.
I frown. “What? What podcast?”
“Sam The Sportsman,” Sutton says.
The way she says it, I can tell she doesn’t know who this is, but my heart skips a beat. “You’re kidding. He’s huge. He covers way more than hockey, and he’s got a nationwide audience. Maybe worldwide. Astrid was on his podcast?”
“Kind of. She called in. They were talking about us. And she called in and got into a fight with him,” Sutton says.
Andi chuckles. “It was professional. But it’s pretty entertaining.” She leans over and turns her phone on Sutton’s desk so that I can see the screen. Then she presses play on the image that’s filling the screen.
“We have a very interesting caller for you all right now from what I understand,” a man’s voice says. “Everyone, welcome Astrid Olsen to the program.”
“No way,” another man’s voice replies. “The Astrid Olsen?”
Andi hits the pause button. “That’s some hockey player named Crew McDaniel, or something. I think he’s a pro.”
I gasp. “Crew McNeill?”
“Yeah, that’s it,” Andi says.
“He’s like the second-best center in the league, behind Alex,” I tell them. “I mean, now he’s probably the best since Alex is out. He plays for the Chicago Racketeers. He’s amazing.”
“Well, he does mention that he and Alex are friends,” Andi says. “That’s how they started talking about this. The podcast guy saw some clips online of the scrimmage, and Crew said it’s great to see Alex playing again, but that he’s never seen this side of him.”
There are already clips from last night online and getting attention? I brace myself. “Push play.”
I cannot believe one of the biggest podcasters and one of the most prominent professional hockey players are talking about our hockey team. Except that I can. Because they’re actually talking about Alex. He’s big, his injury and leaving the pros was big, and having him on our team is big.
This kind of attention is what we wanted.
“Astrid? You’re on the air.”
“Hey, Sam, hey, Crew,” Astrid’s voice comes across the line.
“Astrid,” Crew says. “It’s been a long time.”
“It has. Congratulations on your year without having to compete with Alex.”
Crew chuckles. “You know I don’t see it that way. But thanks.”
“Well, Alex is keeping busy down here in Louisiana. But I heard you guys talking some shit about it, so I thought I’d call in and clear up some possible confusion.”
“Nah, it wasn’t shit,” Sam says. “We’re just interested in the fact that a huge pro hockey star is now playing beer league hockey,” Sam says.
“See, that’s the problem, Sam, you’re misinformed and you’re just talking instead of trying to find out the facts. It’s not a beer league. I should know. It’s mine.”
He chuckles. “Yeah, I heard that too. I mean, it’s not like a big shot like you can get away with starting her own hockey league without drawing attention.”
“I don’t mind drawing attention,” Astrid says.
“We know.” Sam laughs. “You’ve been doing it beautifully for years, even before you married Declan O’Grady. So was giving you your own hockey league to play with a wedding gift from your new hubby?”
“It definitely was not,” Astrid says, her slightly flirtatious tone now cooler. “I’ve got a fun hockey league. Hockey with heart. Declan wouldn’t know what that was if it bit him in his very fine ass.”
I lift my eyes and meet Andi’s amused gaze, then Sutton’s wide-eyed stare.
I lean over and hit pause. “Did she just call Declan’s ass very fine on a huge sports podcast?”
“She did,” Andi says. “But I suppose if anyone’s going to, it should be her? I mean, there are all those rumors about whether they’re really married, right? That sounds…kind of married?”
“First, there are?” I ask. “And second, does it?”
“You haven’t seen that?” Andi asks.
Sutton is nodding. “It’s all over social media.
People were wondering why they were suddenly married when no one had any idea they were even dating.
And now that Astrid’s in Louisiana and Declan’s still in Oregon, people are really wondering if the marriage is real or just some gossip or a PR stunt or something. ”
I frown. That’s…not good. But it’s none of my business. “That can’t affect the team here, can it?”
“I’d say, if anything, more people will come because they’re almost like reality-TV stars. People will come to get a glimpse of someone even sort-of famous,” Andi says.
I nod. Maybe that makes sense. I look at each of my friends. “So…do we think they’re really married?”
“Legally? Yes,” Sutton says. “I searched the public records, and they have a marriage license.”
I laugh. “Okay. But are they in love?”
“Hard to tell,” Andi says. “I mean, he does have a fine ass. That’s more just a statement of fact.”
I can’t do anything but nod. Declan O’Grady is very attractive. If a woman is into dark, broody, totally intimidating, powerful men.
Which I’m not.
But I get it.
I lean over and push play on the podcast again.
“So you’re playing ‘fun hockey’,” Sam says.
“Hockey with heart,” Astrid interjects.
“Right. Okay,” Sam says. “But there’s singing and dancing, Astrid. So it’s not hockey. What is this? A mid-life crisis? And if so, is it yours or your brother’s?”
“Well, see, Sam, right there’s the problem.
Some of you don’t appreciate sports unless they’re all polished and glamorous, right?
It has to be flashy and pretty to catch and keep your attention.
And I get it. Your attention spans are short, and it’s all just one big dick-measuring contest at the end of the day.
Well, I wanted to go somewhere to hang out with people who just really love the game. So I came to Rebel, Louisiana.”
“Oh, I see, that’s what this is? The love of the game?” Sam asks.
“Yes,” Astrid says. “The players and fans are all here for the same reason.
To have a really good fucking time. To hang out together, to watch some hockey, to have some laughs.
But then both teams leave the ice and go hang out at the bar together.
The fans dress up and cheer their team on, but then they leave the arena and go staff the bake sale together, or hang out at book club.
This is just a bunch of really great guys getting together, having a hell of a good time, and helping the fans feel a part of it.
Because we all love hockey and want to show that we can do that, and just that, and not let money and egos get in the way.
“I want all of these players to remember why they picked up that hockey stick the very first time. Before they got caught up in the competition, in the glitz, in the idea that everything always has to be bigger and better and faster. And yes, that’s what I want for my brother.
This past year has been tough on him. I want to give him some joy in hockey back. ”
I don’t hear exactly what Sam and Crew say in response.
I’m totally caught up in what Astrid said about Alex.
I already really liked Astrid Olsen O’Grady—wait, did she take Declan’s last name? I need to look that up—but I like her so much right now.
I want Alex to love hockey.
Not the life hockey has given him. Not the safe bubble he’s in because of hockey.
Not this sense of self that he thinks only comes from being Alex Olsen, number fourteen for the Portland Grays.
Just hockey. The game. And how he feels when he’s on the ice.
And how he feels on the ice here in Rebel.
And how he makes other people feel because of how much they like hockey.
“I’m thinking this is right up your alley, McNeill,” Astrid is saying when I focus again. “If you ever get tired of Chicago, come down and give me a visit.”
“I do love the spotlight, and I’m not gonna lie, I have a pretty great singing voice,” McNeill says.
“Well, we might just have to make you prove that. I’ve been thinking that we need to have some All-Star guests come down and join our shenanigans.”
Crew chuckles. “Your brother has my number.”
“I’m going to let you go,” Astrid says. “Stop talking shit about my hockey league, Sam,” she says. “If you want to know what it's really about, call me and we’ll do a real interview. Or better yet, come down here and see it for yourself.”
“I might just have to do that. Do you have a fancy box I can sit in?”
“Hell no. You’re going to sit down with the fans and understand what this is really about. And you’re also going to meet some of the best people you’ve ever met and have some of the best food you’ve ever tasted.”
“Sounds like an invitation I can’t pass up.”
“Exactly.”
“And thanks for listening, Astrid. I didn’t know you were a fan.”
“Well, now you do, so watch yourself.”