33. Luka
Luka
We are sitting at my parents' house for family dinner the night before our first Stanley Cup game.
Thankfully, we are playing at home tomorrow.
I go and sit beside my Pops on the back porch.
I can see him get weaker and weaker every day.
They put off flying to Italy last week. They said it was because of me and my games, but I think the last trip scared my Ma.
"Hey, Pops. You okay?"
He stares in the darkness for a minute and then turns to look at me. "Are you happy, my boy?"
"Of course, Pops."
"I mean really happy. Does hockey still make you happy? You know you can do anything you want to do? You don't have to play hockey just because you are good at it and we pushed you to do it."
I think about it for a minute. I know he wants a truthful answer.
"Before Adrianna, I don't know if I was happy with hockey.
I loved it; I loved that I was good at it.
But I thought that was all anyone would ever see me for.
That I would never find someone to love me for me.
That I would always be hiding behind hockey or the Rizzoli name.
Then, God gave me her. He showed me that someone could love me for me.
That I could still love hockey and have a life outside of it.
That it wasn't everything that I was. So, yeah, Pops, I am happy. "
"I am so glad. I just want you boys to be happy before I leave." His sentence trails off and he stares back at the darkness. "I need your help to make sure Callum is happy. I can't leave unless I know you boys are okay."
"You aren't leaving any time soon, Pops.
Callum has found his happiness with Lacey and Layla.
We just need to make sure he keeps it." I lean back into the chair, and we sit in silence until my Ma calls us for dinner.
The rest of the night, I watch my Pops as he watches everyone.
He takes in every conversation and spends one-on-one time with everyone, even Skee and Augie.
That night, lying in bed, I turned to Adrianna. "I think my Pops is worse than they are telling us."
"Why do you think that?" She places her hands together and stuffs them under her cheek.
"The way he was talking tonight. The way he was with everyone. It is just a feeling I have."
"I will talk to Mia tomorrow and see what we can find out." Adrianna places her hand on my chest and rubs circles with her fingers until I fall asleep.
We are five games into our seven-game series. If we win this one, we will win the cup. We are back home, and the arena is buzzing with sound. We have just finished our warmup, and I call my wife.
"Luka, I just saw you. Why are you calling me?"
I laugh at her because she says the same thing every time I call.
During the last two games, I had to video chat with her because I missed seeing her so much.
She yelled at me because Grady accidentally walked past without being dressed.
So I don't do that anymore. I don't need to kill my teammates.
"I need to hear your voice, Wife. You are my calm. "
"Good luck, Husband. Kick their ass so you can be done with the traveling."
"Yes, ma'am." I laugh and she hangs up the phone.
"Marriage looks good on you, Rizzoli," Maddie says as we exit the locker room. She is holding up her camera, so I assume she is recording.
"I love it, and I recommend it for everyone. Right, Coach." I elbow him in the ribs, and he stares at me. Maddie's face goes red.
"Get your head in the game, Rizzoli." He shoves me and we make our way onto the ice.
Lacey and CeCe had Gio and Layla design my Stanley Cup mask.
They drew all over it and each one of my family members put their names on it.
I tap against my Gattina's name, shove the helmet on my head, and take to the ice.
Soaking in the crowd chanting my name. I love this fucking sport.
That night, we take home the cup.