11. Jameson #2
Braysen opens his mouth to respond but is interrupted by our server.
We each order a large pizza, mine being half cheese for Dylan.
Our server is enthralled by her and brings her over even more coloring pages to work on.
For the next twenty minutes, we talk about the shop, about Braysen’s classes and his upcoming internship.
He’s playing hockey in Wisconsin and worries about the schedules conflicting.
“Can’t your advisor put in a word with the company for your internship?” My brow furrows, knowing that most places tend to try and accommodate for such things.
Braysen shakes his head, his face turning thunderous. “It’s not my advisor creating the problems. It's the team’s PR manager. I swear the woman has it out for me.”
“Did you fu—” My eyes drop to Dylan, almost forgetting her little ears are listening. “Ah, did you have a sleepover with her?”
Braysen notices my slip and his shoulders are shaking from holding his laugh. “No. I would never have a sleepover with her. She’s a spitfire on a good day. I’d hate to know what she’s like at any other time.”
A frown mars my face, and he waves me off. “Look, I’m not going to sweat it. My advisor, the coach, and the other team’s manager have all approved my internship hours. She’ll just have to get over it. She does the PR, and all I have to do is follow along with what she says.”
Our food arrives and we all dig in. I make sure to cut up Dylan’s pieces into small rectangles and blow on them so the sauce doesn’t burn her.
Braysen knows the drill and grabs her fancy bib with the front pocket on it from her diaper bag for me.
Before I even get to my own food, Dylan is shoveling pieces into her mouth, her little body dancing slightly in her chair, while pizza sauce covers her chin.
Braysen grins at her, and his eyes flick to mine, filled with humor and memories.
“She really is like her mom.”
A grunt escapes me. “Food makes her happy, and if she doesn’t eat on time, she gets hangry, yup just like her mommy.”
Once we’re finished, there’s only half an hour until the game starts.
We split the check, and I quickly get Dylan as cleaned up as I can before heading to the arena.
Braysen takes in the facility, his first time in Michigan.
I buy a cookie for Dylan at the concession stand since she ate most of her dinner before we find our seats.
Now that we’re here, I slip Dylan’s Michigan jersey on her and watch as her face lights up.
“Mommy team.” She points excitedly and shows Braysen.
“Sure is, baby girl,” he says and ruffles her hair with his hand.
The warm-ups end and each team goes to their respective locker rooms. My gaze follows Sam the entire time she’s on the ice.
A couple of times I catch her glancing around like she’s trying to find us, and each time it makes my heart race.
A few announcements get made next and then the pre-show starts.
Once both teams are back on the ice, the starting lineup for the evening is announced.
Our little group cheers the loudest when Sam’s name is called.
This time she finds us in the crowd. Her blue eyes widen in surprise when she sees Braysen, but she covers it smoothly with a small head nod.
“Guess she isn’t too pissed,” he leans in whispering to me. I clap him on the shoulder in encouragement, giving us both the strength we’ll need after the game when we’re all face to face again. I think it will be fine, but I know he’s anxious.
The game starts, and once again, I feel a knot settle in my stomach anytime Sam is on the ice.
She skates like a dream. She’s a force to be reckoned with out there, an impenetrable wall that the other team’s offense can’t get past. All our years of playing together, building each other up, sweeps over me anytime I see her playing.
One glance at Braysen and I can see it on his face too.
Wonderment and pride. Luca, Braysen, and I each had a hand in helping shape the skater Sam has always been destined to be.
Early in the third period, the game is getting chippy.
My fist is clenched, my jaw resting on it so I don’t look as threatening as I feel.
There have been some missed calls by the refs with the other team.
Their team has had some questionable shoving and tripping of our players and the crowd is starting to feel it.
I never want to scare my daughter, but even Dylan can tell I’m stressed.
She’s currently sitting on Braysen’s lap, and every once in a while, she looks at me, and her bottom lip wobbles.
I try to calm her down while also not flying off the handle when I see some player rams Sam into the boards, hard.
While body contact isn't illegal, body checking is. There is no way the player was going after the puck when it left Sam’s stick almost ten seconds beforehand.
Sam’s body hits the ice, and she’s slow to get up.
The whole crowd gasps and boos at the other team.
I catch Sam wince behind her helmet as she skates to the bench, and I see red.
It takes everything in me to stay in my seat.
“Yo, easy, Kane,” Braysen mutters under his breath. “Dylan needs you.”
My head whips over to my daughter who has tears pooling in her eyes. “Hey, little Pretty Girl. It’s okay.” I hold out my arms to her and she crawls out of Braysen’s hold and curls on my lap. Her hand touches my cheek.
“Mommy otay?”
“Mommy is okay. She’s tough,” I tell her, forcing my lips to form some kind of a smile. “She’s a tough cookie just like you.” My hands tickle her rib cage and she giggles in response.
The sound should soothe me, but I still feel on edge.
Glancing up, I catch the eye of Reign Thorne, whose face looks as murderous as I feel.
His girlfriend, Riley, took a trip from the other team right before she could have had a breakaway.
She fell right onto her front, sending her stick flying out of her hand.
If anyone understands how I feel right now, it would be him.
He nods at me in silent understanding. Somehow, someway, this team will pay.
The ending score is 4-0. At some point, the refs caught on to how upset the crowd was and finally called a penalty on the other team.
At least Michigan killed them with a win.
After the teams exit the ice the stands start to thin out.
Holding Dylan in my arms I lead the way out to the main entrance of the arena.
The three of us wait for the women to leave their locker room.
Braysen shuffles from one foot to the other.
Both of us waiting to see how Sam will react to his presence.
Dylan is completely oblivious to the tension and chatters happily in my arms. Her eyes are getting droopier by the second though, and I’m anxious to get her home once she sees her mom.
“Mommy!” Dylan screeches suddenly and squirms out of my hold. I set her on her feet before she takes off. Sam drops to her knees to catch Dylan, her bag falling off her shoulder as she does. Braysen and I walk over to them. I pick up Sam’s bag and hoist it on my shoulder.
“You don’t have to do that,” she says, her bright blue eyes catching mine.
I shake my head at her. “I want to. Plus, I’m sure your shoulder isn’t feeling the best.”
Anger flashes in her eyes and her lips purse. “You’re right, it doesn't feel the best. What a cheap bunch of witches.”
Braysen snorts, and Sam’s gaze moves over to him. Her features soften and tears pool in her eyes. “Bray.”
My best friend’s shoulders collapse, and he looks overwhelmed. Instead of saying anything, he wraps her up in a hug. Sam’s eyes close, and I see the tears run freely. As much as this screams against my instincts to never make her cry, I know she also needs this. They both do.
“Missed you, Sammy,” Braysen mutters into her hair, and she nods her head.
“You too.” Her voice shakes and then Braysen says something else that makes her laugh. She smacks his chest and he steps back from her, rubbing his left pec.
“Ow! I was serious.” He gives her a flirty wink, and my body tenses. “You can still be my lucky charm anytime, sweetness.”
I take a step toward him when Sam punches his shoulder this time. “Say it again and I’ll sick Dylan on you with her glitter wand.”
Dylan grins up at Braysen and he looks down at her with horror spreading over his features. “Anything but glitter.”
Sam laughs and the tension slowly leaves my body. Still, I want her focus back on me. I need to see her eyes to know she’s really okay. “Did you drive, Sam? I can carry your bag to your Jeep.”
Her teeth dig into her bottom lip, and her cheeks flush slightly. “I ah, I actually walked. It was really nice out earlier and I needed to get my warm up in.”
My jaw clenches and the age old need to bend her over my knee and—