Chapter Forty-Seven
Uninvited - Grace
Ikeep looking around the hockey arena with a sense of complete amazement.
It’s Friday night. People have arrived early to watch warm-ups, decked out in Golden Sharks jerseys and hoodies, and the OCU band is already in their seats.
I’m on the glass. I made the girls arrive an hour before puck drop so we could get a spot right on it.
I can smell the ice, just like I did when Wyatt and I skated together, and my body is enveloped in cold air.
While I was tempted to wear a top I had bedazzled with Wyatt’s number in gold, I decided to save that outfit for tomorrow’s game.
I’m wearing his jersey tonight instead.
The sleeves of the black jersey are past my fingertips, and the glittery Golden Sharks logo is on the front, with the number “92” and “JACOBS” on the back.
I grin. I love this. I love wearing his jersey. I love being here to celebrate opening night. Excitement zips down my spine. I soak up all of the amazing energy in this arena. Anticipation builds in me as I wait to see Wyatt on the ice. For warm-ups. The player introductions.
And to see him play on the first line tonight.
I can’t stop smiling as I think about it. It was everything he worked for this summer, and it’s all happening now.
And I’m right here to support Wyatt. I’m positioned right on the glass, so he will be able to see me when he skates out onto the ice. I’m here for him, just as he has been here for me this week.
The past few days have flown by in a blur.
Just as McCall said, the athletic department put out a new statement, saying meetings will be scheduled with the Olympic teams to talk about “solutions” to the financial situations.
Donations and sponsors are already coming forward, and during this morning’s swim practice, I felt joy and relief when I entered the pool, because I truly believe we’re going to have a fair shot at saving our team.
I think we can do it. Thanks to McCall and Jax. Thanks to the captains of the major men’s teams stepping forward. Thanks to a college superstar like Asher Ryan speaking out.
And because of Wyatt.
It was Wyatt who took the first brave step in supporting us. Who got the Twenty Together movement rolling. Who spoke out at a hockey press conference, who has given numerous interviews to the media since, managing it all while preparing for his first game of the season.
While preparing to confront his dad.
I admire him so damn much. He has so much going on in his head right now, and I pray he can find a way to put the situation with his dad aside while he’s on the ice. I want him to have an amazing game tonight. For himself.
And to show his dad just how wrong he is about what his son needs.
I get hit with the dual feelings of queasiness and anger when I think of Trey Jacobs. I’m meeting Wyatt and his family after the game tonight for dinner, which makes me anxious and kind of sick. I don’t think he’s going to like me at all. He will see me as an unwelcome distraction.
Then there’s anger for how he’s treated Wyatt.
How he’s doing what my mom did to me but multiplied by a thousand.
Wyatt’s dad is definitely living his dreams through Wyatt and micromanaging his son’s life.
The fact that Wyatt feels his only value is as a hockey player—and the way I heard his throat grow tight when he confessed that to me—broke my heart.
“I’m glad you told me to layer,” Maddie says as she wraps her arms around herself. “It’s freezing in here!”
I immediately tuck thoughts of Wyatt’s dad aside. This is a huge night for Wyatt, and I refuse to let him ruin it for me.
Maddie and I never went to OCU hockey games last year.
We did football games and some basketball, but not hockey.
McCall and Sofia went to games last year and promised us we’d have a lot of fun tonight.
For the game, we’re sitting in the packed student section, and there are all kinds of chants and songs students do during games.
McCall said it’s wild, and I’m eager to experience it.
And to watch Wyatt play.
Right on cue, the PA announcer welcomes us to tonight’s season opener for the Ocean Cove Golden Sharks, and both the Golden Sharks and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish take to the ice.
Pucks are dropped, and my pulse quickens as I watch the players come out of the OCU tunnel to loud pop music filling the arena.
I get goose bumps as I eagerly watch for Wyatt to appear. I spot Nolan. Sebastian. Austin.
Finally, Wyatt takes to the ice, and my heart does a flip-flop inside my chest. He looks so big and imposing in his hockey gear—and yes, it’s hot.
Then I see the metallic gold “A” stitched on his upper left chest, and pride surges through me.
He’s earned that for more than hockey. Wyatt has earned that for how he treats his teammates in the dressing room.
For what he does in school by keeping his grades up.
And for being a leader off the ice, too.
Wyatt takes a lap around the half of the rink where we’re standing. I’m buzzing with excitement, waiting for him to skate by.
Waiting for him to see me.
I see his eyes through the cage covering his face, scanning over the people lined up against the glass.
Then those beautiful espresso brown eyes meet mine, lighting up the second he sees me.
Wyatt flashes me a huge smile, revealing his mouth guard, and I give him a big smile of my own as he begins firing pucks into the net.
I watch him with a sense of amazement. At how big and powerful he is, and how he skates so easily and quickly across the ice.
I remember how hard I worked just to get around the rink with him, and here he is, not only skating easily, but doing it while wielding a stick, shooting a puck, and keeping an eye on all the different things happening on the ice.
“Oh, I see your buddy Sebastian, Maddie!” McCall teases. “Wanna blow him a kiss?”
I turn and look at Maddie, whose face is twisted up as if she’s just had to suck a lemon.
“I think he’s hot,” Sofia says thoughtfully.
“No, he’s not,” Maddie says, shuddering as she looks at him out on the ice, stretching next to Wyatt. “He’s so annoying. Like he always calls me Madelyn—nobody calls me that—and when I try to engage him in conversation, he doesn’t even have the decency to pretend not to be bored.”
“There’s Nolan,” McCall says, pointing to him. “He’s working on his stick handling.”
I manage to tear my eyes off Wyatt for about two point five seconds so I can look at Nolan, who is very focused on moving the puck around.
“Why does Nolan need to be on a dating app to meet a girl?” Maddie asks. “He was very nice to me last night. Complete gentleman. He walked me all the way up to the front door.”
“Just because he’s good-looking and a gentleman doesn’t mean he’s meeting the right people,” McCall says. “A dating app can help with targeting the right audience.”
Sofia snorts. “Now that’s romantic.”
“If you end up with the right partner, it’s completely romantic,” McCall challenges.
“I don’t think he’ll have a problem,” Maddie says.
I’m back to studying Wyatt but still listening to my friends discuss Nolan. It’s interesting to me because I know Nolan, and their perceptions are all so different.
“Nolan is nice,” Sofia says. “Not the most exciting guy I’ve ever met, though.”
“He’s not basic,” Maddie challenges.
“I didn’t say he was. But … I don’t know. Reserved? Maybe he’s too observant for my taste.”
“That’s bad?” I ask, turning to look at Sofia. “How is that bad?”
“Too much watching. Not enough doing,” Sofia says.
“So I have my work cut out for me,” McCall quips.
“No, you don’t,” I argue. “Nolan is a total sweetheart.”
“I’m not saying he’s not nice,” Sofia counters. “Nolan is definitely good looking. He and I talked quite a bit at Milo’s. But Nolan doesn’t have a strong flirting game.”
“Who wants a game?” I ask.
“How is that bad?” Maddie adds. “I’d prefer honesty and sincerity over games.”
“Maybe he just didn’t have game for you,” McCall teases.
“Shut up,” Sofia says, grinning.
“He might be a writing challenge, though,” McCall says, and I can see the wheels turning in her brain. “Like his current bio might not be snappy enough to make a girl want to know more.”
Hm. Maybe Nolan could be Maddie’s cup of tea, once she’s healed from Thad.
“Nolan made me pancakes last weekend. With mix-ins!”
Now all of them are looking at me, each with completely different expressions.
“Impressive,” McCall says. She looks thoughtful. “Maybe the pancake thing can be part of his bio.”
“Aw, that’s so sweet!” Maddie says approvingly. Then she frowns. “Thad took me to In-N-Out. Once.”
“Okay, nothing against a good In-N-Out burger, but Thad was a complete dick,” McCall declares.
“Thad is one hundred percent an ass clown. And Nolan sounds too sweet,” Sofia says, making a face.
“Sweet doesn’t have to be boring,” I remind her.
“Yeah, well, you kind of hit the jackpot with Wyatt,” she counters.
“I’m just glad I don’t want any part of dating,” McCall declares. “I mean, I’m glad it’s worked out for you and Wyatt, but I don’t need the drama and complications that it brings like ninety-nine percent of the time.”
I can’t help but smile. I thought the same thing before I met Wyatt.
“I still believe in love,” Maddie says. “That is a hill I’m ready to die on.”
The three of them begin debating romance and guys, and I look down to the other end of the ice, where Notre Dame is warming up, their distinctive gold helmets shining bright. Wyatt told me they were number five in the preseason poll. OCU was number eight.
So this is a big battle tonight. It’s going to be hard. Wyatt said so himself.
He’s back shooting pucks, sending one sailing into the net. No matter what happens on this ice?
Wyatt has already won. He’s found himself on and off the ice. He’s reclaiming his dreams—and adding new ones.