Chapter Seven #3
We gathered around Oscar before lining up for the traditional postgame handshakes, exchanging brief acknowledgments with the same players we'd spent three periods hitting, shoving, and fighting for possession.
The rivalry would resume the next time we met, but once the horn ended the game, respect took precedence.
Evergreen had opened the exhibition schedule with a hard-earned 3-1 victory.
As we skated toward our bench, Coach stopped me with one hand against my shoulder.
"Excellent debut."
"Thank you, Coach."
"You trusted Ryan and Luca instead of trying to create everything alone. That's what I wanted to see."
His approval carried more weight than the goal or the assist beside my name on the scoresheet.
When I stepped off the ice and entered the tunnel, Jack was waiting near the equipment room. He raised both thumbs, his face bright with excitement, and the satisfaction that swept through me had very little to do with the final score.
***
The locker room buzzed with the satisfaction that came from opening the exhibition schedule with a hard-earned victory.
Beating Inland Northwest, even in an exhibition game, mattered.
It gave us confidence that everything we'd worked on during practice could succeed against another team, and judging by the grins around the room, every one of us understood exactly what the win meant.
Laughter drifted from one end of the room to the other as players replayed the biggest hits, argued over penalties the officials had ignored, and congratulated Oscar for the saves that had protected our lead.
Coach's postgame address carried a hint of satisfaction beneath his usual measured delivery. He praised our discipline, highlighted several areas that required improvement, and reminded us that Monday morning would bring another demanding practice.
By the time I showered and changed into jeans, sneakers, and an Evergreen hoodie, most of the team had begun filtering out of the building.
Ryan called across the room that several of the guys were heading downtown for burgers before remembering I already had plans.
His grin widened, earning knowing looks from Luca and Caleb before all three disappeared into the hallway laughing.
Whatever conclusions they'd reached, they kept them to themselves.
I appreciated that more than they probably realized.
When I stepped into the corridor, Jack was waiting exactly where he'd promised, leaning comfortably against the wall outside the equipment room with one shoulder resting against the painted cinderblocks.
He looked up as soon as he heard the locker room door open, and the smile that found its way across his face made the entire afternoon feel brighter than it already had.
"I hope I didn't keep you waiting."
He shook his head.
Worth every minute.
I laughed.
"You've become dangerous with those one-liners."
His shoulders rose in an innocent shrug before another message appeared.
Occupational hazard.
The reply drew another laugh from me, and together we walked toward the parking lot, neither of us in any particular hurry despite the game having ended forty minutes earlier.
Spokane seemed to be enjoying one of those gorgeous late summer afternoons where the temperature settled comfortably between warm and cool, encouraging people outdoors rather than sending them searching for air-conditioning.
Families lingered near Riverfront Park, and the sidewalks remained busy with people making the most of the sunshine before autumn inevitably arrived.
Jack stopped beside his SUV and instead of unlocking it as I expected, he glanced toward me and held out his phone.
I thought we could do something different today.
Curiosity replaced whatever fatigue remained from the game.
"What did you have in mind?"
His thumbs moved quickly.
Trust me?
I smiled.
"That depends."
He raised an eyebrow.
"On whether you're planning to abandon me in the woods."
His silent laugh reached his eyes and he shook his head before unlocking the vehicle.
Twenty minutes later we pulled into the parking area beside Riverfront Park, but instead of heading toward the walking paths we'd explored previously, Jack led me deeper into the park until an ornate wooden building came into view.
Music floated through the open entrance, accompanied by delighted laughter and the unmistakable sound of an antique carousel turning inside.
I looked at him in surprise.
"The carousel?"
Built in 1909. My mom used to bring me here before she got sick. Dad kept bringing me after she died. I still come back once or twice a year. It reminds me of happier times.
Something tightened inside my chest. This wasn't just a date. Jack was sharing a place that mattered.
"I'd love to ride it."
The relief that crossed his face was imperceptible, but I caught it all the same.
Inside, the carousel gleamed beneath hundreds of tiny lights reflecting from polished brass mirrors and beautifully restored wooden horses carved more than a century earlier.
Children laughed as the platform slowly began turning, parents waved cameras from the sidelines, and the old band organ filled the building with cheerful music that made everyone, regardless of age, smile without thinking about it.
Jack chose a black stallion with a flowing mane.
Of course he did.
I climbed onto the chestnut horse beside him.