Chapter 34
Robbie
March
We have a month and a half left in the season, and that’s if we don’t make it to the Calder Cup. Right now we’re in the wildcard position which is great for us and the closest we’ve come in years. On the one hand, I’d be so excited to play in the Cup, but on the other hand, I don’t want this season to be extended so I can spend more time with Olivia and start focusing more on the nonprofit.
A week after the All-Star break, I flew to Minnesota to see Olivia and spent Valentine’s Day together. I didn’t surprise her this time, but I did take her to a nice restaurant and got her a new ring to replace the one she always fidgets with and turns her finger green. The new one is a simple rose gold band with an infinity symbol on it. When I handed her the box at the restaurant Olive said, “This better not be an engagement ring, Robbie. I love you, but we haven’t been together long enough for that kind of commitment.”
I laughed and assured her it was just a token of my affection, and maybe a promise too of what’s to come. I agree with her, we’ve only known each other for a few months, it would be way too early to think about marriage. But I do know in my heart that she is the one for me and I know Olivia feels the same.
Tomorrow night is another home game and we are playing the Vermont Vortices. I’ve been dreading this game ever since Olivia told me about Mitchell cornering and blackmailing her. My blood boils just thinking about it, but I promised Olivia we would handle this like professionals and not let our feelings affect the game. I’d be more than happy to clock him in his stupid face and knock him out on the ice but that will certainly get me suspended if I do it with intent to injure.
Olivia is traveling from Ohio after officiating a game there, so instead of picking her up at the airport, I meet her at the bus station and we head straight to the game. My whole family got tickets and they are super excited to see us both on the ice. The few times Olivia has spent time with my family, they’ve gotten along great, which makes me happy. I know my mom can be a bit of a helicopter parent, but Olivia doesn’t seem to mind the fuss and attention.
I drop Olivia off at the arena’s back entrance then go park the car so that we’re not seen entering the building together. I suggested we do this just in case Mitchell is looking for proof to report us.
I head to the locker room and start to get ready, then go out for warm-ups with the rest of the team. Michael brings my nieces down to the glass and I wave and do some tricks for them before throwing them each a puck. They don’t come to the game often, but when they do, I make sure they have a fun time. They’re both wearing my jersey and waving excitedly at me. I got them seats in one of the upper level boxes that has the best view of the ice. When I skate away from the glass, I see Mitchell hovering on his side of the ice, smirking at me. I lift my chin up and then promptly ignore him.
The first period is rougher than I expected. Mitchell and his goons are coming in hot and keeping the pressure on us. They’ve managed to draw two penalties so far and I swear every time Mitchell is on the ice, I see him talking shit to Olivia. It’s messing with my head and I’m definitely distracted and angry, which gets me a couple of penalties as well. The whole crowd is booing at Olivia and the other officials as she escorts me to the box.
“What has gotten into you?” she asks out of the corner of her mouth.
“That guy is a prick, what the hell has he been telling you?”
“I can handle it, Robbie. Beat him with kindness, remember? Just focus on the game and win instead.”
Fuck. I know she’s right but my skin is buzzing with too much anger and I’m having a hard time controlling it.
With only a couple of minutes left on the clock, I come out of the box and intercept a pass, taking my shot at a breakaway, except before I can wind up and take the shot, I get hit in the face by someone’s stick. Olivia blows the whistle and skates up to me, checking for blood. I turn around and spit a mixture of blood and saliva at Mitchell’s feet. Fucker split my lip, he better get a double minor penalty for high sticking.
Olivia makes the call and sends Mitchell down the tunnel, but not before I hear what he tells her. “You’re a goddamn bitch, and you’re going to pay for this.”
“You talk to her like that again and you’ll be the one paying for it,” I say in a low voice.
During intermission, I am too fired up and I pace around the locker room, then decide to go and find Olivia. I need to talk to her.
She’s outside of the locker room, tucked into a dark corner looking as anxious as ever. As soon as I get to her, all my anger melts away, concern taking over. “What’s wrong, Olive?”
She stops fidgeting and she gives me a look of, I can’t say anything here. So I lead her to a more secluded area where no one will find us for now.
“I’m freaking out, Robbie. What if he does tell someone about us? He might not have proof, but enough people on his team see the way you protect me and stand up to him when he’s being an ass.”
“Yeah, but I would do that for any referee, because he doesn’t have a right to insult any of you. Even in the heat of the moment, you might make a bad call but that’s no excuse to be verbally assaulted.”
“But, what if this is messing with my head and my ability to make sound decisions? What if I’m biased now and I always call out his penalties because I know what to look for? What if no one takes me seriously anymore?” Her eyes are filled with tears and I take her face in my hands.
“Olive, of course everyone will take you seriously. Are you kidding me? Just because he made you doubt yourself and your abilities doesn’t mean he’s right.”
“But what if I’m not strong enough to deal with it all?” she whispers and her bottom lip wobbles.
“Love, you are the strongest person that I know. Just look at you and how much you’ve accomplished all on your own. You’ve never had a good support system behind you and yet you never gave up on your dream. You worked hard and proved people wrong when they said you couldn’t do it, that you weren’t tough enough.
“I need you to know how proud I am of you. You are level headed, fair and impartial, and you are not afraid to make the tough calls. You are exactly what this league needs. Someone who won’t back down when threatened. I know you’ve never had anyone in your corner before, but I’ve got your back. Our friends do too.”
Olivia laughs and turns her head to kiss my palm. “That can’t exactly work out there on the ice. You having my back.”
“Of course it can. Fucking hell, if anyone even looks at you funny, I will board the hell out of them.”
“You can’t do that, Robbie,” she says, scolding me with a small smile on her face.
“Sure I can. I’m retiring, so it’s not like my career is in jeopardy. Besides, if I do, you can just send me to the penalty box. Call it the love penalty.”
She laughs again and gives me a quick kiss before we have to head back to the lockers. “Thank you for the kind words.” I squeeze her hand and reassure her that she’s got this.