AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I watch as Marc’s shoulders loosen, the tension seeming to ease a bit.
“I hope you bought enough to share.” Jack smiles, motioning towards Ali’s nachos, always knowing how to break the ice.
“Of course, I did.” A relieved grin slides across Ali’s lips as she and Marc take their seats.
The arena lights dim as the music builds before the announcer begins his welcome. The yellow and red strobe lights dance across the ice as the bass increases until, finally, Minnesota’s hockey team spills onto the ice. The arena is deafening between the cheers from the fans and the blaring music coming from the speakers.
Number thirteen is the last to touch the ice, just as always, and the already loud stadium somehow erupts even more.
Eli’s strides seem confident, and the look in his eye is laser focused as he dances across the ice with the puck on his stick.
“How’s he doing?” Jack quietly asks me when the crowd eases up on their volume.
“Eh. He’s alright.”
“I could sense how overwhelmed he was feeling on the phone the other day.”
“Yeah, this game didn’t really seem to faze him until just a couple of days ago.”
I give Jack a sideways glance, squinting my eyes, as all the pieces start falling into place.
“What?” he asks, full of skepticism.
“Your important client didn’t have to cancel, did they?”
“You’re so much sharper than my boys,” Jack laughs. “Family before work. Always.”
It’s evident that the essential things Jack has lived by have been passed down to Marc and Eli, and I’ve benefited from their loyalty to their family.
Warmups continue as I watch Eli and Zanders skate to center ice, facing each other, and I can’t help but smile as they converse with each other.
Eli filled me in on their new-found common ground after Senior Showcase, and I couldn’t be happier that he has someone who understands his mental game. Especially someone who is playing hockey at the same elite level.
“What the fuck?” Marc asks next to me.
I snap my head in his direction, following his line of sight to find Eli and Zanders doubled over in laughter, Zanders’ hand on Eli’s shoulder, causing the already proud smile on my face to grow.
“Yeah, about that.” I laugh. “They’re cool now. I think they might even be friends.”
“You’re shitting me. EJ is cool with Evan fucking Zanders? After all these years?”
“Yep,” I proudly state as I keep my gaze on the once childhood rivals.
“Wow,” Jack breathes out next to me.
“Good for them.” Mary stares at the two hockey players, just as stunned as the rest of the family.
It is good. It’s good for both of them. Not only has Eli been able to let go of some old anger he was harboring towards his previous injury, but he’s also found an ally in his mental health journey. That’s invaluable. As much as I try to be there for him, I will never fully understand what it feels like for him when his mind takes over, so I’m glad he has a peer that does.
As soon as all the pregame business is handled, Eli skates to the bench. He puts his gloved-up hand on the glass directly in front of me, just as he does every game. I do the same in return, mirroring his sweet smile before he takes off towards center ice for the puck drop.
“Fuck. You guys are cute,” Mary states.
Attempting to hold back my amused smile, I peek over at Ali. She playfully rolls her eyes, laughing to herself because she said the same damn thing last game.
Fucking twins, I tell ya.
Marc doesn’t pick up on any of it, rightfully so, I have not and will not mention that Ali and Mary share strikingly similar personality traits. No man ever wants to hear that they’re dating their mom.
