Page 118 of Against The Boards

When the game started, I took the opening face-off at puck drop. I carried the puck up the left side of the offensive zone. The lumbering defenseman on the opposing team was after me, so I flicked the shot back to Eddie, but he couldn’t complete it, and it got turned over in the neutral zone. I raced down the ice, trying to get the puck out of our zone and out of Allison’s crease. Adrenaline pumped through my veins, and even though my legs were on fire, I loved being back on the ice.

During the change-up, I hobbled onto the bench exhausted and took a gulp of water. I had probably two minutes before I needed to be back on the ice. You played a lot of ice time in Beer League, especially when half your bench disappeared.

This game was cutthroat since it was for the championship, which was really just bragging rights, but I didn’t care. It meant a championship!

Because of the lack of a bench, we skated hard all night long. My chest was heavy, and I felt like I was going to pass out. During a turnover, I got possession of the puck, and I skated down the ice on the breakaway. I took the shot with no hesitation. I didn’t see if the goal made it in until my teammates were skating back on the ice and hugging me.

“We did it!” Eddie cheered, and he patted me on the back. Kelly and Allison dive-bombed me with hugs. I couldn’t believe that shot went in!

Afterward, in the locker room, Kelly tossed me a beer. “Shotgun that shit, Hockey Girl!” she ordered.

I did as she asked while my teammates cheered me on.

“Bar?” Allison asked.

“Eileen’s?” I asked hopefully. I was planning on catching up with Benny there tonight anyway.

“Where else?” Kelly teased.

“It is THE hockey bar in Philly. I need to shower first, though,” I said.

I took a quick shower and told them I’d meet them over at the bar. Eileen’s had become a major hot spot for me since I moved here. The owners Marc and Hal were ex-Bulldogs, and they both reminded me of my dad. Especially Marc, since he was French-Canadian like Dad.

When I exited the locker room after my shower, I came face-to-face with my parents standing in the lobby waiting for me. Dad was beaming, and my mom was holding a glass vase with cherry blossom branches arranged neatly together. It surprised me to see them because I didn’t know they were coming to my game.

“Mom? Dad?”

Instead of an answer, Dad pulled me into that big bear hug of his. “Roxie girl, that goal!”

“Hon, let her breathe,” Mom said.

Dad laughed and let me go.

“Here, for you,” Mom said to me and handed me the vase of flowers.

I touched a petal and realized they were real. Cherry blossoms were hard to find and expensive, but Mom was trying because she knew they were my favorite.

It had almost been a year since I moved to Philadelphia, but in that time, I had been working on mending my relationship with my parents. My relationship with Dad went back to normal, like nothing had happened. I was still me, I just happened to be bi. With Mom, we still had our moments, but she was trying, and I appreciated the effort.

“Thanks, Mom,” I said. “But what are you doing here?”

Dad shook his head. “Wanted to see you play.”

“You should play for the PHF!” Mom exclaimed.

I shook my head. “Nah. I like beer league.”

Dad frowned. “We’ll talk about that later.”

I rolled my eyes. All the men in my life were making it their goal to convince me I should play professionally. If the PHF ever got a Philly team, maybe I’d consider it.

“Have you seen Benny today?” Mom asked.

I shook my head. “Nah, I left work before he got to the arena. We’re gonna meet up at Eileen’s.”

“I could use a drink,” Dad said.

I shook my keys at him. “I can drive you over unless you got a rental car.”