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She gives us a wave before skating to center ice, ready for the game to start.

“Man, they’re cute in their equipment,” Calvin says.

“Whoa, calm down there, mister,” Sienna laughs.

“What? I’m not saying I want one…yet. I’m more than happy practicing for now.”

“Can we please focus on the game?”

Sienna laughs as the puck is dropped, and Sutton steals possession before the other girl has even realized the game has started. And if that wasn’t enough evidence that Sutton and her girls were going to annihilate their opponents, the goal that follows, courtesy of our number fifty-five, proves it.

At the bench, Casey and their other coach go wild, cheering for their team. It’s the sweetest thing.

Just like a real game, the girls hop on and off the ice, although, unlike the men, they don’t literally hop over the boards; their legs are far too short for that.

But their passion and desire to win shine through. For the home team, at least. The team that travelled to play them looks kinda like they want to go running to their mommies and cry.

I get it. Losing sucks. But it’s all a part of life, and hopefully, in the long run, it will help make them both better players and people.

We hang back as Casey and their head coach give them a debrief, but the girls aren’t in any rush to go back to their parents, because they’ve all spotted someone way more important who’s been sitting in the bleachers.

“Mr. Keller, did you have anything you wanted to add?” Casey asks, realizing what her girls are waiting for.

Calvin steps forward, an easy smile playing on his lips.

“Fantastic game out there. Honestly, I had to keep reminding myself that you’re only kids.” They all beam at him, eating up every single word that leaves his mouth.

He gives every player on their roster a piece of advice, looking each one of them in the eyes in turn. He even speaks to their injured player who spent the game on the bench with her crutches, giving her a little pep talk. After all, he knows all too well what it’s like to watch your team from the bench.

When the kids finally return to their parents, I watch as Sienna turns Calvin to face her.

“That was the sweetest and hottest thing I’ve ever seen you do.”

I roll my eyes at them.

“What?” Calvin's response. “Even hotter than when I did that thing with my⁠—”

Thankfully, my sister reaches up and slaps her hand across his mouth, stopping him from revealing more than I ever need to know about their relationship.

“Can we ask them, please?” a little voice begs, stealing my attention away from the couple beside me.

I find Sutton gazing up at Casey with puppy-dog eyes that I don’t think anyone could say no to.

“They might be busy,” Casey states.

“I know. But can we ask anyway? Please.”

And just to prove me right, Casey concedes. “Fine. I’ll ask. But don’t be disappointed if they can’t,” she warns before walking over, her little sidekick glued to her.

No one watching them together would ever think that Casey isn’t Sutton’s mom. The bond between them is magical. It just goes to prove that blood doesn’t necessarily make a family. Love does. And those two have it in spades.

“What’s up, squirt?” Calvin says when they’ve brought themselves over.

Sutton looks up at Casey, waiting for her to ask whatever it is they want to ask, but Casey shakes her head and gestures for Sutton to do the honors.

“Would you…uh…We’re all watching the game later at our house and getting takeout. Would you like to come?”

“Bea, Freya, and Darcy will be joining us, too.”