“Are you seeing Valo Manner?” Mona’s high-pitch voice carries over the whole rink.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
“We’re just friends,” I try to wave it off. I need her to stop talking.
She goes to open her mouth and I know I’m about to be bombarded with questions. I quickly grab my cell phone from the side of my purse.
“Sorry, I have to take this. It was g
reat to see you.” I spin and flop into my seat and have a pretend conversation with myself until the damn game starts.
Fuck, I’m an idiot.
The arena goes dark as the announcer begins in his dramatic flare, introducing the players as the jumbotron flashes pictures and music. My heart skips a little when Valo’s unnatural stone face appears. He must pretend because that’s not the face I know.
When he comes to the center of the ice, he actually looks…mean. Wow, I didn’t know Finny had it in him. The ref drops the puck and the crowd explodes with excitement.
I quickly learn one thing. This isn’t like it is on TV. I can barely keep my eye on the puck, the shots on the goal, and…where the hell is Valo?
On the bench. It’s not even been on minute. What a wuss? I shake my head.
The second thing I learn, they hit…hard. One player slams into another right in front of me and I think they’re going to come through the glass. Wow, this is the craziest and coolest game I think I’ve ever seen live. Wait…this is the only game I’ve ever seen live, but I’m hooked.
I can’t stop staring at all the action on the ice. The noises you never get to hear on the TV, like the sounds of the skate blades and the trash talk between the players, I love it.
The first period flies by and when intermission starts, I think my blood is pumping as fast as the players.
What a rush!
I worry for a second that Mona is going to talk to me, but when I look up, she isn’t in her seat. I dodged that bullet.
The second period begins and Valo is right there, front and center again. He looks so huge on the ice. He’s big in person, but the padding and skates make him a giant.
It’s hot.
The battle for a team to score first continues and about halfway through the second period, it happens…and it’s Valo. He swings his stick back and I don’t even see the puck go past the goalie. The lights go on and everyone cheering. I stand and clap, smiling as I watch Valo and the boys celebrate.
That’s the face I know: the bubbly overjoyed Finnish captain. He’s to my right and as he passes me, he stops for a quick second, taps the glass with his stick, and winks at me.
I roll my eyes, but for the first time, and I really think it’s the first time, I blush.
~
“Oh Captain, My Captain, that was a sweet ass goal.” I’m leaning against the truck as Valo walks toward me.
“Thanks. I’m glad you think so. I have a surprise for you,” he grins at me.
“A surprise? Well, I’m not used to blowing guys with a massive crowd watching, but okay,” I tease him because I can see faint pink on his cheek.
“I said it was a surprise for you.” Valo shakes his head as he reaches into his pants pocket. He hands me a puck.
“What’s this?”
“The puck I scored with. I thought it would be nice to have something from your first game.”
I stare at the hockey league logo. “Valo, I can’t take this. You might get in trouble.” I try to push it back into his hand, but he moves quickly to the side.
“Stop thinking I’m going to get in trouble over everything. I didn’t steal it, Jade. We get pucks sometimes; I got this one for you.”