Chapter Forty-Four
Sofia
I’mbeyond excited that my mom is here for Ryan’s game, especially since we’re winning by four. Ryan even scored a goal. While Amelia says it was a lucky redirect off some guy’s skate, to me, it’s a goal, and I’m pretty giddy over it.
“It is freezing in here, bella. My goodness.”
I grin over at her as I cover her with the blanket I brought for myself. “It’s hockey.”
“I’ve never been to a hockey game,” she says, and her face is perplexed as she looks at the ice. “Why are they running, oh, sorry, I mean slamming into each other? Doesn’t that hurt?”
Amelia laughs from beside me. “No, they have so many pads on.”
“Oh well, that’s good, I guess,” Mom says, though her face is still full of confusion. I’m sure that’s how I looked at my first game.
When the ref’s hand comes up because of a trip on the Bullies, Amelia stands up. “You gotta be friggin’ kidding me! Are you blind? That wasn’t a trip! Dude can’t skate! How can you not tell the difference? Do you even know the difference between your ass and your elbow?”
“She’s allowed to do that?” my mom whispers to me, and I nod.
“Apparently.”
Amelia sits down, shaking her head. “Wack call.”
“I see.”
She flashes me a wide grin before she hooks her thumb to the left. “I’m gonna hit the concession stand. You guys want anything?”
“Yes, those fried Oreos. I love this state. They fry anything here.” Mom’s eyes are lit up with excitement.
I laugh as I shake my head. “I’m fine.”
As Amelia heads right for the concession since we’re sitting in the disabled accessible area, I glance at my mom. “So, what do you think?”
“I think this is a weird sport. It’s very angry and very violent, don’t you think?”
I shrug. “At first I did, but Ryan loves it. So does Amelia. Their aunt, Elli, she owns the pro team here. It’s a family affair kind of thing.”
She nods very slowly and dramatically. “So that’s why I rode in her personal jet. Have you ridden in it yet? It’s purple on the inside. It was odd.”
I laugh. “Not yet.”
“It was interesting, to say the least. And she says ‘Y’all’ a lot. Am I saying that right?”
I grin. She’s not, but it’s super cute. “She’s very country, but I adore her.”
“Yes, she is very sweet. She offered to fly me home, but I guess Ryan had already bought the ticket.”
My heart warms as I look out on the ice, watching Ryan line up for the face-off. “Yeah.”
“So you really had no clue?”
“None, I was so surprised,” I gush, and she grins, her eyes sparkling with happiness. “I think I’m still surprised. I can’t believe you’re here. I’ve missed you so much.”
“Oh, bella,” she says, wrapping her arms around me and kissing my temple. “I miss you, but I could tell you were shocked. You never cry, but you cried enough that you made me cry.”
We share a laugh as the buzzer sounds, ending the second period. She jumps beside me, looking around. “That buzzer is loud.”
“It is,” I agree as I re-cover her since she knocked off her blanket. “Are you having fun?”
“I’m cold,” she reminds me, and I smile.
“I can take you back to Mrs. Justice’s house. I’m sure she won’t mind.”
She holds out her hand, waving it at me. Her hands are worse than I remember. She started wearing black gloves over her hands because the spasms have been so bad lately. That is why she had to quit the hotel job. I want so badly to bring her here, to take care of her. I can see she looks better, which is good, but it’s small things that worry me. I miss her dearly. “No, no, I’ll wait for Ryan. I want him to know I care about this ice business he is doing.”
I laugh, leaning on my knees as I take her hand in mine, needing to touch her. “So, you like him?”
Her eyes widen in shock like she can’t believe I’ve asked that. “Oh, bella, I adore him. I mean, he was so strong on the phone with me. I got the sense he was going to bring me, and he was ready to fight with me if I said no. Which I wanted to—you know I don’t want anyone paying for me—but he wasn’t taking no for an answer, so I agreed. Plus, I had to see you.” I grin at her as she haltingly brings my hand to her lips, kissing my palm. “He loves you, God bless, so very much. With his whole body. It’s beautiful to see.”
I swallow past the emotion in my throat, remembering how he looked at me yesterday, so scared I wouldn’t want him if he didn’t make it into the NHL. Is he insane? God, he has to be. I want him, and while I want him to succeed, not everyone makes it. It’s how you readjust and replan. Ryan is good, and he has the best backup plan. He’s going to be great, no matter what happens. “Yeah, he’s always been like that. I think that’s why I love him so much.”
My mom sends me a small grin. “Oh, I see that too. Grace talked about you two the whole way here and how she hadn’t seen a love like you two since her brother and her sister-in-law. Elli was gushing over you two as well. I thought it was all overexaggerated…” She pauses, shaking her head as a laugh leaves her lips. “But then the way you looked at him at the meet, the way he looked at you, Lord, it brings tears to my eyes. I knew it was special what you two have.”
“It is,” I say breathily, holding her hand. “We’re unsure what is going to happen with his career, but I know what I want. And that’s him, any way I can get him.”
Her eyes search mine. She’s gazing at me the way she did when I got hurt. That Are you sure you want to continue? expression. “Ah, bella, you’re so young.”
I shrug. “But am I? Let’s be honest. I think my mental age is at least twenty-five, maybe even forty on a Friday night.”
She laughs at that. “Yeah, I hear you. I guess, to me, you’re still my little bella.”
“I’ll always be your bella, Mom.”
I lean into her, inhaling her spicy, menthol smell. Ever since the MS diagnosis, she slathers her legs in Bengay. I used to tease her. But now at night, I miss that smell so much. “He’s good for you,” she whispers into my hair. “As your mom, I want to tell you not to settle. You need to focus on your dreams and all that, but I watch him with you, I hear what he says, and while it’s only been two days, I feel he motivates you even more. He looks out for you, and he wouldn’t let anything happen or let you take less than you deserve.”
I nod, smiling. “You have no clue.”
“Which is why I’m sitting here, freezing, waiting on my Oreos, and watching him play on the ice.”
I laugh as I look up at her.
“He’s supposed to get that black ball in the net?”
“It’s a puck, and yes.”
“Jeez, this is hard.”
“But so much fun!” Amelia says then, handing my mom her tray of fried Oreos. Mom takes them happily as the buzzer sounds and the boys come back out on the ice. When Ryan skates to the bench, he reaches for a water bottle, squirting it in his mouth. I’m just captivated by him. He’s so big, so strong, and he makes me hotter with every passing second.
My mom wasn’t wrong when she said I was young. I am, but that seems like an advantage on my part.
I get longer with him.