When we finally get to the glass, Matthew picks her up, placing her feet on the ledge of the board. “Look, Momma, there is Cooper,” she says, knocking on the window thinking that he can hear her. The other men that do see her smile at her, and she waits there. The men take off, doing drills one at a time when finally it’s Cooper’s turn. She shrieks like she just won the goddamn lottery. “Cooper, I made you a sign,” she yells, making everyone else look our way.
I mean, if you are someone looking at us we look like goddamn Cooper fucking Stone stalkers. We are all wearing his jersey. And we all look like we just hit up the candy store. While I’m pondering all the dirty things I want to do with him, Allison whips out a poster from her bag. There written in purple glitter is ‘Stone’s #1 Girl.’ He taps the blade of his stick on the glass while laughing, making my girl giggle. He then takes off his glove and shows her his finger pointing to her with a number one. It makes my heart melt. He then shifts his eyes to me and gives me a chin up followed with a wink. Of course, not one to get all girlie and shit, I proceed to chin him right back. Smiling to myself, I turn around and raise my hair up with my hand so he knows I’m wearing him on my back. I turn my head to the side and wink.
Before he even has a chance to say anything, he’s pushed forward by one of his teammates. But right before he goes to set up the drill, he sees his teammate look at me and wink. He doesn’t even have a chance to smile at me as Cooper has put his whole gloved hand into his face, pushing him back. I throw my head back and laugh.
“Let’s go, Stone, move that ass and show me what you’re made of!” I yell to him and watch him glare at me right before he takes off down the ice, setting up a great play.
Once they skate off the ice and the Zamboni comes back on to clean it, we make our way to our seats. We have the best seats that you can have, right in the corner, four rows up from the ice. Meghan is already in her seat, sipping on beer while holding a pretzel.
“I see you started the carbs party early?” I look at her.
“Fuck off, I diet all week. I can have a fucking pretzel if I want to.”
The response makes me laugh because she doesn’t in fact diet all week long. She is one of those skinny bitches we all make fun of. She has never ever needed to diet or work out.
“Actually, I think you should get a hot dog also. Just to make sure you get all the carbs you can. Oh, look, there is that dashing husband of yours.” Just as she turns around, Tom sits his ass in the chair next to her, throwing his arm around her, dragging her practically right onto his chair while he goes in for a kiss.
“Please, people, we are in a family setting. Besides, I’m sure you can wait. What was it last time? Two minutes and a half by the time he was done?” I blink at him, grabbing her beer, and taking a huge swallow. He glares at me, making me smile.
“It was longer than two minutes. Tell her, hot stuff.” He coaxes Meghan to fight for his honor, but she shrugs her shoulders.
“I don’t really remember. You know what we should do? We should time it tonight, all night, and let her know tomorrow.” She kisses him on his lips while he whispers something in her ear, making her giggle.
The crowd starts roaring, flying to their feet when the teams make it on the ice. It’s season opener, which means each member of the team is introduced one at a time. The captain always goes last, so when it gets to Cooper the stadium erupts so loud Allison puts her hands to her ears. Matthew is howling with the rest of the crowd.
Cooper skates up to center in and raises his stick in the air, saluting the crowd, his helmet half on his head half off. After the anthem is sung, it’s time to drop the puck.
I am not going to lie. I was afraid he wouldn’t be ready. That I didn’t train him enough, but all that is put to rest the minute he skates up with the puck overtaking the defenseman and taking his first shot of the night. That one saved by the goalie. But just looking at the hunger in his eye, you know he’s back and better than fucking ever!