Alexei (Chicago Blaze 5)

The game is more exciting than I expected, the energy of the crowd contagious. When Alexei slides a leg over the Blaze’s bench wall and comes into the game, I grip the arm of my chair. He moves fast, going up and down the ice time and time again.

The other team scores, and there’s a collective groan in the suite and a few choice words are yelled out.

“Uncle Luca just got robbed,” a little girl cries. “Is that ref legally blind?”

It’s heartwarming and a little amusing to see how supportive the players’ families are. I hear someone saying her boyfriend will be in a mood for days if they don’t win this game.

Is Alexei like that? I’ve never asked him. I realize then, that for as well as I’ve gotten to know him over the phone, this is the first time I’ll see him right after a win or loss.

I follow his movement on the ice, watching as another player rams his shoulder into Alexei and knocks him off course.

“That wasn’t cool,” I mutter.

Alexei shoves him back, and the other player stops and pulls off his gloves, punching Alexei in the stomach.

“Oh my God.” I cover my mouth with my hand. “Why isn’t someone stopping this?”

“It’s just part of the game,” Mia says. “You’ll get used to it.”

Alexei gets in a few hits of his own, the crowd roaring its excitement over the fight. He ends up getting sent to the penalty box, where he drinks some water while waiting out a two-minute penalty.

There are more fights between other players throughout the game and the Blaze lose 2–1.

“That was ugly,” Mia says, the mood in the suite now a little sullen. I help her gather up all her baby things and pack them into her diaper bag.

“Will they meet us in here when they’re all done?” I ask.

“Yeah. The coach will talk to them, they’ll shower and then there’ll be media interviews.” She looks around the suite. “Okay, now that Dante’s girlfriend is gone, I’m gonna feed the girls. Will you hold Irina while I feed Ella?”

“Sure.”

She sits down and unbuttons her shirt, opening a nursing bra.

“That bitch actually told me to put my tit away when I was breastfeeding in here during the preseason,” she says, shaking her head.

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Right? I don’t know what Dante sees in her.”

“Did you say anything back to her?”

She shrugs. “There were kids in here, so I just waited until none of them were looking and gave her the finger.

“Seems appropriate.”

Lindy walks in with a big Styrofoam container, asking, “You guys want ice cream?”

“You bet your ass,” Mia says.

“The concession stands here have the best chocolate soft-serve you’ve ever had,” Lindy says, putting the container on the table we’re sitting at and passing us each a spoon.

I take a bite and say, “Wow, that’s amazing.”

The three of us talk and laugh over the ice cream, eating all of it. Mia and Lindy remind me of Amelia—they already feel like old friends.

“Hey, how are my girls?” Anton asks as he walks into the family suite in a dark suit.

“You missed out on two epic poops,” Mia says.

“Good girl, Ree,” he says, taking his daughter from Lindy. “Daddy wanted you to save that for Mommy.”

He leans over to kiss Mia, asking, “How are you, baby?”

“Good. Tired, though.”

“Me too.”

Alexei walks in then, wearing a navy suit, white dress shirt, and a red tie. His damp hair and fresh, soapy smell take me back to our days at Beckett, making my heart race.

“What’d you think?” he asks, setting his bag down and hugging me as soon as I stand up.

“It was exciting. Lots of fun.”

“We should’ve won,” he says, shrugging. “Gotta move on, though. You want to go out for dinner or pick something up?”

I cover my mouth with my hand, trying to suppress a yawn. “Whatever sounds good to you.”

He smiles. “I think we need to get some carryout and go to bed.”

“I won’t argue with that.”

We say goodbye to everyone and head for the exit that will take us to the garage his car is parked in.

“I liked having you here,” he says, putting his arm around me.

“I liked being here.”

“Will you come to my next home game?”

“If you want me to.”

He gives me a serious look. “I want you to come to every home game I play until I retire, how about that?”

I smile and say, “I think I’d like that.”

“I’m gonna hold you to that.”

“I’d expect nothing less, Alexei Petrov.”EpilogueAlexei

Two months laterI keep ahold of Graysen’s gloved hand as we wind our way through groups of students standing and talking on the University of Chicago campus. It’s winter break and Christmas is just a couple days away, so there’s a festive feeling in the air. A light snow is falling—just enough to powder the sidewalks.