Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 121734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
The press had leaked the reason Tyler was traded. Was this guy that heartless? “He transferred because of his family.”
The guy flicked his hand in the air. “Pffft. That sad story about his niece overdosing? Fake news. His PR team made it up. The real story’s out on the blogs. He demanded more money, and his team was capped. They couldn’t give it, so he walked—like a big, dramatic baby. We should call him rat baby.”
His friends thought that was hilarious. “Right on, Bobby,” one of them said. The other laughed along with him, his mouth full of hot dog.
They fist-bumped each other before Bobby looked my way again. “Don’t be embarrassed about believing what the mainstream media is reporting. It’s all bullshit anyway. Do yourself a favor. Don’t believe it.”
With that, the lights went down and the hype video cued up. After that, the players would be back on the ice for the anthem and then puck drop.
I suddenly needed a drink. Standing, I ignored whatever Bobby was about to say and spoke over him, “Be right back.”
He leered at me.
“Little girl’s room.”
That leer intensified.
“I have my period. Need to change my tampon or we’ll have a situation here.”
The leer vanished. He looked a little green and shifted as far away from me as he could.
I tried suppressing the satisfaction that bloomed in me. Not caring if Bobby saw my grin, I headed up the aisle. Most everyone was hurrying to get to their seats now, so I hoped the concessions lines would be short.
But everyone else must’ve had the same thought because they weren’t.
I still had my employee badge, and I eyed the stairs, knowing there were better bathrooms up there. They were out of the way. I’d been lying about needing the bathroom, but now it seemed like a good idea. I decided to go for it.
I dug out my badge and flashed it when I came to the stairs that led to the suite floors. The administration offices were clear on the other side of the rink. I didn’t have enough time.
The guard let me pass, and I hurried up the stairs.
Coming to the first women’s bathroom, I ducked inside and found an empty stall. As I sat, I could hear the click of heels entering, along with some little girls giggling.
“Dylan,” a woman’s voice scolded. “Don’t do that. Here. We can wait for the next stall to open up.”
I froze.
The toilet next to me flushed, and the woman left. The little girl and her mom both entered, and the mom continued to speak to her daughter. “Go to the bathroom quickly. Then we’ll wash our hands and go see Daddy play. How’s that sound?”
“Can I have some candy, Mom? We should take something to Grandpa.”
I sat paralyzed on the toilet. I didn’t recognize their voices, but what were the odds?
The woman chuckled. “Of course, you adorable little munchkin.”
“Mom!” Dylan giggled. “Only Daddy can call me that.”
“Oh really? Only Daddy gets to call you that? I don’t think so.”
A burst of shrieks and giggles pitched through the air until the mom suddenly seemed to remember where they were. “Okay, okay. Let’s finish up, and then we’ll grab treats to take back to Grandpa Keith.”
The stall began to swim around me.
“Yay! We need to get the licorice he likes.”
“We will.”
I stayed quiet until they’d both used the bathroom and the sinks. I left my stall just as they were leaving. I stepped out in time to get a brief glimpse at the little girl’s face, and I was speechless. Stunned.
Dylan, which was my name. Grandpa Keith. Licorice, which was my father’s favorite thing to eat at hockey events. He liked popcorn for football games. Hot dogs for baseball, but hockey was his favorite, so he ate his favorite candy. Red licorice.
This was the VIP floor.
We were playing Boston.
That little girl could’ve been my twin at her age.
I was pretty sure I just saw my niece for the first time.
36
TYLER
The puck dropped, and three seconds later, so did the gloves.
Bruge squared up against one of Boston’s enforcers. The problem was that the Grays had one enforcer. Boston had four on their team. The Grays only played against Boston twice in the season, playoffs not included. But New York played them a lot more, so I was used to their enforcers. When the first penalties were handed out and Bruge went to the box, along with one of Boston’s players, my line got on the ice.
The crowd went nuclear. “YOU RAT BABY, GRIFFIN!”
I lined up for the face-off against Rain’s brother and bent over, ignoring whoever that fan was. I was impressed with his volume level, but not his taunt. I’d heard that one when another of their players got traded to Florida. They needed new material.
“How’s it feel to be a bigger loser than you already are, you defecting piece of shit?”