Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 64493 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64493 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Ronnie slapped me on the back. “I told you Vinnie would help us out. Did I tell you that for the first time in the Forest League’s admittedly brief history, they’re requiring tickets to the championship game? And they’re charging five bucks apiece!”
I widened my gaze. “No way. That’s awesome.”
“I hope you win the whole shebang. That would give the parade an extra boost,” Mom commented, helping Mary-Kate pour batter into the pan.
“Ooh, sorry, Ma. That’s not going to happen.” Ronnie grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl and polished it on the hem of his T-shirt.
“What do you mean? Town council approved the parade and—”
“Vinnie isn’t going to be here that weekend. His girlfriend needs him for some high-profile event in Miami,” he replied, chomping into his apple.
“Girlfriend?” Mary-Kate narrowed her eyes. “I didn’t know Vinnie had a girlfriend. Did you, Uncle Nol?”
It felt like I had a mouth full of cotton balls as I shook my head. “I think she’s a friend.”
Ronnie cast another inscrutable glance my way. “All I know is, he’s not around the weekend you’d planned the parade.”
“Well…we’ll change the date.”
“Don’t bother, Ma,” Ronnie said. “Vinnie won’t be here in September. He wants to give the juniors the spotlight, so instead of a parade, let it be about the kids. Let’s put up posters, name ice cream sundaes at the diner after each team member, and have the town cheer them on. What do you think, Nol?”
“Good idea,” I agreed, changing the topic to something more immediately interesting, like when the brownies would be out of the oven.
My mom bustled around the kitchen, mulling over ways to celebrate everything at once. I didn’t want to rain on her parade…pun intended—but this conversation was a reality check that this carefully constructed bubble of ours had a two-week shelf life, tops. It was about to be invaded by a town-wide interest in a hockey game no one had thought twice about in the past.…Oh, yeah, and Vinnie’s weekend in Miami with his ex.
Of course, I was excited for the boys and no, I wasn’t jealous of the supermodel. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to give.
Rationally, I knew Vinnie was famous…or semi-famous. Guys like him didn’t settle in small towns and come out to be with their gay lover. They had beautiful girlfriends who jet-setted to celebrity events in trendy locations. They had homes in multiple states so they could escape sweltering heat in summertime and enjoy sunshine in winter.
Guys like Vinnie retired from hockey and founded charities, opened other businesses, or became talking heads on ESPN. He had endless options. And though I knew he cared about me and was as invested as I was in everything we’d shared this summer…I couldn’t imagine him choosing me.
So yeah, September was always on my mind.
“Who’s fuckin’ ready to kick some ass?” Vinnie bellowed in the Pinecrest Penguins’ locker room.
The juniors paused in the midst of taping their sticks and strapping on pads to raise their fists and roar.
This was it. Game day.
This motley crew had rallied and stepped up their determination and intensity just in time to end their summer with a bang.
“Language,” I chided under my breath, nudging Vinnie’s elbow.
He flashed a boyish “Oops” my way before launching into a pregame pep talk. I couldn’t believe this used to be my job. Vinnie was so much better at it. He was funny and self-deprecating. He reminded the boys of their strengths and cautioned them to beware of weaknesses they hadn’t ironed out.
“This is the big one. Are we gonna do this?” He waited out another roar, a proud smile on his handsome face. “I like that attitude. But today’s gonna be tough. Pinecrest is strong on the boards, and their goalie is a monster. He’s not going to let any sugary shots in. Make it count. And remember, you’re not alone out there. Pass the damn puck.” Another roar. “Coach Nolan, did you want to add anything?”
I cast a fond gaze over the group of teens and shook my head. “No, let’s do this.”
The Forest League summer championship could best be described as a pumped-up scrimmage with a trophy made at Mike and Jack’s Sports Gear in Pinecrest. This was Ronnie’s brainchild—a way to gather hockey and skating enthusiasts together and generate business for our smaller communities. There’d been a lot of interest from the start, but nothing like this.
We’d sold every ticket to every game leading up to the championship. Our website crashed when Vinnie posted a video urging all hockey fans in the Forest area to come on out and cheer for the juniors. Our recent social media posts had over ten thousand likes. No kidding. For the sake of perspective, that same “Come join the fun” notice got ninety likes last year.