“That’s right, Kaleb. That’s your daddy in goal tonight!” Ali cheered. “Go, Daddy!”
The Renegades were playing tonight at home. Kassie didn’t go to the games too often, only when Ali invited her to tag along or if she planned a special night out with friends. But tonight, the three of them were at Ali and Kaden’s loft, watching the game. Willow played in the corner with some dolls she’d brought over, and Kaleb was content in his bouncy chair on the living room floor with Kassie sitting at his side.
“Trina,” Kassie said. “You usually go to the games, don’t you?”
Trina uncomfortably positioned herself on the couch, winching and rubbing her very pregnant belly. “Usually, yes. But today I’m feeling like a bloated, beached whale. Wasn’t in the mood to be out in public.”
Kassie could understand that.
“So, it’s a hockey party at the O’Conner’s house tonight instead!” As soon as Ali said that, the crowd on the television cheered, and everyone’s attention went to the game.
“Woo-hoo! Kris scored!” Trina hollered from her position on the couch.
“Daddy score?” Willow looked up and asked.
“No honey, Daddy isn’t playing, remember?”
Sam still wasn’t on the roster. The doctors weren’t comfortable clearing him to play yet.
“Kassie, did I hear right, that you and Rock-Star got kicked off the go-carts the other night?” Trina asked with a raised eyebrow during a commercial break.
Kassie sighed at the comment. “Yes. But it was his fault.”
“I heard it was yours.” Ali grinned.
“The guy yelled at me, and then kicked us off. Yes. But Luc started it.” She didn’t miss the fact that she sounded like a whiney little kid.
“So, did you two close down the Fun for All?” Trina asked suggestively.
“Hardly.” Kassie rolled her eyes for pure effect. Luc didn’t annoy her as much as she let on, but she didn’t go for athletes, so that was easily settled. “We left not long after Hailee and Dom. I had to work today and wanted to get home.”
“He’s cute, huh?” Trina said, as she focused her attention back on the game.
Kassie shrugged. “I guess.”
“Who’s cute?” Ali hurried in from the kitchen, hearing the game was back on. She set down a few bottles of water on the coffee table.
“No one,” Kassie quickly said.
“Tri, Sam seemed pretty good last night. Doc still won’t let him play?” Ali asked.
“No. He’s pretty much symptom free, which is all I could ever ask for with the new baby coming. Could you imagine a screaming newborn if he still had the concussion migraines?”
“But they won’t let him play yet? I saw him practicing the other day,” Kassie questioned.
“Yeah, he can practice with no contact. Which again,”—Trina held her hands up in front of her, looking relieved and motioning at her belly— “is fine with me.”
“But everything is good at home?” Ali carefully asked.
“Absolutely. He’s thrilled about the baby. He spends any time he is home with Willow, and he’s just satisfied that he can work out and practice with the team. He’s allowed to travel with them, too. He’s not missing out on anything but the game. Luckily, that’s good enough for him. Trust me, he knows how lucky he is. He’s in a good place mentally, and he knows this takes time.”
“Speak of the devil, there’s surfer boy himself.” Ali pointed at the television as the cameraman got a shot of Sam sitting in the team suite.
Kassie laughed as she crunched down on a taco.
“Thanks so much for bringing these, Kass. I love tacos, but this pregnancy we’ve been trying to eat better. Plus, with Sam getting back in shape, our diet has been kind of boring. He does the cooking, so I can’t complain too much, but I’ve been craving a taco!” Trina said, taking a bite.
“What? That’s not right. You’re pregnant; if you’re craving something, Sam should hop in his surfer-mobile and get you whatever you want!” Ali said, feigning horror.
“Trust me, he gets me lots of what I crave. But can’t say I’ve had a taco in months.”
“Yeah, well, they are delicious. We don’t do tacos too often. If we get takeout, it’s typically pizza. Obviously, because Kaden,” Ali commented.
The girls quieted down and directed their attention back to the television when the fans started to get noisy. Tyler sped along the boards towards Boston’s net, Kris on left wing and Luc playing right.
“What’s Luc doing on right wing?” Trina asked.
“Coach Walker must be trying something new,” Ali answered.
“Well, it’s working,” Trina commented, as Luc reached the net first and wrestled with the Boston defensemen, clearing the way for Tyler.
Tyler shot at the net. Scored. Luc raised his hands in the air in celebration.
“Did Luc get a stick on that?” Trina asked.
The crowd went crazy, but the announcers spoke over the craziness. “Hang on folks, I think Marcella got a stick on that shot.”
“I think you’re right,” Ali said, as they watched the replay. “There it is. Yep, that is Luc’s goal. Keep it up, boys!”
“Woot! You get at it, Rock-Star!” Trina cheered.
The Renegades were leading 2–0, when Kassie excused herself from the party during the second intermission to go to the gym.
She had hockey boy on the brain, and that needed to stop. Their almost kiss last night still lingered on her mind. It wasn’t even an almost kiss. She pulled back before he even got close. And it didn’t matter that she felt a twinge of regret. It could never happen again.
Kassie looked around the crowded bar as they walked through the front door. The place was packed full of a mix of college kids and adults. The music was loud, and all the televisions had sports playing. The Renegades were off tonight, so her normal side-kick, Ali, was at home with Kaden and Kaleb, enjoying their little family.
They had a nice girl’s night last evening, but when the guys weren’t playing, the wives liked family time. She understood that. Why go out to a club when you have a nice little family?
Luckily, her friend Quinn had recently returned from a three-month trip to Italy. She had family there and had gone to “find herself” after graduating. Unlike Kassie, who had jumped right into a job. Kassie looked around the crowded bar for her friend. They were to meet at Mario’s at eight o’clock sharp.
“Kass!” Quinn’s voice shrieked from somewhere on her right.
Before Kassie even saw her, Quinn had jumped at her, arms and legs wrapping around her.
“Girlfriend! I missed you!” Quinn squealed.
“I missed you too, Quinn.” Kassie hugged her friend. Three months was a really long time.
“So, I know we skyped while I was gone, but what else have you been up to?” Quinn yelled over the loud music.
“Not much, really. Hanging with my brother and his wife, babysitting their son. Working. That’s really about it.”