Page 7 of The Goalie
“You just don’t want to go alone,” Mom says with a smirk. “I know you hate those things.”
Dad sighs as the reality sinks in. He’s going to have to go to a cocktail party by himself. Usually, he just hides behind my mom and lets her work her magic.
“It’s going to be a huge fundraiser,” Dad says. “So many important people there and I’m going to have to talk to all of them.”
“I’m sorry, Dad,” I say, feeling horrible for him. “The timing sucks.”
He looks at me, but then he doesn’t look away.
I start to get a worried tingly feeling inside and then it clicks.
“Oh no,” I whisper.
“Please!” he says, practically begging already. “I’m the coach. I have to go and you know I’m not good at working a room.”
“You’re good!” I squeak out in a high-pitched voice.
“I’m good at yelling at the room or barking orders at the room,” he says, “but not working it. That’s your mother’s specialty.”
“Right now, I’d be good at clearing out a room,” Mom says.
“But… I don’t have anything to wear and my hair isn’t done!”
“Your mother has a closet full of dresses you can pick from,” Dad says with his voice racing. “And your hair looks perfect already.”
My mouth opens so I can give him a very valid reason why I can’t possibly attend, but I come up with nothing.
It’s three hours away. A night surrounded by rich snobs. Hours of listening to people talking about hockey. Oh god…
“The Hyenas are going to be there,” Mom says in a teasing tone.
“Really?” I say, my heart starting to race. “Which ones?”
“All of them if they know what’s good for them,” Dad says in his stern coach voice.
“Is Nolan Barlowe going to be there?” Mom asks.
Damn. She knows I have a crush on him.
I shoot her a look, but she can’t see it with her puffed-up eyes.
“Yes,” Dad says, looking at her skeptically. “Why?”
“Just curious,” Mom says with a shrug.
His eyes narrow on me. “He’s off-limits. I don’t want you dating a hockey player.”
“Mom asked, not me,” I say, putting my hands up.
He grunts in disapproval.
Well, if Nolan Barlowe is going to be there…
I’m starting to come around to the idea.
I’ve had a big crush on him since he signed with the Hyenas. He’s so hot.
I’ve never had a thing for hockey players, but there’s something about goalies. They’re the last line of defense, the anchor of the team. They’re so fearless the way they stand in front of a hard galvanized puck traveling over a hundred miles per hour. It’s sexy.