Play On (12 page)

Although it was silly of her to even assume he could possibly interested in her.  Surely he had a handful of girls following his every move, and those women who cleaned the ice were practically flawless.  Emma knew that in terms of symmetry and aesthetics, she was pleasing to look at, and could even be beautiful.  But she also knew that she wasn’t everyone’s type – more of a girl next door than a mysterious siren – and who knew what Kyle’s type was?

It didn’t matter.  Celibate, remember?

“You know, the decision to trade Randy Silverman to Canada in exchange for Underwood was one of Ken Brown’s best decisions,” Jeremy murmured, breaking Emma from her thoughts.  “I say that a lot, I know. 
But God, what a player.  I seriously hope Henry can get these players to actually play together because individually, they have so much potential.  They just need to play as a team.”  He frowned.  “What were we talking about before?”

“Oh.”  Emma had to think a minute before she was able to respond. 
“Seraphina.  The new owner.”

“Right, right.”
  Though his mouth moved, his eyes were focused on the game before him.  If Emma had to guess, she believed her father was now talking on autopilot.  “Yeah, I think she has more going on than people give her credit for.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Well, she could be enjoying life, never have to work for the rest of hers,” her father explained.  “Selling the team could give both sisters millions, and inheriting her grandfather’s estate would just add to that.  Instead, she takes on the team even though she’ll no doubt be crucified.”

Emma paused, taking this all in.  Her eyes found the subject of their conversation; she had a rigid posture, unlike most young women their age, and for the most part, her face seemed impassive.  But her eyes – granted, Emma couldn’t tell what color they were from her position – spoke more so than her mouth ever could.  They were filled with worry and probably
anxiety, as though she wasn’t sure she could handle what she had been given.

Emma didn’t blame her for feeling this way.

“Do you think she’ll do a good job?” she asked her father, and she was surprised at the sound of hope that tainted her tone.

Jeremy sighed through his nose, silent for a long moment.  Emma thought that perhaps he didn’t hear her or was too consumed in the game to give her a response, but he finally said, “She has a lot to learn.  She doesn’t know anything about hockey, and that’s essential to owning and running a team.  I don’t think she should have allowed Thorpe to play tonight, even though it is in preseason.  I don’t think he should be allowed to play until he’s officially cleared.”

“But Dad, you said so yourself, the way Thorpe is being treated, how he’s getting booed every time he makes a save, isn’t fair,” Emma said.  “Why shouldn’t he be allowed to play?”

“Honey, I think he is being treated unfairly. 
Absolutely.  But a hockey team is a business.  Fans are already split about him because he’s asking for all this money.  They’re offended that he would be willing to leave the team where he built his reputation for financial reasons.  Now he’s a suspect in killing Ken, and fans that weren’t sure where they stood about him have most likely decided against him.  I’m sure he has fans who’ll stand behind him no matter what, but they’re few and far between.  Playing him would only hurt the team’s image.  Maybe the controversy will boost ticket sales, but the image, it’s all about image.”

“Then why would she keep him on the team?”

Jeremy shrugged.  “Maybe she thinks he didn’t do it,” he said.

Emma looked at him.  “Do you?”  She wasn’t certain what she was waiting for, what she wanted her father to say, but she felt her breathing slow.

“No.”  He shook his head to emphasize his point.  “Thorpe’s arrogant and self-righteous, and if he’s really going to leave, he’s a jerk, but he’s not a murderer.  Even so, Seraphina needs the public’s support, not only for the team but for her.  She’s a young, rich girl from Newport Beach inheriting this company.  Nobody is going to take her seriously.  I’m not sure I do.  She shouldn’t play him until he’s cleared, and even then, it might be safer to just get rid of him.”  He paused, and Emma noticed an admiring sparkle in her father’s eyes as he looked at Seraphina.  “But Ken was a gem.  And the reason the Gulls even exist.  I have to believe that she inherited his business sense in some way.  And, I have to admit, that her pretty much standing behind Thorpe through all of this shows that she has balls.  And that’s exactly what we need.”  

9
.
 
Madison was nervous.  She knew her face projected a look of calm, but it was all for show.  The façade was so people wouldn’t come up to her and ask if she was all right.  As the oldest out of three girls, she learned from an early age that if she excelled at everything she was a part of, including academics and any extracurricular activities she decided to participate in, teachers, parents, coaches, and any other adults she came in contact with wouldn’t ask her if there was something wrong.  She also learned that as the oldest, she had to stay calm and collected in times of stress in order to be a rock while her sisters crashed into her like emotional rapids.  But right now, she felt that there was a very real possibility of her drowning.

Yes, it was only preseason so technically the game didn’t even count.  But it was also technically her first real hockey game as a Gulls Girl.  The outfit she wore was the one she preferred: the shirt was still the same, so her assets were on display, but instead of a short and unflattering miniskirt, she wore low-waisted tight black pants.  Which, she was glad to say, made her rather small – but quite firm – derriere much more noticeable than it really was.  Her hair and makeup were similar to the team photo.

That was only last week, wasn’t it?  Her whole encounter with Alec Schumacher had played in her mind three, four times throughout the week, something she couldn’t understand and tried not to consciously think about.  Although once she started school, she was certain things about Alec would be forgotten because she’d be surrounded by likeminded students, most likely smart and ambitious, with the goal to graduate, get on track for a career, and start a family.  This was also Madison’s plan, and she was sure she’d meet someone who was more her type as a whole than Schumacher.

Glancing down at the small, four-leaf clover she draw on the corner of the inside of her wrist, Madison tried to regain control of her breathing.  She didn’t know why she was so nervous.  All she had to do was
carry a metal shovel and scrape the ice as fast as she could while smiling up at the audience.  By the time the real season began, she’d have the motions in her unconscious, and it’d be just like driving, where she didn’t have to be fully away of every action – and every mistake – she made.

“You okay?” Amanda asked her, taking a seat next to Madison on the long bench placed between the lockers.  “You seem kind of… tense.”

“That’s a good word, actually,” Madison said.  So maybe her cool demeanor only extended to her face.  She would have to get her body to loosen up if she was going to truly fool people.  “I’ll be honest; I’m a little nervous.”

“Don’t be,” Amanda said, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.  Before Madison could say something along the lines of ‘easier said than done,’ her red-headed friend continued.  “No one’s going to be paying attention your actual skill as a Girl.  They’re going to be paying attention to the way your tits look in the shirt and the way your ass moves as you skate.”  At Madison’s appalled look, Amanda shrugged.  “Sorry, but that’s the truth.  Now come on.  We have to line up.”

The Gulls Girls got into a single-file line.  Four of them were pulled so they could interact with the fans along with the mascot Gil the Gull.  The other ten were split into two groups, with five Girls in each group.  Each group had one girl who was in control of a cart, where stray and dirty ice, after it was scraped, was placed.  Erica, the girl Madison sat back-to-back with in the team picture was in charge of her group’s cart while Faye, the team captain, was in charge of the other group’s cart.  Madison and Amanda each held their shovel, each a part of Erica’s group.

“So we just stand here until we’re called out?” Madison whispered to Amanda, once the whistle blew and the game started.

“Pretty much,” Amanda said.  “Just always have a smile on your face though.  You never know when a camera will be on you.”

Madison rolled her eyes and turned back to the fame.  For whatever reason she didn’t want to want to fully think about, her focus was Alec Schumacher and the first line. 
Whatever that meant.  The way he played clearly revealed how much he loved the game.  He seemed driven to push people into the glass, and due to his size, Madison couldn’t help but flinch at the contact.  But Alec didn’t flinch.  Not even when he was pushed around.  He just pushed back.  And harder.

It was interesting to Madison to see someone so completely masculine do something as feminine and as graceful as ice skating, and yet every time he fought or pushed, it was all man once again.  The contradiction
was hard not to be drawn into, and she couldn’t help but feel excited whenever he got the puck because she was beginning to learn that whenever Alec Schumacher had the puck, he was going to do something extraordinary.

A few minutes into the game, and a penalty was already called on both the Gulls and the Panthers.  Apparently Matt Peters and a player from the other team got into a pretty heated fist fight, and even though the refs were watching it play out in front of them, allowed the fight to continue for a good amount of time before both players were sent to the penalty box.

“Okay, this is going to be a dumb question but is fighting common in hockey?” Madison whispered to Amanda once play resumed.

Amanda giggled in that charming way of hers.  “Actually, that’s a good question,” she said, “and the only reason I laugh is because people tend to think it’s obvious.  Preseason, it’s rare to see a fight, so whatever Benson said to Matt must have really pissed him off.  Normally, during the season you see more and more fighting depending on one of four things: number one, sometimes, players try and get under their opponents skin in order to get a penalty called and then a power play because five on four gives a team a better chance to score, and for the most part, the defending team won’t risk going on the offense for those two minutes; number two, sometimes a coach will want to change up his four lines – something he can’t do once he’s submitted them – so if he can get one of his players in the penalty box, the coach can add a player to see how he does in a certain line; number three, there are some refs who are just plain biased against certain teams – the Gulls face adversity constantly by the refs
and
the league – and don’t make any calls so the players have to start standing up for themselves; and number four, sometimes, people start fights in order to fire up their team.  It’s much more calculated than people give it credit for.”

“And why do you think Matt started the fight?” Madison asked.

“I don’t think he started it,” Amanda said.  “I saw Benson say something to him before it broke out.  That would be reason number five; defending himself, his teammates, or someone close to him.  My guess?  Benson said something either about Katella or Thorpe.  Personally, I think it was about Thorpe because I think there’s this unspoken rule amongst hockey players that insulting a spouse or a significant other is out of line, but a couple players did it to Matt last season and one of them had to get stitches which caused Matt to get suspended, obviously.”

“Is it just me…
”  She felt herself blush, especially when Faye turned around to shush her prompting both girls to giggle in hushed tones, and smile with slight embarrassment.  “Okay, it’s hot when they fight, right?  Please tell me I’m not the only one who thinks this.”

“Dude, why do you think there’s a surprisingly large female fan base?” Amanda whispered back, causing both girls to laugh out loud, despite Faye obvious annoyance.

It was at about eight minutes into the game when the Girls were sent out onto the ice for the first time.  Though her stomach felt like it did during that brief second before a high roller coaster plunged to the bottom, Madison tried to keep her cool as she skated out to her designated section.  The cold that immediately hit her pinched her cheeks and, as a defense, her muscles tightened.  Which she supposed was a good thing because without really thinking about it, she sucked in her stomach.  Placing the bottom of the shovel on the ice, she skated the width of the section, picking up the flurry of stray ice.  She had skated every winter back in South Haven, so she didn’t have to worry about whether or not she could maintain her balance.  When she reached the other side, she turned around and shoveled the ice back to her original starting place, the ice placed just adjacent to the walls.

She was actually doing it.  And it was as hard as she thought it would be.