Page 108
Story: As You Ice It
“Not tonight. Are you okay?”
I nod. “It’s just … a lot.”
Bailey grins. “You’re going to have a great time tonight, okay? Now, let’s get you in there before we lose any more time.”
I don’t realize until I’m opening the door to the suite that Bailey has dropped back behind me, waiting in the hall. “Are you coming?” I ask.
I don’t like the look on her face. It’s too knowing, and I am distinctly aware something is definitely up even before someone practically tackles me in a hug.
“You are simply too slow, and I can’t wait another second. Get in here!”
“Eloise?”
It is, indeed, Eloise. And true to her classic style, she’s wearing a pink dress with tiny ice skates, sticks, and pucks all over it. “What are you—how are you—oh my gosh! You’re here!”
She cackles and hugs me again. “I am, and I’m not alone.”
Grabbing me by the shoulders, she turns me so I can see into the suite. It’s a bigger one than we usually use—Parker said it was because the normal one was booked—and now I know why. What I think of as my entire Oakley family is here: my dad, Jake, Hunter, Merritt, Izzy, Sadie, and Benedict. Plus, Camden’s family. And Gracie has Panda on his leash. Mike and Jordan are in the middle of it all, and every single person is staring at me, smiling.
I don’t even realize that I’ve put my hands to my cheeks. “What is happening?”
Liam, who’s leaning against Jake grins at me. “Coach Cam out-surprised you, Mom. That’s what’s happening.”
He sure did.
The next few minutes are filled with joyous hugs, a few tears I manage to keep from overflowing, and so much laughter. Whatever nerves I had disappear. Meeting Camden’s family feels totally natural, and they’ve clearly been integrating with my Oakley people. Izzy and Liam are eating with Camden’s sisters, Panda at their feet, looking hopeful for handouts. Sadie is gesturing wildly while talking to Kelli, and Benedict, Jake, and Scott are having some kind of argument about the stock market.
Parker appears, hooking an arm around my waist. “Well?”
I give her a hug that I hope cracks at least one rib. “Of course, you were involved in this—playing both sides.”
“Like anyone could keep me out of things like this. No one could pull off anything without my help,” she brags.
“Yeah, well, next time, my big plan isn’t going to involve you, and you’ll be the one surprised.”
“Try me,” she says, and then suddenly, her eyes go wide. “Actually, there’s one more surprise.”
Someone behind me places hands over my eyes, and Parker holds me in place when I squirm. “Okay, now what? This night could not get any wilder.”
“We’ll see about that,” Eloise, who must be the one covering my eyes, says.
Then her hands disappear, and I blink a few times. In only about twenty seconds, the room has been transformed. All the lights are out and little battery-operated candles are flickering, lighting up the room in a soft glow.
Camden stands right in front of me. He’s not in his uniform, just the athletic shorts and shirt he wears underneath. He must have showered because his hair is wet and he doesnotsmell like a man who just played a full period.
“What are you doing? Are you going to get in trouble? Oh, my gosh, hi!”
“I won’t get in trouble if we make this quick,” he says, and then his gaze goes behind me and his jaw drops. “Mom? Dad? Sarah and Elizabeth?”
“Don’t mind us, son,” Scott says in a whisper. “Just get on with it and we’ll see you after the game.”
“Well, there goes my big reveal moment,” I mutter.
Camden’s gaze returns to mine, and he grins. “You did that for me?”
“I did that for you.”
“Wow. I can’t?—”
I nod. “It’s just … a lot.”
Bailey grins. “You’re going to have a great time tonight, okay? Now, let’s get you in there before we lose any more time.”
I don’t realize until I’m opening the door to the suite that Bailey has dropped back behind me, waiting in the hall. “Are you coming?” I ask.
I don’t like the look on her face. It’s too knowing, and I am distinctly aware something is definitely up even before someone practically tackles me in a hug.
“You are simply too slow, and I can’t wait another second. Get in here!”
“Eloise?”
It is, indeed, Eloise. And true to her classic style, she’s wearing a pink dress with tiny ice skates, sticks, and pucks all over it. “What are you—how are you—oh my gosh! You’re here!”
She cackles and hugs me again. “I am, and I’m not alone.”
Grabbing me by the shoulders, she turns me so I can see into the suite. It’s a bigger one than we usually use—Parker said it was because the normal one was booked—and now I know why. What I think of as my entire Oakley family is here: my dad, Jake, Hunter, Merritt, Izzy, Sadie, and Benedict. Plus, Camden’s family. And Gracie has Panda on his leash. Mike and Jordan are in the middle of it all, and every single person is staring at me, smiling.
I don’t even realize that I’ve put my hands to my cheeks. “What is happening?”
Liam, who’s leaning against Jake grins at me. “Coach Cam out-surprised you, Mom. That’s what’s happening.”
He sure did.
The next few minutes are filled with joyous hugs, a few tears I manage to keep from overflowing, and so much laughter. Whatever nerves I had disappear. Meeting Camden’s family feels totally natural, and they’ve clearly been integrating with my Oakley people. Izzy and Liam are eating with Camden’s sisters, Panda at their feet, looking hopeful for handouts. Sadie is gesturing wildly while talking to Kelli, and Benedict, Jake, and Scott are having some kind of argument about the stock market.
Parker appears, hooking an arm around my waist. “Well?”
I give her a hug that I hope cracks at least one rib. “Of course, you were involved in this—playing both sides.”
“Like anyone could keep me out of things like this. No one could pull off anything without my help,” she brags.
“Yeah, well, next time, my big plan isn’t going to involve you, and you’ll be the one surprised.”
“Try me,” she says, and then suddenly, her eyes go wide. “Actually, there’s one more surprise.”
Someone behind me places hands over my eyes, and Parker holds me in place when I squirm. “Okay, now what? This night could not get any wilder.”
“We’ll see about that,” Eloise, who must be the one covering my eyes, says.
Then her hands disappear, and I blink a few times. In only about twenty seconds, the room has been transformed. All the lights are out and little battery-operated candles are flickering, lighting up the room in a soft glow.
Camden stands right in front of me. He’s not in his uniform, just the athletic shorts and shirt he wears underneath. He must have showered because his hair is wet and he doesnotsmell like a man who just played a full period.
“What are you doing? Are you going to get in trouble? Oh, my gosh, hi!”
“I won’t get in trouble if we make this quick,” he says, and then his gaze goes behind me and his jaw drops. “Mom? Dad? Sarah and Elizabeth?”
“Don’t mind us, son,” Scott says in a whisper. “Just get on with it and we’ll see you after the game.”
“Well, there goes my big reveal moment,” I mutter.
Camden’s gaze returns to mine, and he grins. “You did that for me?”
“I did that for you.”
“Wow. I can’t?—”
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