Page 120 of Pinch

“I’m so excited to meet you! I see you enjoy these games about as much as I do.” Her nose wrinkles, and we look down at the ice just in time to see a big guy slam Gav into the boards. “Oh! I hate this part!”

Gav skates forward fast, grabbing the guy by the neck of his sweater, and slamming him into the boards in response.

“I think it’s kind of hot.” I slant my eyes at her, holding my hands over my mouth.

“I can’t say anything,” Kenny leans over. “I married a boxer.”

“Tell me when it’s over!” Elaine cries, covering her eyes.

“The linesmen are breaking it up now,” I tell her. “It looks like they’re more holding each other’s sweaters and talking.”

The game resumes. The Champions make a goal, and we cheer as “Nokia” starts, doing the dance along with the crowd. Still, it’s a tough game.

Gav and Mav go in for one of their signature plays, but a massive Colorado winger slams Gav hard again. We all groan.

Elaine sits down, covering her face with her hands. “I don’t know why I said I could do this,” she moans. “I haven’t been able to watch a game since he was in middle school.”

“But you got him that lucky mouthguard,” Kenny sits beside her, rubbing her shoulder. “He’s wearing it. I saw it when he smiled at us.”

The rest of the game is more of the same. Gav goes in for a pinch, but a forward cuts him off, pushing him out of the way, allowing the winger to get it to a center, who sends it past Akers for the goal.

Groans rise up from the crowd, and I can see Mav getting fired up. He hates losing, but it always makes him play harder.

We’re in the third period, and it’s 2-2. I’ve been chewing my nails the entire time, and as cold as it is in here, I’m sweating under my turtleneck.

The baby must feel my stress, because she’s beenswimming around, pushing her little butt out, and bouncing on my bladder. I’m trying to hold it until the end of the game, when Knox and Gigi come to where I’m sitting.

“You have to come with us.” Knox reaches down to help me up, but I only frown at him.

“Where are we going?” I look from him to Gigi, who’s smiling conspiratorially.

“Come on, Hads, it’s a surprise.” She steps up beside our cousin, taking my other arm. “Gavin asked us to do this for him.”

From the corner of my eye, I see Kenny’s hands clasp quickly in front of her face. I glance down at Elaine, who’s still sitting, but she’s looking away to the side, as if she’s trying to hide her excited expression.

Twisting my lips, I let them help me up. I look at the uncles, and they’re all smiling, watching us. Uncle Garrett gives me the thumbs up, and it feels like the entire family is in on what’s happening.

“Oh, boy…” I take Gigi’s hand, leaning into her ear. “I really have to pee.”

“Hold it,” she hisses back.

“You have clearly never been pregnant.”

Knox goes around to my other side, holding my elbow as I descend the steps.

“Why are you treating me like I’m made of glass?” I frown up at him.

My NFL-bound cousin shrugs, pushing his shaggy brown hair out of his eyes. “Gav made me promise I wouldn’t let you fall.”

My breath catches, and my heart melts a little. “He said that?”

Knox nods, and I put my hand on Kim’s little brother’s arm. He’s such a mixture of Aunt Allie and Uncle Jack, it’shard not to feel completely safe with him… even if he is a cocky little flirt.

“Where are you two taking me?” I look from him to Gigi, who’s leading us down to the bench.

“Gav wants you to be close at the end of the game.” She puts her hand on my shoulder.

“But not too close to be unsafe.” Knox nods at me. “That’s my job.”