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CHAPTER 50

EMERY

In the next week, I pass my first plating assignment, learn three new techniques for glazing fruit desserts, and book a flight back to Hamilton for game three of the playoffs.

The Highlanders finish the season third in our division, right behind Miami.

It’s going to be an exciting match up. Ty Connor played there for a decade, and they traded him because they thought they were going into a complete re-build. But then this season was an unexpected bounce back for them, and the fandoms are rabid over the way this has worked out.

Emotions are running high, and Miami has home ice.

The team flies south to open the series. Miami takes game one, just like everyone expects them to. But Hamilton steals game two, playing tight, disciplined hockey—and suddenly, the series is tied heading back to Hamilton.

I land in Toronto mid-afternoon. Alexei has a private car waiting for me, since he can’t pick me up himself. By the time I get to his house, he’s left for the arena already, but Georgiana, Maria, and Sergei are all happy to see me.

Inessa is a little unsure. She gives me a reproachful look, like, where were you?

I drop to me knees in the foyer and wait.

She hides behind Maria’s leg for a beat, then runs at me, throwing her arms around my neck.

“Are we going to the game together tonight?” I ask.

She nods.

I squeeze her so tight, and I’m glad I’m home for three days. There aren’t enough hugs in the world to fill the hole in my heart when I’m gone, but I’ll stock up on the ones I can get in the time that we have.

I send a selfie of the two of us to the WAG group chat.

Emery

I’m home! Cuddles with my girl and then we’ll meet you all at Kiley’s!

Shannon sends back a photo of my jacket on a hanger, on a rolling rack with all the others.

Shannon

We’re ready to make you official!

Harper

I seem to remember a drunken wine cellar conversation about how much you really didn’t want to be a WAG…

Emery

Well, I was trying to pretend I wasn’t in love with Alexei, so…

Ani

WHAT?

Kiley

That’s amazing

Becca

We need the entire story tonight

* * *

It’s not only matching WAG jackets that I find at Kiley’s.

The girls have made tiny sandwiches for us to eat, variations on the ones I developed for Ani’s baby shower.

They have matching outfits for Inessa and Charlie, too, little hoodies with their dad’s numbers on the back, and team-inspired badges down the arms—a Glengarry-wearing boar, red and black crossed hockey sticks, and “Mini Highlanders” in the middle.

“I love these,” I murmur, my fingers tracing the mascot.

Shannon points to the grown-up quilted jackets. “We have the same badges on the inside.”

“But you’re only allowed to see that on after you tell us the whole story,” Kiley says, holding on to the hanger.

“Well, it starts with asparagus sorbet…” I leave out the more private bits, but they get the gist of what happened two years ago.

As one, my friends all look to Inessa, who is happily playing with Kiley and Becca’s dogs. “That same night?”

“The very same.”

“Ooof.”

“Mmm.”

“So you just…”

“Blocked him. Moved on with my life. Kissed a lot of frogs. Got into culinary school.” I blush. “And somehow, found my way back to them anyway. But I’m older and wiser now, and I know what I want.”

“Cheers to that.” Ani lifts her seltzer water. Then her eyes go wide and she puts her hand to her belly. “Oh.”

“Oh?” I think we all said that at the same time.

She breathes carefully. “Just Braxton-Hicks, I’m sure.”

A few more girlfriends arrive, and Ani doesn’t report any more contractions, but as we head downstairs, and then pose in the lobby as a whole group, I know I’m not the only one watching our most pregnant friend.

“It’s not time yet,” she says as we settle into our seats for the game. “I timed this baby to come in the off-season.”

As we wait for puck drop, I send a photo of my jacket to my mom. Not quite a peace offering, but I’m wearing it proudly, and I know she’ll like it.

Emery

Never thought I’d say this, but…had my WAG Jacket debut tonight

Mom

Does this mean Alexei will wear a chef’s jacket this summer when we visit?

I laugh. And then I drop a heart on it, because it’s not just that she tried to hit the right note, but that she sent it back immediately. That says she’s been thinking about what I said.

I don’t send it to my brothers, but by the first intermission, Forrest has seen it on social media, and he sends a screen cap of that to the sibling chat.

Forrest

The Twittersphere doesn’t like your WAG jacket

Logan

Whoa, they’re already jacket official? Didn’t they start dating two weeks ago?

Camden

She’s living with him, she better be jacket official

Wyatt doesn’t reply, because his team is also playing tonight.

I smile and mute the chat notifications.

* * *

Hamilton wins, and is now up two games to one in the series, and they have another game at home still.

Ani doesn’t go into labour.

When Alexei gets home that night, everyone else is tucked in, and I’m waiting for him on our bed, wearing nothing but the WAG jacket.

He does like it.

A lot.

* * *

Game four is another clutch Hamilton win. That night, I fly back to New York on the last flight out, and the next day, Alexei and the team return to Florida up three to one in the series. They are one win away from doing what they couldn’t do last year—clinch a playoff series.

That’s when the wheels come off.

In Miami, game five is a must-win elimination game for the home team, and they play like it. I watch the game in New Jersey, with Cecilia and her girlfriend. Alexei has a rough game, and by the top of the third, it’s three-nothing.

I can tell that the third goal is going to haunt him the most.

He gets a little horny on the poke check and goes down too low, leaving his shoulder wide open. It’s an easy chip-in up top, a rookie mistake that he hasn’t made all year. There’s no way around it, it’s a bad goal.

His teammates try to rally, and they score twice, bringing them within one, but it’s not enough.

He gets pulled with three minutes left and has to watch from the bench as Miami sends one more into the empty net.

And the series heads back to Hamilton for game six.

“Are you okay?” Cecilia asks, wrapping her arms around me.

I realize I’m crying.

I swipe my cheeks. “I’m fine.” I take a deep breath. “Just sad for my person tonight, you know?”

She pets my head and holds me while I compose myself.

Then I pull out my phone and buy a late afternoon ticket home in two days’ time.