Chapter 32: Home Game: Chapter 32

I DECIDED I needed more furniture. Mica drove me to IKEA where he helped me pick out a couch and a farm-style dining room table I wanted to use as a desk. Mica insisted on buying me a TV. I didn’t find the same joy I had when decorating Ryan’s place, but I put effort into buying accessories, pillows, and homey touches.

That night, after assembling my furniture, he set up my TV.

“We’re going on the road tomorrow.”

“How’s the team doing?” Which really meant, how is Ryan doing?

Mica was top-notch. He knew what I meant.

“He wants to fight. Coach isn’t happy, but he’s one of our top goal scorers so he gets away with it.”

“Why?” Why was he fighting? Is he okay? Is he getting hurt?

Mica turned on the TV. “He’s in a shit place. I told you that.”

“So he’s fighting?”

“Every chance he can get.”

THE NEXT NIGHT, against my will, I watched their away game in Edmonton. I greedily drank in the sight of Ryan skating around. He looked bigger than I remembered. He also looked more scruffy. He hadn’t shaved in a while, and his hair was longer beneath his helmet. He had a healing cut beneath his eye and another one on his lip. He reminded me of a battle-worn Viking.

Mica hadn’t lied.

If a player on the opposite team looked at Ryan funny, he was driving them against the boards, body checking them the moment they got the puck and acting like a bulldozer who tore through their team without care. If an opposing player tried to take action back, it wasn’t pretty.

For the other team.

He wants to fight.

I watched with my hands over my mouth, as the commentators talked about the change that had come over Ryan, and how Vancouver fans had nicknamed him “The Terminator” because he destroyed everyone in his path.

Between a play, Jensen chirped at an Edmonton player and the camera zoomed into the two players verbally sparring face-to-face on the ice. Jensen wasn’t a small guy, but he looked like a child next to this guy. I watched in amazement as Ryan moved with speed to Jensen’s side. He wasn’t as big as the Edmonton player, but at least he looked like he could hold his own.

“Just skate away,” I breathed from behind my hands.

The player shoved Ryan and then the giant’s head snapped back from Ryan’s fist. It wasn’t a pretty fight, most of which I missed because I squeezed my eyes shut, but when they ended up in the penalty box, both were bleeding.

I had forgotten how much I loved hockey.

The network showed repeated slow-motion clips of the fight, buzzing about how surprised Jensen looked when Ryan came to his defense. It wasn’t a secret they didn’t like each other, so this was big news in the hockey world.

After the game, I watched the player interviews, desperate to hear his voice, but he disappeared off the ice first and never appeared on camera again that night.

I WAS AT MY DESK, at work, when Frank strode in and dumped several catalogs beside my laptop.

“What is this?” I peered up at him.

“Brochures for local colleges and UBC. You need an undergraduate degree to get your CPA.”

I stared dumbfounded at the fat catalogs. I spent enough time asking Frank about post-secondary education, so he knew I wanted to attend, but he also knew I wasn’t planning on applying for a few years. Not until I had enough money saved up.

“Thanks,” I blinked up at him. He seemed to be in a mood.

“I want your applications for all of these schools completed by the end of the week. I’ll cover the application fees.”

“Frank,” I spun around as he walked out of the room. “I can’t afford school right now.”

“If you don’t apply, I will fire you.”

“Are you serious?” I stared at him dumbfounded. Frank never joked about shit.

“Apply. And bill me for the time you spend applying.”

I didn’t bill Frank, but I spent every evening working on my applications. Frank, Krista, and Mica provided letters of references for me. My greatest fear was not getting in and disappointing Frank. My second greatest fear was being accepted and then having to defer due to lack of finances.

TWO MONTHS PASSED. Tonight the playoffs started, and I was excited to watch the Vancouver Wolves in their first game. Krista phoned and asked if she could come over. She said she had something to drop off.

When I opened the door, she looked at me and immediately said, “Don’t be pissed.”

“Why would I be pissed?”

A soft meow sounded from below.

She lifted a white cardboard box with a handle. “Can we come in?”

It was a kitten. The most gorgeous, fluffy, long-haired, blue-eyed kitten. I dropped to my knees and lifted it out of the box.

The kitten meowed pitifully and my heart melted in a big puddle on the floor. “Who is this?”

Krista sighed. “This is your new cat, if you want it.”

“Krista!” I squealed. “I’ve always wanted a cat. My entire life!”

“Well, she’s yours. She is nine weeks old, she’s had all her shots, and she’s eating solid food.”

I reached over and hugged Krista. “Thank you. Oh, my gosh. Thank you.”

She winced. “This is the part where you promised you don’t get pissed.”

I watched as the kitten pounced on my sock. “Why would I be pissed?”

“The cat’s name is Ikea. You are free to change it, but that is the cat’s name.”

I froze and lifted my gaze to her. “This cat is from Ryan?”

“Someone he knew had a cat who had kittens. And this kitten was heading to the pound. So, he threatened to come over here and drop off the cat himself, unless I agreed to do it.”

“Okay.”

She raised her eyebrows. “You’re not mad?”

I picked up the kitten and kissed her face. “It was tricky of Ryan but one look at this face and I wouldn’t care if this cat came from Putin.”

“I have cat stuff in the car.”

The cat stuff included a climbing post, a cat bed, cat food, a cat brush, a litter box, and a ridiculous amount of cat toys.

“Did he buy out the pet store?”

“You know Ryan. He does nothing half-ass.”

I WAITED until the game was over before I picked up my phone.

Me: Thank you. So much.

Ryan: You’re welcome

Me: Ikea is the best cat in the world

Ryan: You’re keeping the name?

Me: It suits her

Ryan: Does she like your apartment?

Me: She loves her new forever home

Ryan: So are you doing okay?

Me: I applied for school

Ryan: That’s great, Zoey

I stared at my name on the screen, wishing more than anything I could hear his voice.

Me: Anyway, thanks for Ikea. She’s the best gift anyone has ever given me

Ryan: She won the jackpot becoming your roommate

Me: Night

Ryan: Sleep tight.

It wasn’t until I finished brushing my teeth that I realized he never asked to talk.

SPRING HAD HIT VANCOUVER. Ikea grew by leaps and bounds. The flowers were blooming, the trees were getting green, and I had just gotten a scary-looking letter. I took ten minutes to work up my nerve to open it.

“Dear Zobenia, Congratulations on your acceptance to the University of British Columbia.”

I screamed so loud, Ikea dove beneath my couch.

When I told Frank, he took off his glasses and smiled. “I guess this means we need to have a celebration dinner.”

That night, Frank drove Wanda and I to the restaurant. I squealed when I saw Krista, Justin, Dylan, and Mica waiting for me.

I looked back at Frank. “You planned all this?”

“You think I can’t make a dinner reservation?”

We all ordered our drinks and then Frank asked the group. “Should we give Zoey her gift before or after the meal?”

“Before,” Dylan and Justin spoke at the same time.

“What’s going on?” I looked around the table. Everyone looked so excited and so happy.

Frank reached into his breast pocket. “This is for you.”

I opened the envelope and my eyes scanned the page. “This is a scholarship. For four years of tuition and books!”

I dropped the paper and stared at Frank. “I didn’t apply for a scholarship!”

“Mica, Dylan, and Justin needed to up their charitable donations this year to drop them into a lower tax bracket. So we came up with a scholarship.”

I cried as I looked around the table of my friends. “Why would you do that?”

Mica cleared his throat. “Because you’re important and smart.”

There were a lot of teary hugs around the table.

“I don’t know about you,” Frank said dryly, “But emotions make me ravenous.”

We all laughed.

“Come on, let’s eat.”

THAT NIGHT, I debated texting Ryan to tell him the good news, but things were so weird between us, I wasn’t even sure he cared. The cool spring air was so fresh and scented, I decided to sleep with my windows open.

My phone buzzed.

Ryan: Hey

My stupid heart beat with pure joy.

Me: Hey

Ryan: Did I wake you?

Me: No, just reading in bed

Ryan: Another serial killer book? ;-D

Me: Ha. Not even close. I’m reading the guide to a new student for UBC

Ryan: ???

Me: I got in!

Ryan: Zoey. That’s amazing. I’m so proud of you.

Me: And guess what? Mica, Dylan, and Justin worked with Frank to create a scholarship for me

Ryan: No way!

I listened, hearing a noise in the living room.

“Ikea, what are you up to?”

Me: It’s part of their charitable contributions for taxes and it will pay for my tuition!

Ryan: Your dream is coming true

A dark shadow appeared in the doorway of my bedroom.

Terrance.

I hit send on my unfinished text.