Hockey Holidays Read online

  “I guess.” He shrugged. “But people just don’t—”

  “Yes, they do. Especially, in this day in age. Go out with the girl. Take a step outside into the real world.”

  He didn’t answer, only stood up and headed to the laundry room. He thought over everything Big Bruce said. He remembered numerous opportunities his father had to have a relationship and let them pass by because of his commitment to Dag’s life and future. He didn’t miss Faith anymore. He had moved past her. Although he told others he enjoyed his single life, the truth was he didn’t have a life. His boys were first, but his dad had a point.

  Pulling his phone from his back pocket, he opened the Twitter app. Think of it as a blind date. He pulled up the girl’s profile. It seemed she was a local Bears fan. She went to college, was obviously younger than him, but she was cute and mature by her tweets. Some were silly. She loved books and…kids? She talked about her work at the library. Think of it as a blind date.

  Hey @EDBookGirl, I say we do something casual for our first date. How about brunch on Tuesday?

  As he sent the tweet, he couldn’t believe he just did it.

  Chapter Three

  Elexis closed the book as the children and even a few parents clapped. She thanked the small crowd, and a few children came up to her asking questions about the story. Pleased everyone enjoyed themselves, she felt accomplished as she began to pick up the cushions and put the books back.

  Saying goodbye to the librarians, she grabbed her backpack and headed toward The Latte Bean. No, she didn’t have to work, but she needed an espresso and maybe she would do a little bit of homework.

  Walking in, she was taken by surprise when Janie grabbed her arm. “What the hell?” she whispered so the few customers who were in the shop wouldn’t hear her. “We’ve been texting you all day.” She dragged her to the back room where other employees were.

  “I turned off my phone. What’s wrong? Do you need me to work?” She couldn’t figure out what the issue would be.

  “No, you need to check Twitter. Right now.” Janie ordered.

  “Huh?”

  “Dag Limon tweeted you back and wants to take you on a date. It’s all over Twitter and everything.” She explained.

  “Wait, what?” Elexis’ heart dropped. There’s no way he tweeted her regarding a date. It had to be a mistake. A terrible mistake.

  “You have to answer him.”

  “Are you going to go?”

  “He seems sweet.”

  Everyone spoke at once and she couldn’t comprehend what happened. “I just did it as a joke,” she said. “I never, ever thought he’d answer.”

  “Well, he did and you have to go.” Janie told her.

  “I…I don’t know.” She shook her head.

  “Well, you have to answer him.”

  “I’m going to grab some coffee.” She quickly turned on her heels and rushed away from the staring eyes, waiting for her answer.

  She ordered her drink and dug around her purse for her phone. As it powered on, she took her drink and sat at one of the corner booths, hoping no one would bother her. Her phone vibrated and vibrated and continued to vibrate as the Twitter notifications exploded on her screen. There were over four thousand retweets for her #dateme not to mention all the comments accompanying them. Some supportive, others mean, but most were supportive.

  The question became clearer…what should she do?

  Go to brunch with him?

  Her eyes couldn’t leave the screen. He actually tweeted her back, and he asked her on a date. Her leg began to bounce as her adrenaline pulsed through her veins. She needed to reply. Say something. Do something. Soon.

  But what?

  Taking a deep breath, she called the one person who would give her advice without any bias. She punched the screen with her fingertip and listened. “Mom, I need advice and it’s world ending.”

  “I’m listening, Elexis, lay it on me.”

  She knew her mother understood her desperation. Quickly she told her the entire story and the dilemma she stood in now. “What do I do?”

  “Baby, that’s serious.” Her mother sighed. “You have to figure this out on your own.”

  “Huh? No way! I need you to tell me.” Elexis ordered.

  Karen laughed. “You’re nineteen years old, but you act like someone who’s one hundred years old. You need to experience life. Stop keeping everyone at arm’s length. Go for it, girl.”

  Elexis pulled the phone away from her face to ensure she called the right person. “Go for it, girl? What are you watching on TV?”

  “Well, something has happened. I am going on a date Friday.”

  “Wh…wh…a date?” Thankfully she had been sitting down when her mother delivered this bit of information or she would have fallen over. Karen hadn’t dated…ever.

  “Yes, I believe it’s time for me to live my life and you need to do the same. So, if it were me, I’d go on the date. Talk to you soon, El. Love you.”

  Her mother ended the call before she could even counter her suggestion and ask more questions about this guy she would be going out on a date with. Dropping her head into her hands, she thought about the possible outcome of this situation. She didn’t want the one player she admired the most to think she was a crazy person or worse, she was boring. Never being on a real date, she didn’t know what to talk about or do. How could she go and make a fool of herself? She couldn’t go. Putting herself through such humiliation would be devastating to her—already—non-existent self-esteem. Sure, she had average looks. Her red hair was straight as a board. Her blue eyes weren’t bright, but a few customers had commented on them. Even though she was five feet four, she didn’t think of herself as short. Her one downfall—she had no fashion sense. None at all. Jeans and t-shirts were the only items of clothing that were folded in her dresser.

  Yet passing up a chance to meet Dag Limon hurt her heart. This was her idol. He gave her a puck. It meant a lot to her. He probably didn’t remember her. Thousands of fans go to those games every week. He probably had no clue who she was or that he gave her a puck.

  Picking up her phone, her brain told her to politely decline and move on with her life. What life? She worked and went to school.

  Thinking about her mother, Elexis didn’t want to work her entire life away. Then one day, turn forty and go to a sperm bank to conceive a child. Reality hit Elexis like a puck to the head. This is Mom’s life. She had been following in her footsteps. Step by step. She didn’t want to be forty and looking through a man catalog to have a baby.

  Taking a deep breath, she tapped the reply bubble.

  @DagLimon2 you tell me the time and place and I’ll be there.

  Elexis put on her Dag Limon jersey and couldn’t keep the smile off her face as the bus stopped two blocks from the arena. It was opening day. Her heart hurt a bit since Dag hadn’t replied to her tweet, but she figured he wouldn’t, and she was okay with it. The fifteen seconds of fame had been fun, but it was finished and she could move on. She tried and that was all that mattered because she could hold her head up high.

  While she waited in line for the gates to open, she glanced over the New Hampshire Bears arena and studied the massive banner with the player’s faces. Hamilton Baer, the captain who had a deep southern accent everyone loved. Alden Brockman and Remington Rosin placed side by side because they were the highest scorers. Cabel Dirks, the longest member of the team and most likable. Bas Zorn was who Elexis stared at the longest. She really felt pride for how he came through his struggles and was still dealing with them. At the end of the row, an even larger banner had several defensemen, including Dag Limon.

  Her heart twisted a bit seeing his face. A small part of her wanted to go on the date with him, but she knew it had been a far-fetched dream. She would enjoy the memory of her tiny moment of fame.

  As the gates opened and the line began to move, her heart raced with excitement because she would see her Bears soon. After the attendant scanned her