Thin Ice (15 page)

When he finally parts from me, he lifts my hand in the air and I spin around. “Elli, you are absolutely gorgeous. I don’t even know what to say right now. I want to take you everywhere and show you off, but at the same time I just want to keep you here all to myself.”

“You look pretty dashing yourself. But I feel like
I’m
 missing something. Did you bring any post-practice
perfume
?” I joke.

“That might not be such a bad idea, considering all the guys I’m going to have to fight off of you tonight.”

“At a Thanksgiving dinner with my brothers
youth
 hockey team? Don’t worry, I think Julie has that one covered.”

“Good then I get you all to myself.”

“You’ll always have me all to yourself.”

“Hello! Isn’t anyone going to tell me how good I look?”

We turn to see Tegan posing like she’s on the end of a runway. She has on her polka dot dress, white heels, and she pinned her hair up, added a pearl necklace and some red lipstick. She looks incredible, and I tell her just that.

“I know. Now let’s get this show on the road! I hear mashed potatoes calling my name!”

She walks out the door past Dylan and I grab my wristlet and lock up. He holds my hand as we walk down the three flights of stairs and then helps me into his jeep. I just hope this holiday goes a little differently than every other one.

But as usual, I should know better.

Dylan

We get to the hotel where they’re hosting the team’s Thanksgiving Dinner in a huge party room. Windows line the walls and next the bar hotel employees are setting up a giant buffet table. Dom and the team are playing floor hockey in one corner and their families are spread out all over the room talking in groups.

I miss this. I remember when I played on my travel teams. The hotels were the best part. It was a bonding experience unlike any other. Those are some of my favorite memories. The countless things we broke, the jokes we played on each other, the almost total freedom from our parents. If there was an NHL game on we’d all gather in one room and watch it with all the team dads.

I met Anderson on one of those tournaments. He was on one of the teams I was versing and I remember his dad surprised him in his dress blues when he came out to drop the puck for the opening faceoff. He was serving a tour in Afghanistan and was gone for over a year. When Anderson saw him, he threw off his helmet and cried while his dad just held him in all his gear. After the game, I saw him heading towards the locker room and stopped him to congratulate him on the win. We talked for a few minutes, but he was in a rush to get back to his dad. We were only thirteen years old, and I’ve kept in touch with him ever since.

Watching Dom play brings back all these memories and I hope one day I can share experiences with my son like I did with my dad on these tournaments.

“I’m sure they’d love an extra player.”

I come out of my daydream and look over at Elli watching me with a smile on her face.  

“Trying to get rid of me already?”

“Please, if it wasn’t for this dress I’d probably go play too.”

Elli’s mom comes out of no where and hugs us all. “Elli you look amazing! That dress is gorgeous on you. Tegan you look like a 4
0’s
 movie star! And Dylan
,
 you look so handsome! Are you sure your parents don’t mind you spending the holiday with us?”

“Yes ma’am. They do however want to meet Elli as soon as possible. They would love to meet the girl I apparently don’t shut up about.”

Everybody laughs as Julie walks over. She has on a black and gold sequined sleeveless dress that ends in a pencil skirt just above her knees. Her black heels give her an extra 4 inches. Well, Elli definitely called that one.
She must have Dom’s teammates hormones going crazy since she’s relatively the same age.  

She places both her hands on Elli’s arms and kisses both sides of Elli’s cheeks. “Sister darling! How I’ve missed you! You look wonderful! We’re going to have to switch shoes at some point. These are killing me already.” Julie is a trip, and I hope she continues her faux English accent for the rest of the night.

“Oh
,
 hello Dylan! Don’t you look dashing! By any chance do you have any younger brothers?”

“Sorry Julie, only child.”

“Well that’s a shame.”

Finally Elli intercedes, “Alright Julie, get your hormones under control. We’re going to say hi to Dom and the boys. Why don’t you introduce Tegan to everyone.”

“Oh splendid! Let’s go Tegan! I’ll introduce you to my future in-laws first!”

I couldn’t hold in my laughter if I wanted to. Elli and her sister are polar opposites. But you can tell they have that sister bond. I grab Elli’s hand and we walk over to the very intense game of floor hockey. When Dom notices us, he calls out “I shot Dylan as goalie!”

“Hell no! He’s ten times bigger than the goal!”

“Don’t care. He’s on my team.” Dom says.

He get’s up and hugs Elli and then grabs my hand and brings me in to pat me on the back. Good ol’ bro hug. It’s so easy to get along with this kid. Definitely a future lady killer if he isn’t one already.

“Elli can I steal your boy toy so we can kick Shane’s ass?”

“That’s up to him!” she replies.

I look over to her and she’s smiling at the two of us. “Are you sure?”

“Of course! Have fun! I’ve got a few people to go say hi to. I’ll introduce you later!”

I kiss her in
an
extremely innocent way, no need to scar these boys yet. Dom hands me a mini stick and I get on their level to play a game I haven't played in years. I should make the Wolves play this. Make it a team bonding thing.

        As I’m repeatedly being shot at with a foam ball, I take glances at Elli every chance I get. As much as she won’t admit it, she’s a total people person. She can work a room like nobody I’ve ever seen. Easy conversation, genuine smiles and she really listens when someone talks.

Her mom goes over to her and drags her away, and I look over to see they’re headed to the group of men huddled at the bar watching a game. That’s when I see her dad joking around with one of the dads from the team. I debate whether or not to go over there with her and that’s when Dom taps me on the shoulder and shakes his head no. I watch her as she hugs her dad and a few of the guys around her, all trying to say their hellos. After about a minute of small talk, she eventually points my way and they all look towards where I’m on my knees with all their sons. I tap Dom and give him my stick. “I’ll be back in a few.”

I make my way over to where Elli is now smiling, and when I reach her I put my arm around her waist as she introduces me to all the dads from the team. You can tell by the easy way she acts and jokes with them that they’ve known each
 
other for a while. They measure me up and ask me some questions, and when they realize I play for the Wolves, I get another round of questions revolving around my future career. I guess I passed their tests, because then they start bantering Elli’s dad, whose name is apparently Vito.

“Vito might have a wedding to pay for soon!”

“Yea better watch out old man.”

“Look I see the gray hairs already!”

As Elli blushes and I laugh, her dad shakes his head and smirks. “No way this ones getting married yet. It’s Julie I have to worry about. Elli has to concentrate on school.”

All the boys come over and want to know who’s winning in whatever game is on. It seems like everytime I go to curse this guy out, something or someone unknowingly stops me before I can. I don’t know if it’s a good thing or not.

        I take Elli out of the room and she wraps her hands around my waist as I hold on to her.

“Don’t let him get to you El.”

“It’s one thing when he says it to just me, but when he says things like that in front of everyone, it just hurts.He doesn’t even realize he’s doing it.”

Tegan comes out from the room then and asks if Elli’s ok.

“Yea I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yea. Nothing I can’t handle.”

“Alright well it’s time to eat. Come on.”

We follow Tegan back into the room and head to the table. There’s one long table running from one side of the room to the other for all sixteen boys and their families. Julie, Tegan, Elli and I sit on one side of the table. Sitting across from us are Elli’s parents, and some of the team parents. All the boys are sitting at one end of the table talking about the teams they’re going to verse in the tournament this weekend.

As the waiters start taking drink orders and finish setting up the food for the buffet, Elli talks to a few of the parents sitting across from us. Turns out they have a younger daughter who is starting to look into colleges. Apparently Elli knows all about her and is giving her parents tons of recommendations for her to look at. Then a few of the other parents join in the conversation and Elli doesn’t miss a beat. She knows everyone's families, their likes and dislikes, what would be best for someone's particular situation. This girl floors me. All I can do is smile as she talks. I’m seeing a completely different side of her and I’m loving every minute of it.

As she talks, Dom interrupts and calls out to me. “Yo Dylan! These guys want a rematch on the ice. You down?”

All the parents look towards me and smile. “Of course. I’ll talk to Chris and see when the ice is free.”

“Think Anderson will come? I’d love to take a few more faceoffs with him.”

“I’m sure he’d love to try to prove himself so you all will stop making fun of him.”

That gets the boys talking and planning who’s going to play with who, and what moves they’re going to try in the shootout. A few want to try the spinorama I did and ask if I can teach them some techniques. Elli grabs my hand under the table and smiles up at me. I can see how happy she is and to know I’m the reason puts a matching smile on my face.

When the drinks are out and the buffet is ready, we all make our way over. Elli let’s all the kids go in front of us and when we finally start filling our plates, I notice Elli doesn’t have very much on hers. I give her a knowing look and she sighs and starts taking a bit more. Satisfied, I grab her plate for her and we walk back to the table where everyone has already started eating. Julie and Tegan’s plates are covered in mashed potato volcanoes, using gravy as the lava, and they make a contest who can eat the most and still have room for dessert.

I pull out Elli’s chair for her and we sit down. Vito looks over at us and gives Elli a disapproving look.

“You shouldn’t have the mashed potatoes Elli.”

Elli goes rigid next to me and I look at her dad. Is he really going to start with her here?

        “Just have a piece of turkey. All the extra carbs are no good,” he continues.

I’m speechless. Who says that to their daughter, especially in front of other people. But he’s not finished yet.

        “Don’t let yourself go again just because you’ve got a boyfriend now. You don’t want your surgery to go to waste. You have to watch it.”

That did it. Elli backs her chair up and speed walks out of the room, trying not to make a scene, but the tears starting to fall from her eyes are the last straw. Befor
e
 I get up, Dom is already following his sister out of the room. Julie is sitting there with her head down and Tegan looks like she’s just trying to understand what happened.

        I look at Elli’s mom who’s silently yelling at her husband as he shakes his head and claims he’s just trying to look out for his daughter. I finally finished the puzzle. Why Elli doesn’t like to eat in front of people; why she thought no guys would even look her way unless they were making fun of her; why she feels guilty after anything she eats. Things just start clicking and as I get up to go after her, I wonder if it’s even worth it to say anything to Vito. He seriously doesn't think he did anything wrong. I look over to everyone sitting around the table trying to ignore what just happened and then look straight at him. Yea, it’s worth it.

        “I’ve known you for less than 48 hours. I’d say I have no idea how Elli has dealt with you for so long, but I do
k
now how she’s dealt. And if you opened your eyes and stopped judging her, maybe you’d see the damage you’ve done and realize how beautiful your daughter is.”

        Without even listening to his remarks, I’m running towards where Elli headed and when I don’t see her in the lobby, I head outside. I finally find her on a bench, her legs are pulled up to her chest with her hands wrapped around her knees. She’s laying her head on Dom’s shoulder, while he talks to her. I make my way over to them and when Dom sees me, he motions in my direction so Elli sees me.

        I pull Elli up from the bench, take her spot and then sit her on my lap. She’s so small and to see her hurting like this breaks me. We sit there for a few minutes not saying anything. Then Dom gets up, squeezes Elli’s hand and walks back inside.

“I’m sorry I ruined your Thanksgiving Dylan.”