Page 50 of The Pucking Coach's Daughter

Does wearing a player’s sweatshirt mean the same here as it does at SJU…?

Because there, it means they’re exclusive. And I didn’t really think about that when I put it on, but the looks… the way people are behaving…

Dyl

Like, their personal one?

The one that has their name embroidered on it

omg.

[Brandon has been added to the chat]

Dylan

She’s wearing one of their personal sweatshirts.

Brandon

???

Dyl

SEND US A PICTURE.

I shake my head and lift my phone, making sure that Penn’s name on my sleeve isn’t legible.

Me

[IMAGE]

Brandon

Well, there’s your golden ticket.

Dyl

Although, if you were ever planning on hiding under the radar…

Brandon

Even Andi never got to wear Ruiz’s.

Shit.

I glance around and slink lower.

The arena goes dark. We stand for the national anthem, sang by the a capella group.

“So, you’re team Vipers now, right?” the girl beside me asks.

“Oh.” My gaze flicks to my father on the bench, behind the line of players not starting. “Yeah. Yes.”

She smiles. “Cool.”

I don’t know how to respond, so I… don’t.

The puck is dropped. FSU wins the face-off, sending it back into their defensive zone. Now that I’ve said it out loud, I realize it’s true. After everything my father has done for me, I want him to win.