“Why don’t you open it?” I handed the package to Heath. Hailey bounced on the balls of her feet. Unable to contain her excitement, she tore at the packaging, while Heath batted at her hands.

Finally, the thing was open, and several Sockeyes jerseys fell to the floor, followed by an envelope. The kids ignored the envelope and rifled through the jerseys, finding the one that fit them. They tugged them on. Hailey danced around the room, pretending she was figure skating. Heath slid across the hardwood floor shooting an imaginary puck into the kitchen and racing after it. I hadn’t seen him this animated in a long while. Both jerseys had Black on the back and Easton’s number.

There were two more Black jerseys presumably for Junie and me.

“Open the envelope,” Junie prodded, as giddy as the kids.

I picked it up and tore open the flap to find four hockey tickets to next Saturday’s game.

“I guess we’re going to the game on Saturday,” Junie said.

I opened my mouth to protest on principle only. The kids didn’t know Easton played hockey, and I’d been stalling because he’d be even more of a hero in their eyes once they found out. They’d taken to Easton in ways I’d only imagined, and I’d been feeling left out and sorry for myself. Easton was the shiny new toy, and I was the dependable, old stuffed animal they’d turn to when things went sideways.

“We’re going,” Junie insisted, shutting down my excuses before I had a chance to fully formulate them. “We can’t pass on this opportunity, any more than I can pass on what’s in this building.”

“This building?”

“Yeah, here. Duh. We live in a building that’s a smorgasbord of hot hockey players, and I can’t decide which one to eat next.” Junie shot me a wicked grin.

“Have you already sampled any of them?” I lowered my voice, but the kids weren’t paying us any attention. Heath was weaving in and out of the chairs and circling his sister, while she did her figure skating routine across the hardwood floor and sang her own version of a Disney song.

“Not yet, but I’m working on it. Several have offered to be my next meal.”

I rolled my eyes. “Junie, you’re disgusting.”

“I’m having fun. You should do the same, or have you already sampled what Easton has to offer?”

“Of course not. We’re barely friends.” I was pretty sure my face gave away my bald-faced lie because Junie laughed.

“It’s okay. You can have sex with him. He’s hot and available. You don’t have to have a committed relationship with every guy you hook up with. Learn to be more casual about sex. You’re so rigid.”

“I am not,” I protested, refusing to see the truth in her statement.

“Kids!” shouted Junie, “we’re going to the hockey game on Saturday.”

The kids cheered and gathered around us. I hugged them both.

Yes, we were going to a hockey game.