Hockey Pucks & Pixie Dust

18 - We'll See Each Other Again

The arena roared with cheering fans as Storm flew across the ice with ease and scored a goal. Like the first time Sindri had seen him, he did a little shimmy and fist-pumped the air. However, when Storm glanced up, his gaze was crystal clear as he found Sindri in the front row beside the home team.

How he'd picked her out among a sea of screaming fans was a mystery, but Sindri's heart swelled as recognition settled behind irises the color of an afternoon sky and Storm smiled. Passing the players' bench on his way to center ice, he blew her a kiss and winked.

Sindri mimed catching it close to her heart and waved. Several spectators stared and cheered, but she ignored them. The only thing she was interested in tonight was the man wearing way too much padding as he glided with the grace of a falcon.

She hadn't told him she'd planned to attend. In fact, she'd hardly texted him or spoken to anyone since returning to the human realm. Paloma had been MIA, though Sindri suspected her absence had more to do with Elvinia's and Thayer's interference than an actual desire to stay away. Paloma never could refrain from seeking answers, and she'd find a way to establish contact when she could. The young tooth fairy never could resist breaking rules.

No stray pucks found their way to Sindri's side of the arena, and no imps giggled or rhymed inside her mind. As Sindri watched the game, she really paid attention this time, seeking answers on her phone to her endless questions, and she cheered with everyone else when Storm scored.

At the end of the game as everyone gathered their things and prepared to leave, Sindri sat in her chair and waited for the arena to clear. The players exited the rink, and within a few minutes, a text from Storm pinged her phone. 'Hey! I didn't expect to see you here tonight.'

She grinned and typed back. 'I realized you had a game tonight and thought I'd come watch. You play well.'

'Aww, thanks. Maybe that's because you're my good luck charm. :D Are you free tonight? If you can give me about an hour, I'm all yours.'

All hers, huh? Still bold as ever, yet endearing. 'Someone is confident. 😋' She noticed belatedly as she sent her text that he'd typed out the symbols while Sindri had used an emoji. In this day and age, she'd incorrectly assumed everyone used them.

"Guess I'll have to remember to throw everything I thought I knew out the window," she mumbled as another text appeared.

'I'm confident in having that date tonight. ;)'

Sindri laughed, enjoying his easy charm. In person, he was shy and almost a little awkward, but on the phone, he chatted like it was the most natural thing in the world. Given his age and the technology he'd grown up with though, it probably was second nature. 'Are you hoping for the superhero variety or something more normal along the lines of a late dinner?'

'Can I settle for magical without being the knight in distress?'

He was never going to let her live that down.

He suddenly texted again. 'Gotta put my phone down. I'll meet you at the gate?'

Sindri texted an affirmative and stowed her phone in her purse. When she went to collect her items and trash, she locked eyes with Paloma, who waited at the end of the row, hugging herself as she bit her lip. When Sindri waved, her best friend made a beeline through the aisle and hugged her tight.

"Are you really not coming home?" she asked, face buried in the crook of Sindri's shoulder and neck. "The queen said you were so upset but won't tell me what happened."

Of course not. One thing Sindri had always respected besides the fact Elvinia had been the only mother she'd ever known was that the older woman kept everything to herself. She only revealed facts on a need-to-know basis. But sadly, that wasn't enough to wipe clean the sense of betrayal that had opened a huge rift between them.