Bring it on

Chapter 17

Skating off the rink, I could feel the ice was colder than it usually was, and my muscles ached from the practice. The team had a game the next day, and I knew we needed to keep up the momentum. I grabbed my bag and threw it over my shoulder, glancing towards the stands. That's when I saw Natalie.

She was off the ice, a bit flushed from her own session, her movements as graceful as always. There was something so magnetic about the way she carried herself, an elegance I couldn't quite get used to even after spending so much time together. But today was different. Today, I was about to meet the people who'd shaped her into the person she was, the figure skater I was falling for.

Natalie had invited me over to meet her family after practice. She'd mentioned it casually once, like it was no big deal, but I knew it meant something to her. I wasn't exactly used to meeting the families of the women I was seeing, but there was something about Natalie that made me just want to step out of my comfort zone.

We drove over to her place together, and the closer we got to her neighborhood, the more nervous I started to get. Id met plenty of parents-mostly my teammates moms after games or after practices-but this was a little different. I was meeting the parents of the woman I liked, someone I didn't want to mess things up with.

We pulled into the driveway and Natalie smiled over at me, reaching for her bag. "You ready?" she asked-the tone was light, but I could hear the quiet excitement edging it.

"As ready as I'll ever be," I said, trying to sound confident, though in truth, I felt rather like I was about to face a test I hadn't studied for.

We walked to the front door, and while she was knocking, I saw a glimpse of her nervousness too. She wasn't just introducing me to her family; she was bringing a hockey player home. It was in the air, like we were both walking a tightrope between two very different worlds.

The door swung open with a cheerful creak, and an older woman stood before him--her blonde hair just like Natalie's, though streaked liberally now with silver. "Natalie! So good to see you, sweetheart."

"Hi, Mom," Natalie said, her face lighting up as she stepped into the embrace of her mother. "I brought Ethan.

Her mother's gaze shifted to me, and abruptly I was acutely aware of my hockey team hoodie and that my hair was still damp from a combination of sweat and steam. I pulled myself up a little straighter, trying to look presentable.

Ethan," her mother said, smiling at me-though the expression didn't quite make it to her eyes. "Nice to meet you." Her tone was polite, but there was a thinly veiled curiosity there, as though she was trying to figure me out.

"Nice to meet you too, ma'am," I replied, extending my hand. She took it briefly and then pulled Natalie inside.

As we entered, I was already feeling the house warm up. The living room was cozy, with family photos and some framed awards about-this or that-I was able to hazard a guess that some belonged to Natalie from her skating. I was standing by the door, observing.

"You're just in time," Natalie's mother said, "Dinner will be ready in a bit. Why don't you go on into the backyard? Your dad's out there with Kitzer."

"Kitzer?" I asked, not quite following.

"Oh, you'll see," Natalie said with a smirk, "He's a big dog. German Shepherd. You'll love him."

I wasn't much of a dog person, but if it was important to Natalie, I'd make an effort.

We stepped through the sliding door to the backyard, and I saw him immediately. Kitzer. The huge German Shepherd bounded toward me, his tail wagging like a wrecking ball. Sleek coat, well-groomed, alert intelligent eyes. Before I could even take a step back, the dog was on me, jumping up with surprising strength, knocking me slightly off balance.

"Hey!" I laughed, trying to get a grip on the dog's collar. "Easy there, buddy."

Kitzer's paws were all over me, but I wasn't exactly in a position to push him off-especially with how excited he was. I could feel Natalie's parents watching from the window, but I was too focused on keeping the dog from tackling me to care.

"Looks like he likes you," Natalie said, watching with an entertained look.

At first, I did not know what to do, but instinct took over: I squatted, letting Kitzer sniff my hand, and then gently stroked his head. The dog really seemed to like that, his tail wagging even harder. I couldn't help but smile. I'd never been a huge fan of dogs, but there was something about Kitzer's energy that was infectious.

"He's a lot, isn't he?" Natalie said, laughing.

I nodded, still trying to balance. "A little more than I expected. But he's not bad."
"Oh, he's bad alright," she said, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. "But only in the best ways. He's a good guard dog too," she said. "Keeps everyone on their toes.

Kitzer sat back on his haunches, still staring at me with those sharp eyes, and I took a step back, giving him space. It was then that I noticed her father sitting on the porch, watching us. He had a relaxed expression, one hand resting on the arm of his chair as he looked between me and his dog.

Ethan, this is my dad, James," Natalie said, her tone soft. "Dad, this is Ethan, the one I've told you about."

I turned and extended my hand to shake his, and for a second, there was a silent understanding, a challenge, between us. James wasn't being adversarial, yet the protective vibe was etched in the lines on his face.

"You're a hockey player, huh?" he asked, his voice neutral, yet laced with an edge.

"Yeah, that's right," I said, feeling obliged to add a bit more to the conversation. "I play for the Wolves in the city."

His eyes flickered, perhaps impressed, perhaps skeptical-I couldn't tell. "Good to meet you. I'm sure we'll have plenty to talk about."

"Looking forward to it," I said, trying to make sure I didn't sound too nervous.

The moment stretched between us, and then Kitzer decided he'd had enough of standing still. He yelped loudly and launched himself at me again, tail wagging furiously. I burst out laughing, caught off guard this time, but ready. I steeled myself, bracing for the full impact of the playful dog.

"Guess he likes you more than I thought," Natalie said, laughing.

I grinned. "Guess so."

Dinner whizzed by in a haze. Her mom's cooking was out of this world, and I made small talk between bites. Natalie's dad wasn't exactly warm, but I could tell he was sizing me up, weighing how serious I was about his daughter. Kitzer kept me on my toes, and at one point, he climbed up onto my lap as I sat on the couch, resting his head on my shoulder like he owned me. I didn't mind. It was kind of nice.

By the time it was winding down, I felt weirdly at ease in their home, considering how nervous I'd been. Natalie's family was hospitable, in their own way; Kitzer, too- he seemed to have decided I was alright. That was a decent enough beginning.