We Can See STARS

Chapter 16: Five Goals; October 2020

"Are you excited? Your first regular season home game?"

"Usually, it's just another game to me. I'm actually nervous about this."

"Really?"

"Yes! I'm not really known for scoring goals, you know. I'm not MacKinnon after all." He was starting to get agitated out of nervousness so I let off on teasing him. Now that the season was starting, Jamie was determined to meet my challenge: 5 goals within the first 5 games of the season and I will move to Dallas.

My secret was that I wanted to move in with him anyway but my trepidation was holding me back, causing me to find more excuses not to. But seeing how seriously he took this challenge showed me how committed he was to make it happen.

I looked at him seriously, "J?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you and believe that you can make this happen."

"I love you too. And at least one of us does."

"Okay, go kick ass. I'll be watching." I smiled widely and hoped that his nerves would work for him and not against him.

"Always do," he returned my smile, "see ya, kid."

The screen darkened before taking me back to my home screen. I sighed heavily before setting the phone down and getting back to work. There were 3 more reports to complete before I could call it a day. A fight broke out during lunch today and both kids had scheduled visits with me. One of the school policies I wasn't sure was completely effective but was mostly harmless. I'd let them talk (or not) for the first fifteen minutes and then play a game before sending them back to class. Reports had to be written up for any future behavioral issues or for parental involvement. The third kid, Julie, was a standing appointment for her IEP. She was a sweet kid on the spectrum and could get wound up in class and our appointments were usually pretty laid back with the exception of the occasional bad day.

As I was finishing the last report, I got a call from Ana. "Heyyyy! First game of the season! Are you ready?"

"Ummm...of course! Hey, what do I need to bring tonight?"

"Just yourself and that jersey of yours! Oh, and also I ordered wings so if you could pick them up on your way pleeeease?"

"Yes, of course." I laughed to myself.

"I've got everything else. Including the Coors! Suck one!"

"Do you have any other alcohol that doesn't require me to have only 3 teeth to drink?"

"Yeah, I might have a German lager or two."

"Yessss! Okay, I'm almost done at work. I've got comfy clothes in the car so I'll be there soon!!"

"See ya! Don't forget the wings!"

"Right! Text me the name of the place."

In an hour, I was laid up on Ana's couch in my Stars jersey with some salt and vinegar wings and German beer. The girl sure knew how to pick out a beer...except for the Coors.

"Did you talk to Benn today?" I asked before tearing into a drumlet, eyes still on the screen.

"Yeah, he called me this morning. We've been planning when we'll see each other next."

"What did you guys come up with?"

"When my duties for the season are done and I can start working from home again, I'm going to travel with the team for a bit and stay with him in Dallas."

"Cool, for how long?"

She tried not to, but her smile reached from ear to ear, almost literally, "a month."