Page 26 of A Shot at Love
For Frankie, this day represented so much more than playing a game. It was a milestone, not only for herself, but for women working in sports.
Having another woman behind the bench in the league and watching her lead, watching her show the world how capable she is, was monumental. Not only was Frankie debuting as the second ever female coach, both teams with female coaches were kicking off their seasons that night on opposite sides of the country and that was something to be proud of.
And Frankie was going to dinner with the team after the game.
“Of course I’m going,” Jules said. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
"Good, and I have a surprise for you. I think you're going to love it."
Hours later, Jules slid into her seat at TD Garden and the energy coursing through the building before the teams came out for warmups was electric. Given the Bruins were one of the original teams in the league and a franchise with over one hundred years of history, an atmospheric environment is exactly what she expected.
Just as she did on the first game of every season since her brother’s professional career began, she had arrived wearing his jersey. This year, she got to weara Halifax Harbour jersey withClarke 44stitched on the back and the start of a new season, especially with a new team, was always a a thrill.
Cam had worn the number 44 since he was ten and their dad gave him the choice between 21 and 44. He’d chosen the latter and had never strayed from it.
She received a few looks of disdain from the home fans around her as she got settled and given the fact that the Harbour were a new team, there were very few jerseys like the one she was wearing scattered around the rink.
Her seat was located a few rows up from the glass directly across the ice from the away team bench so when the music in the arena changed and the players on both teams flooded the ice for their warm up, she had a clear view of the tunnel that led to and from the away team dressing room.
As coaching staff don’t typically come out to the bench for the pre-game skate, Jules had to patiently await Frankie’s arrival but she watched her brother take his first skate as one of the stars of a brand new franchise.
Jules didn't notice it at first as she watched Cam glide across the ice with ease, a fluidity to his strides she always envied. She'd wondered more than once over the last decade if she could have been as he was if she’d been given the chance.
Cam turned and then she caught sight of it, the 'surprise' he'd mentioned – a large C on his chest above his heart.
Her breath caught in her throat, her vision blurring slightly from the enormity of what she was witnessing. Her brother, theCaptain.He'd dreamt of it, had once told her that even being named an Alternate captain would mean everything to him, but this was so much more.
Cam skated around the boards with a puck at his blade and stopped, scooping it up with his stick. He tossed it over the glass for a young fan then glanced up into the crowd in search of Jules and when their eyes met, he grinned and tapped the C on his jersey.
Her twin, her family, her best friend, andCaptainof the Halifax Harbour. He waved, smiling bigger and brighter than he had in months and a stray tear rolled down Jules' cheek.
“You must be so proud of your boyfriend,” said the woman in the seat beside Jules, her voice just loud enough to be heard over the music. “He is so handsome and he’s the captain? How lucky are you!”
“Oh, hah, no,” Jules replied, her own voice nearly a shout. She smiled awkwardly and used her sleeve to dry any stray tears on her cheek. “I mean, yes, I am proud, but he’s not my boyfriend. He’s my brother.”
“My apologies,” her seatmate said. “I’m sorry for assuming, you just…you look the part, that’s all.”
“No worries,” Jules laughed. “It happens all the time.”
It was the only real downside to wearing her brother’s jersey; the fact that people often mistook her for someones wife or girlfriend. Jules couldn’t deny that she had the stereotypical look of a hockey player’s partner but in her case, she preferred the opposite sex, never once feeling a damn thing for the men she had been watching play for years.
Warm-ups ended and Jules sat back down in her seat, her leg bouncing up and down nervously as the music inside the arena thundered, the bass vibrating in her chest. It was so loud she almost couldn’t think but fifteen minutes later after two zamboni’s had passed over the ice, the lights dimmed and the pre-game show started, kicking off the home team’s season.
Through the flashing lights, Jules watched Cam’s team come down the tunnel and as the starting lineup stepped onto the ice, the remaining players flooded the bench, followed by the coaching staff.
She couldn’t get a good look at anyone until the main arena lights came back on. She'd have to wait until after the announcement of the home team’s roster for the season was complete and the national anthems had been sung but as soon as the rink was lit, Jules zeroed in on Frankie immediately.
Her fiery red hair was pulled up into a high ponytail and she donned a light blue pantsuit that matched a shade of blue on the Harbour’s jersey. She looked gorgeous and confident, even though Jules knew that inside she was likely fighting a war with herself, the weight on her shoulders surely unlike anything she’d ever felt before.
Jules watched Frankie look around the arena, her eyes wide as she took it all in, basking in a moment she would never again experience; her debut as a coach in the biggest hockey league in the world.
A few seconds later, almost like Frankie had been searching for Jules in the crowd, a wide grin slid onto her face when their eyes met and everything around Jules, all of the noise, the people, the buzz of the atmosphere and enormity occasion, disappeared making her feel like the only person in the whole rink.
When Frankie looked at her, Jules felt like she mattered, like she was more than just a hockey player’s sister. When Frankie looked at her, she felt like a wanted woman. She felt seen.
And Frankie had said as much to her on their first night together in the restaurant – that shesawher.
But given where they were, who Frankie was and what this night meant, Jules knew that she shouldn’t feel as important as the smile on Frankie’s face made her feel, but she did.
