Page 176 of Small Town, Big Storm

“All right,” I hear after I serve another dozen (or maybe two) patrons with sodas and slushies, Home Ices and Cedar Hollow Kisses.

“All right what?”I ask, turning to Clem who is in full planning mode, complete with a clipboard and an earpiece connected to a walkie talkie.

“You’re relieved,” she says, checking off something on her board.

“Relieved from what?”

“Serving.”She looks up, hitches her head to the side.“Game time, Pop.Get that cute butt of yours inside.”

“I thought I was serving through the first period.”

“You thought wrong,” Cassie says, stepping by Clem and nudging me out of the way as she ties her apron around her middle.

“But what about you?”I ask.“I thought you wanted to watch the game.”

“I’m fine.”

“But—”

She looks at Clem.“Time for the big guns.”

Clem taps her earpiece.“Already on it.”

“What—”

“Mom!”Holly suddenly appears out of nowhere.“We need to go before we miss it!”

I narrow my eyes at Clem.“You play dirty.”

“And you need to actuallyplay,” she says.“Too much work makes Poppy a boring girl.”

“First, Storm makes sure that doesn’t happen.Second”—I hug Cassie, who’s already taking an order, and buss Clem on the cheek—“pot meet kettle.”

She just grins as Holly drags me away and in through the doors of the rink.

The players are on the ice, skating circles and passing and shooting, doing whatever hockey things they do to warm up.

But they’re coming to the glass just as much—smiling for pictures, tossing pucks over in exchange for candy and stuffed toys (though Smitty is staying far,faraway from the stuffed geese…and for some odd reason, a plush wombat).One lucky fan gets a signed stick from Brit Plantain, the first female goalie in the league.

She’s fully retired now, and just gave birth to her first baby a few months back, but she somehow was roped into manning one of the nets, and her husband, Stefan, is playing defense in front of her.They been joined by a few others from the Gold, including Calle Stevens who’s going to coach the away team’s bench.The Eagles crew—Rome, King, Rhodes, West, Huddy, and Cam—and half the Grizzlies contingent—Gray, Aiden, Smitty—are rounding out the visitor’s side.

And for the home team?

The Hawks are represented heavily—Storm, Shep, Ace, Clarke, Griff, and Wilder are all in attendance along with the rest of the Grizzlies—Leo, Ryan, and Sawyer—but it’s the Sierra who have actually provided another large group.

Lake Jordan, Riggs, Knox, Bear, and Colt are all playing.

And managing the bench is…Coach Joey.

She and Damon have been back to Cedar Hollow once since that night they imbibed in too many Cedar Hollow Kisses, bringing the Sierra crew and their spouses and kids with them, and though peace has been made and the past put aside, things aren’t exactly comfortable.

Though, Holly’s in heaven, having met and immediately befriended Ivy’s daughter, Evie.

Holly, Evie, Chloe, and Brit’s adopted daughter, Roxie—now deemed the fearsome foursome—have been running amok, creating chaos and battling it out with mini sticks and balls, and distributing cuteness, all while wearing flower crowns interlaced with glittery ribbons.

Quite the combo.

“Come on, Mom!”Holly says, dragging me forward again.I pause in my assessment of my man, tabling my need to make sure he’s not uncomfortable with all the attention of the day and the presence of the Sierra and Coach Joey.