Page 60 of The Replay

The lights come back on. A big creak rumbles through the elevator, and we both snap to attention.

I get up and help her. She sighs.

"Okay," I say as the elevator starts to move. "I get it now."

She gazes up at me with teary eyes. "I'm so sorry I hurt you. I know saying goodbye was painful to both of us, and that none of it would have happened if not because of my family, my goals, and my career…"

All I can do is nod.

"Now I realize your call wasn't selfish." She sighs. "It was hopeful. And I squashed it without enough kindness. Only to come here too wound up about everything to see how all of it affected you as well."

Something in my soul clicks into place. Relief trickles through me. Those are words I've needed to hear.

I take a deep breath. "Yeah, me too. I'm sorry for how things went."

I have no idea what it means for how we'll act when we're together next, whenever that happens. Probably at the game this Sunday, but one thing is sure.

There's a new scar among my organs. It's there while training. It stings while driving to the stadium. It's still mending. I just wish I had the time and space to make sure it heals right. I'm not eager to figure out if it does.

Chapter 19

Mariana

The elevator I'm in today is much fancier than the one at the library ten days ago. It goes up smoothly, with no weird sounds screeching around me at all. If this one got stuck, I'd be truly shocked. I smile. I'm safer today because I'm in the Strike's stadium.

I'm also calmer because of what happened with Dom in the elevator. It's not that he has a magical healing dick. It's a really nice dick, and he knows how to use it really well, but it didn't cast a powerful spell over me and my life. As well as that new grounding technique worked, it was the conversation afterwards that changed things. Talking about my family's way of life put everything on the table. It didn't fix everything but it gave me peace. That's how things are, and that's that.

Our talk resolved so much of the friction between Dom and me, too. He understood. We accepted each other. We haven't exchanged sharp texts or hard looks or harsh words since. Not that we've had a lot of chances to test it, but it feels different. Something in the air, or something in my mind, or even in my chest. Whatever it is, I'm lighter.

The stainless steel doors open in front of me, and I walk onto the suite floor in search of Evie and the crew. We're watching the Strike's home game together. Afterwards, when the guys are done and they come join us, I'll see Dom. I'll get to check if we really are over our petty arguments.

I find the door with the right number on it, texted to me two days ago.

"Mariana! You made it!" Pen exclaims as soon as I come in.

I grin. "Yes! Excited to be here."

Pen picks up a glass from the bar, making it look like she was in the middle of getting herself a drink. "Do you want to take anything with you? Ames and Evie are sharing some yerba mate, but I feel like something different at the moment."

I smile and pour myself a glass of white wine. "Mate? I don't usually hear people talking about it."

It's not as popular in Chile as it is in neighboring countries, including Argentina and Uruguay, where Evie and Ames' families are from. I only know it from visiting my mom's parents in Ottawa and later in London. They used to drink it every day.

"At least you seem to know what I'm talking about. That means you'll fit right in."

I follow her toward the front, where I greet Evie, Ames, and Nat. We split between two rows, so we can keep a close group and still watch the game. As expected, Evie and Ames pass a mate gourd back and forth. From my spot, I can see the small container with yerba and a thermos of hot water. It's a nostalgic moment. I didn't get to see my grandparents often, but the memories stayed with me.

"You got here right on time." Nat sips straight from a bottle, the kind you'd expect to be beer or a fizzy drink, though I'm not sure what she's having. "The guys are about to come out."

We stand and watch as the Strike makes their way onto the field. Player by player, they run between cheerleaders and smoke screens. When someone from the friend group sprints out of the tunnel, we cheer extra hard.

Dom is the last one to come out. It feels weird to pretend indifference. Not here, not after everything. So I applaud and make encouraging noise like everyone else around me. He wouldn't believe it if someone told him about it, but I know. It's just like when we were in college, and I went to his games for moral support. Except this time there are literal fireworks to amp up the moment.

"It's a little different than hockey," Ames tells me after a while. "Which I assume you know? You’ve probably been to football games before."

They're all wearing jerseys, though they have all styled them differently. Nat wears it loose over jeans, Ames has it tucked at the front of her capri pants, Pen's is oversized over leggings, and Evie has tucked it at the waist, secured with a belt into a loose skirt.

I sip from my wine. "I have been to a lot of games and sporting events. My family has always been involved one way or another. But yeah, lots of football. Even more hockey."