Page 76 of Playing it Safe

I smile despite everything. “Briar talked to you about me?”

“Duh.”

* * *

The Furnace is loud. Louder than last time, because this is game 4 of the playoffs, and twenty thousand people are buzzing at a frequency that vibrates the floor. I feel it in my feet as we walk through the concourse, and Deen tenses beside me.

She puts on her headphones. Good. I keep my hand near her shoulder so she knows I’ve got her. I watch for the wrists and the braids. If she starts rubbing or pulling, we need a break.

I text Spinner to find out where the guys are sitting.

Section 104. Row C. Hurry up, yo.

I look at the concourse. The noise is a wall. Someone has an air horn. A group of fans in Uprising jerseys is chanting in unison and stomping their feet. The bass from the arena speakers thumps through the concrete.

Deen pulls at her left braid.

I stop walking. "Hey. DD. You okay?"

She doesn't answer. She's gripping her purse strap with both hands, her jaw tight, staring at the floor. The headphones are on, but they're not enough. This is louder than the last game, more intense, the playoff energy amplifying everything.

"Okay," I say, keeping my voice calm. "We're going to find a quieter place. Is that all right?"

She nods. Small and tight.

I steer us away from the concourse and toward the staff elevator. I don't know exactly where I'm going, but I know the Furnace has back hallways and offices, and somewhere in this building there's a room that doesn't vibrate.

An usher in an Uprising polo spots me and does a double take — I'm hard to miss. "Can I help you?"

"I need a quiet space. Somewhere we can watch the game without the crowd noise. Is there a suite available? Or an office with a view of the ice?"

The staff member hesitates. "The suites are mostly booked tonight, but let me check with⁠—"

"Cameron?"

I turn. Ty Stag is walking toward us from the executive hallway. He looks from me to Deen, and his graying brow furrows with concern. "What do you need?" he asks.

"Somewhere quiet. The noise is too much for her tonight."

Ty nods once. No questions. No hesitation. “Let’s get you into a broadcast booth. Channel 3's dark tonight.”

Ty walks beside us. It’s quieter back here, but the space still rumbles. He smiles at DD. “You got any sparkles left for me?”

She shakes her head and clutches her wrists, and Ty shifts into a more determined stride. He gestures for me to go first as we reach the door to a booth overlooking the ice. The glass is thick. The sound drops by half the moment the door closes. There are swivel chairs, a long desk with dormant equipment, and a perfect, sweeping view of the rink from above.

Deen takes off her headphones. She looks at the ice, at the empty seats filling below us, at the Zamboni making its final pass. Her shoulders relax.

"This is better," she says.

Ty pulls out a chair for her. "Briar's sister, right?”

She sits and adjusts her purse on the desk beside her. “Yep.”

"My name's Ty."

"I remember. You’re her big boss.”

Ty smiles. “Sort of. You two good up here? I can have someone bring food."