Page 99 of Goalie Interference

“Well, I am sorry, then,” I say.

Ander slings his arm over my shoulder and gives me a little shake. “He’s not either,” he says, and I expect him to let go of me, but he doesn’t. He keeps his arm draped over my shoulders and his hand rests on my upper arm in a very familiar way.

I shift slightly, suddenly clueing in to what this might look like. But Ander just pulls me tighter. Subtlety isn’t exactly his strong suit.

Cassidy eyes us curiously and asks, “What brings the two of you out together?”

“Who, us?” Ander pulls me in even closer, then winks at her. “Goalie secret.”

“Right.” She narrows her eyes. “You crazy goalies and all your secrets. There must be plenty to discuss.” It’s a good thing us goalies have the reputations we do, because if not, this looks an awful lot like another type of secret. She turns her attention to the dogs bouncing all over each other. “So who’s this?” she asks, pointing at Shutzie.

“That’s Shutzie,” Ander says proudly.

I take this opportunity to slip out from under his arm and crouch down to the dog’s level. I pet the top of her Yorkie’s head with two fingers. Looking up at her, I ask, “And who is this?”

“Oh him, ahh…” She blushes. “Well, that’s kind of embarrassing.”

“Why?” Ander asks. “Did you name him Ten-Minute Misconduct?”

“That would be a bit of a mouthful.” She laughs. Then, rolling her eyes, she confesses, “His name’s Marshal, actually.”

“As in Gavin Marshal?” Ander guffaws, almost doubling over. “You have got to be kidding me. I need a picture of this dog. I have to show Gavin. He’s gonna crack up at the resemblance.”

Since I’m closest to the dogs, I pick one up in each hand and give them back to their owners. “Give me your phone,” I say to Ander. “I will take picture.”

“Thanks,” Ander says, handing me his phone.

I take the shot as quickly as I can, eager to move on. We’ve spent enough time here and I can see Cassidy’s gears turning. We need to keep this moving before she starts asking more questions and Ander, in his friendly nature, reveals more than he should.

“Can I get a picture too?” she asks.

“Sure.” I hold my hand out, expecting her to give me her phone. She doesn’t.

“With the both of you, and the dogs.” She gestures for me to come in close. Ander immediately slings his arm around my shoulders again, as she holds the phone out in front of us to take the picture, selfie style. With a little luck, her arms will be too short to get all three of us in frame.

“Perfect!” she says after she takes it, then pockets her phone. “Well, I’ve taken up enough of your time. Thanks again. I’m a huge fan!”

“Anytime,” Ander says and gives her a two-finger salute before she walks away. He places Shutzie back down on the ground and looks up at me. “She was nice. You never know what fans are going to be like in enemy territory, you know?”

“Yes. I do know,” I say, with a sense of unease pooling in my stomach. Or maybe I’m simply hungry.

Two store fronts down, there’s a coffee shop. I offer to buy us breakfast.

“That’d be great,” Ander says, smiling widely at me. He’s so incredibly happy right now, I don’t even want to mention to him my worries from our interaction. She clearly was a hockey fan, especially to recognize two goalies. Our faces are always covered with our masks. We’re not exactly easy to spot in the wild. And while she seemed confused as to why the two of us were out together walking Ander’s little dog, she didn’t seem like the type to be offended by it.

But she did seem curious. And that’s enough to make me wonder.

THIRTY

Ander

I’m still on cloud nine as I drive home from Toronto. Surprising Nikolai was a great idea even if it was tough to say goodbye this morning. Stolen moments with Nikolai are good for the soul, and my game, if history this season is anything to go by.

I’m rolling at a quick clip in my Range Rover down Queen Elizabeth Way towards the border crossing when my phone rings. According to the display on my car’s screen, it’s Coach Matthews.

Odd. We don’t play until tonight and today’s morning skate is optional. There’s no reason for Coach to be calling me.

With my brow furrowed, I press the answer button on the screen. “Hey, Coach. What’s up?”