Hockey With Benefits

The hockey guys came in. Burford went out. Then, Burford came in again, fighting back tears, and I was starting to slide off my stool when my phone buzzed.

Dad: Hey, honey. We’ve not talked in a bit. I’d love to come see you. I have new things to tell you about.

I frowned, heading outside.

Cruz was just coming in, but pulled back, a frown on his face at seeing me.

I held up a finger and motioned farther over in the parking lot for some privacy. I hit dial and held the phone up to my ear.

My dad picked up right away. “Mara!”

“What’s going on?” The alarm was real and tight in my stomach, though he sounded happy.

“Oh, Mara. No. It’s all good.” He laughed. “I was calling to let you know that I took your advice. I’m attending this support group. I don’t think I told you that part, but I met a woman there. She was attending with her sister, who comes regularly, but the woman and I hit it off. Her name is Gabriela and, uh, we’ve been dating. For a couple weeks now. She’s wonderful, Mara.”

“I–” I was stunned. “You’re dating?”

“Yeah.” Another laugh from him, more relieved. “Can you believe it? I really like her.”

“You haven’t dated since you divorced Mom.”

“I know!”

God. He was happy.

I pressed back against the building, feeling Cruz move in closer.

I reached out, touching his chest, and he lifted his hand, taking mine in his. His thumb rubbed over the back of my hand while I choked up.

I said, my voice hoarse, “I’m happy to hear that, Dad. You sound happy.”

“I am. I really am, and listen, I’m handling things on this end with your mom. You don’t need to worry about anything. Okay? I really want you to know that. I know things are a mess with your mom. They always will be, but at the end of the day, your mom is never going to leave you. I’m never going to leave you. I’m only saying that because sometimes I think you worry I’ll go away. I won’t. I never was. Right now, you go to college and focus on yourself. Be happy yourself. Be a kid, Mara. Within reason, of course. Don’t drink or drink and drive. Don’t have sex. Don’t get an STD. Don’t cheat. You know, the normal things a dad is going to worry about their daughter doing in college. I just want you to be a kid right now.”

“Thanks, Dad.” A pressure lifted off my shoulders.

“Let me know when is a good time to visit you. I’d love to bring Gabby up with me.”

“Maybe next week?”

“Sure. Next week! We’ll come for the weekend, and I can meet your boyfriend. He plays hockey, right?”

I smiled, remembering how Cruz had handled everything for me, calling my dad, telling him what my mom did. “Yes. He has a hockey game here. I’ll get us tickets.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll get us tickets. You just tell me what day. I’ll handle all of that.”

We ended the call not long after, and Cruz pulled me closer to him. He rested his chin on the top of my head. “Your dad’s got a new woman?”

“You heard?”

“Hard not to. He sounded happy.”

“He did.”

He did. He really did, and standing, half resting against Cruz, I went down the checklist and realized something.

Life was good. I turned in to Cruz, my arms sliding behind his back as I hugged him. I held him as tight as I could, and after a beat, his arms went around me too. Both of his arms.

We stayed there, just like that for a bit.

Life was really good.

“Cruz,” I murmured, my heart pausing because did I want to say this? Did I want to push this and risk going too far? But I was feeling it, and I was done with holding back. I’d held so much back all my life. I looked up at him.

He gazed down at me. “What?”

I held my breath and then said, “I love you.”

His eyes softened. His smile turned tender, and he touched a finger under my chin. “I think I’ve always loved you.” Then his lips touched mine.

So, this was what love felt like.