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Now, in most circumstances, the fact that this team lost a valuable player as well as a loved one froest of confidence But the opposite seeuys went out there and played like they were on fire Their body checks were harder, their passes crisper, and their execution near flawless They beat New York 7–1 in a coht, Garrett couldn’t even work up a smile over the victory

Because Gina’s funeral was scheduled for Friday, the teaainst Pittsburgh and added a ame onto the schedule a fewat Fleurish while Garrett had team practices and workouts He went to see Zack twice more, and twice more he was upset over how destroyed Zack seemed to be I assured Garrett that, in tiive up hope

Garrett stayed over at ht this week, and there see It was al to iood and alive He held er and hotter, he touched me all over, and when I didn’t think I could bear any more, he’d start all over His words as he ent, als All of this was both pleasing and disconcerting tobecause I’ve felt more connected to him than ever before, and yet it alsoon the frailty of life Maybe Gina’s life, maybe mine Probably both

Garrett opens the front door of Zack’s house and we enter in a of friends and fa, the streets lined with fans who had come out to pay their respects Gina wished to be cre her ashes that I see now sits up on the h the house, Garrett stopping every so often to introduce htly I see Gina’s parents sitting in the living roo Benja a book and I have to wonder what a three-year-old really understands about all this Does he know his e understand death? Part of me says no, because I can barely comprehend it at times

The kitchen counters are laden with food Casseroles, sandwiches, desserts, and salads No one see food to these things I ht now?

Garrett spies Zack out on the back deck with several other teammates, so we head that way Zack has reht arm is in a soft cast and held in place by a shoulder harness It’s the first time I’ve seen him since the accident, only the second time I’ve been around him, and I’roup, and for the first ti It’s an aard one because , but I see the briefest of smiles flit across Zack’s face before sadness filters back in place

Stepping forward, I reachHis good aroes around my waist

"I’ht words to say," I tell hi away, I’m rewarded with a faint s"

Thankfully, the guys all lapse back into hockey talk, going over the highlights of Tuesday’s ga and listens, but doesn’taround, I see Sutton and Alex standing down in the yard, talking to a couple I don’t recognize Reaching out, I give Garrett’s arm a quick squeeze then walk down the deck steps When I approach the group, Sutton gives"Hey, you"

"Hey," I say softly, and then Alex makes introductions

"Olivia…this is Mike and Kelly Malone Mike was on the second line with Zack last season but then got traded to Chicago"

As I shake Kelly and Mike’s hands, Alex adds on, "This is Olivia Case She’s Sutton’s cousin, but ht Garrett to heel"

Sutton snorts, and Mike’s and Kelly’s jaws drop I glance at Alex and he’s shootingGarrett?" Mike asks incredulously "As in…seen him more than two…three times?"

It’s hilarious how ironclad Garrett’s reputation was, andeach about six weeks now"

"Unbelievable," Kelly says with awe and respect "I didn’t think he had it in him"

"Well, don’t underestiet, and Garrett went a-chasin’," Alex says with a laugh

Yeah…I didn’t play all that hard to get, having slept with Garrett on our first date But I wasn’t about to say that

Instead, I give them my best and most mischievous smile, and tell the the closest"

"You have that backward," Garrett says froet to turn around as his arms wrap around my chest and I’ near me, and only after I met her was I ready to fall"