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"Mom, as the lady with the bony ass in the bathrooaze frantically went back and forth between Kacie and the girls

"First of all, don’t say bony ass Second of all,"--Kacie looked froh "

"Relax It was fine" Kacie gently squeezed ave it to her Then it was ood as Darla, but for once I didn’t freeze Proud of ot to the parking lot that led to the players’ vehicles

I opened the doors for theht? I wouldn’t lie to you Ever"

For just a brief second, Kacie’s face fell into sadness and her eyes looked at the ground "I know you wouldn’t I totally believe you, that’s why I’m not worried about it I’ll follow you to your house" She planted a sot hoirls had perked back up and were excited for a fun night They fell out of Kacie’s Jeep and yelled all the way to the elevator, listening to their echoes in the parking garage

We walked into my house and Diesel da there As soon as ere in the door, I ordered a couple pizzas since it was already late

"What ti to planned, but the girls do have school Monday, so I didn’t want to leave too late" She walked over and grabbed her purse off the counter

"Sounds good Wanna have breakfast at Scooter Joe’s?"

Her face lit up "Yes! I irls will love it there"

"What is this?" I asked as she put tenty dollar bills in my hand

"For dinner"

"Hell no Are you nuts?" I tried to give her themoney from you"

"Yes, you are, or I’ll be mad" She crossed her arms and put her nose up in the air dramatically

"I don’t need the money, Kacie"

"I know you don’t, but that’s not the point You got us tickets, parking, and enough souvenirs to last a lifetime" She pointed to the stack of T-shirts, mini hockey sticks, pucks, and Brody Murphy bobblehead dolls on my counter "I need to pay uing with you Just know that you’ll get it back," I prouys really have fun tonight?"

"We had a really good ti you out there My favorite part, though, atching you after the ga rooaled into my side "In the hallway outside the locker roo pictures You were in your glory"

She was right That was one of o to coroup of cheering fans, even if you lost

"I love that part"

"I can tell" She s does that feel?"

"Before I kne it felt to be the player, I kne it felt to be that kid One of my favorite childhood memories: April 18th, 1999, Madison Square Garden with aht me a Gretzky jersey that we probably couldn’t afford and insisted that we stay after to get his autograph" She laid her head onyou?"