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The energy inside the arena was crazy I could feel it as it began to fill up, but e stepped into the interior portion that would lead us down to our seats, it struck me in the center of hts strobe across the ice The tickets Tacker gave us are extreood seats three rows off the ice Wea beer and popcorn and me with a foam hand, a pom-pom, and Diet Coke

After we find our seats, we spend the tie eyes as we take in the spectacle around us Fans with their faces painted up and ather down at the glass with hand-painted signs Little kids wait expectantly for their favorite player to make an appearance

And then, an announcer’s voice co so loud and deep I can feel it ruentlemen, please welcoeance!”

I swivel ure out where the teaate opens, and the teah They hit the ice hard and fast, ready to take down their opponents I think this is just a war their helao by

Raul nudges me in the arm “There’s Tacker”

I scan the ice, studying the players whizzing by in their white uniforeance Lion mascot emblazoned on their chests

And I see hi his stick loosely, he skates around the peris As he rounds the edge and starts coht to where Raul and I sit

I had not expected this I mean, of course, he knohere our seats are because they’re his tickets, but I’d never expected hie us, not in a million years

Yet, his eyes lock withless than two seconds, yet it still warms me from my head to my toes

No man’s look should ever do that to , I take a long sip of hts

Tippingme intently My face burns even hotter

“Soruffly, but I don’t detect a single bit of censure Just curiosity

“God, no,” I assure hiusted by the prospect

Raul’s gaze just stays pinned onmy denial