25. Feeling a Little Froggy

The morning of the game, I faced a new challenge.

Getting dressed in the locker room with the guys who totally expected me to be there now without revealing too much. So, I layered most of my uniform under my new heavy winter coat, planning to use the cold as an excuse for my unusual dressing routine.

If anyone asked, I was just trying to stay warm on the way to the rink, being Southern and all.

The guys decided to head out three hours early to help me catch up on what I needed to know before the game.

Nick took the lead, his Northern Russian upbringing making him seemingly impervious to the harsh, snowy conditions. He barreled through the snow like it was nothing, totally in his element.

The snow was still falling heavily, the drifts so high they nearly obscured the path. Not familiar with the routes and struggling to keep up, I found myself trailing far behind the group quickly.

Jules noticed and doubled back, wrapping his arm around my shoulders with a laugh. "Sorry, forgot you