Acknowledgements
I would first of all like to thank my editor, Mackenzie Walton, who made this weird story so much better. I would also like to thank my husband, Matt, who listened to me nervously read this entire book out loud to him and responded with nothing but enthusiasm and support.
I also am grateful to HBO for producing a documentary series called 24/7, which followed the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals in 2011. The series planted the seed for this story all those years ago (not that the characters in this book are based on any actual people, of course).