Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
JASPER
“Are you ready to get back out there?” Marcus asks.
“Fuck, yeah,” I say.
“Shoulder feeling good?”
“Feels great.” I give it a roll for good measure. “Trust me, I wouldn’t be back if I wasn’t ready.
“Good. We need you out there,” Bode agrees. “We’ve got a tough road ahead of us if we’re going to make the playoffs.”
“We’re looking good though,” Noah says, rapping his knuckles against his chair. “If only it was a home game tonight to welcome you back, Jasper.”
“I’m just glad to be back on the ice.”
Especially since San Jose is a tough opponent. They’re in the running for the top seed in the western conference. Analysts are calling it a preview of the finals.
No pressure, right?
“Alright, men. We’ve got a tough game ahead of us tonight.” Coach Andrews calls our attention to him. “Having Jasper back is going to make a big difference.”
Whoops and cheers greet me, and fuck, it feels good. It feels nice to be wanted by the team.
“San Jose is a good team. Let’s stick to the game plan and we’ve got a shot to bring home the win.”
By the time we’re walking out to start the game, Noah is bumping his elbow against mine. “We’ve got this.”
“Yeah, we do.”
“Going to have the game of our lives.”
“Damn straight,” I agree. “Let’s show these young kids how the game is played.”
The game starts off on a high note. Everyone is skating well. Marcus and Bode start off strong but don’t get any points on the board before Noah and I start our shift.
It’s easy to read one another. Where he is, I’m there. Wherever the puck is, it’s like my stick is a magnet for it.
Getting my legs under me in a game feels pretty damn good.
It’s like whatever we do out here, we can’t be stopped. Before our shift ends, I put the puck in the back of the net.
“Fuck, yeah!” I skate behind the net, pumping my fists in the air.
“That was amazing!” Noah jumps on top of me. “Fucking amazing!”
“Felt damn good.”
“Great job!” Coach Andrews claps me on the helmet as we make our way back to the bench. “I like what I’m seeing out there.”
We keep the momentum going. It’s like the one goal was the fuel we needed to add more points to the board. Bode gets an easy one in, followed by Marcus. Damn. Up 3-0 before the end of the first? It’s about as fun of a game as they get.
Graham looks good as he starts his shift for the second period and adds another goal.
It’s like we can do no wrong. We’re stopping every shot they have on goal.
Nothing gets close to our net. It’s the kind of play that we’ll be studying for years—it’s that flawless.
It’s like we’re a completely different team from when we played Dallas. We’re on fire tonight.
Another goal puts us up 5-0 before the end of the second.
“Gentlemen. You’re on fire, but I don’t want you to settle.” Coach Andrews claps as we wait out the intermission before starting the third. “Our defense looks good. That’s what I want to see. Keep that up.”
That’s exactly what we do. San Jose is fighting hard. Our goalie keeps knocking the puck away or snatching them right out of the air with his glove.
“Damn. He’s crushing it tonight,” Noah says next to me on the bench.
“I’m glad he’s on our team.”
The two of us are called up and we hop over the boards and get moving.
My skates dig into the ice as I move toward our zone.
The puck sails into my stick and I fly down the ice.
I dodge one of their defensemen—thank God, because the last thing I want is to aggravate my shoulder—and send the puck to our winger.
Our winger is on a breakaway. He dekes out the goalie and puts the biscuit in the net.
“Hell, yeah!” I go over to congratulate him.
“Way to set me up.” He slaps me on the helmet.
“All you,” I say.
Boos rain down on us from the home crowd as we skate back to the bench. In the middle of the third, there’s no way they’re going to be able to come back from this.
San Jose is able to get the puck in the net when they pull their goalie, ending the game 6-1.
We shake hands with them on the ice, and are met with the standard reporters in the locker room after.
“Jasper. How do you think you did out there tonight?”
Based on his microphone, he’s from one of the local stations.
“I felt pretty good. I’m glad I was able to help contribute to the team’s win and putting us one step closer to securing a playoff position.”
“Do you think you’ll get a lot of ice time if you make the playoffs?”
I grind my teeth, trying not to let him bother me. “All I know is I had a good game tonight, and I hope I can keep playing well to help my team keep winning games.”
“And if Coach Andrews decides not to play you?” he asks.
“Then that’s a question you’ll need to ask Coach Andrews. Thanks.”
I end the interview before he can keep asking me inane questions.
This is one of the things I dislike most about hockey.
No matter how well you play, it's always how can you play better? Considering my age and coming back from an injury, I thought I played fucking phenomenal tonight. It dampens my spirits as I head back to the locker room. I barely hear a word of Coach’s postgame speech, accepting a few claps on the back before I hit the showers.
We’ve got a long road trip coming up. Instead of going home to Quinn, we’re getting on the bus to head back to the hotel. At least I should be able to video chat with her.
“Hey, man, don’t listen to those guys,” Marcus says as we head out of the arena toward the bus. “You looked great out there tonight. That’s all that counts.”
“I mean, what is it going to take to impress these guys? Two hat tricks? Seven assists? Maybe pulling the Stanley Cup out of my ass to hoist?”
“Okay, that’s a little much,” Bode says, coming up on my other side. “Why don’t we grab some beers and decompress when we get back to the hotel?”
“I don’t know. I was kind of hoping to call Quinn.”
Bode laughs, showing me his phone. “They’re all still out.”
Quinn, Stevie, Chloe, and Harper are all at Chloe’s, watching the game. I love that they invited her to hang out with them. Being in the spotlight, it’s hard for her to make friends. They welcomed her with open arms.
“Damn. I guess we do have time for a drink.”
“We’re going upstairs,” Noah says.
“Yeah, we’re tired.” Graham waves goodbye to us as they head to the elevator.
I snort. “Tired, my ass.”
“Well, we can grab a drink and then head up,” Bode says. “I’m sure the girls will be home by then.”
“I’m glad they included Quinn,” I say.
Marcus heads to the bar to order a pitcher of beer as we grab a table.
“Stevie really liked her. I mean, she won over Caleb, and that wins me over.”
“Doesn’t take much for you.” I laugh.
“Hey, if my kid likes you, that’s how I judge a person now.”
“Well, I’m glad you both do.”
“Things seem to be going well,” Dax comments.
“Really well,” I confirm.
“You know, we might give you grief,” Bode starts, “but we do it because we love you, man.”
“I know.” I smile at him as Marcus arrives back at the table and hands a glass to everyone.
“And even though I’m still kind of mad you lied to us—”
“He didn’t lie,” Dax interrupts. “Technically he just didn’t tell us.”
“I’m happy you’re happy,” Bode finishes, ignoring Dax.
“Thanks, man. I am happy.”
“We can tell,” Marcus says. “Even though you begrudgingly had us over, it was nice for all of us to be together.”
“Hey.” I point a finger at him. “It was not begrudgingly. There was no grudging.”
“Who knew all it would take for you to like us is for you to date a pop star?” Bode laughs.
“I liked you before.” I roll my eyes. “Now? Not so much.”
“I see how it is.” Bode flips me off. “We’re chopped liver now that you have Quinn.”
“And Zucchini. Don’t forget about Zucchini.” I give him a cheesy smile.
“Wait until you get a kid,” Bode says. “They’re the best.”
“One thing at a time,” I tell him.
I smile at all the guys. Bode pulls out his phone to show us new pictures of Caleb that we haven’t seen. Marcus counters with more pictures of his kids.
It’s hard to imagine this is how we are now. Back in the early days, we’d close down the bars. I’d have a short relationship here and there—casual on both sides.
Now? All of us are in serious relationships.
“Can I make a toast?” I ask.
“Floor is yours,” Marcus says, waving his hand in front of him.
“I know we’ve all had our ups and downs over the years and that life has thrown us a lot of curveballs, but I’m glad all of you are by my side. I don’t have much in the way of family, but you guys have become that to me and have always had my back. So thank you. I love you guys.”
“We love you, man,” Bode says.
“Yeah, ditto,” Dax agrees.
Marcus laughs. “Yeah. We’ve got your back. We love you, Jasper.”
“Thanks.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell them I’m debating about retiring, but I don’t want to. There’s still too much unknown heading into the playoffs. I don’t want it to be a distraction. I want our entire focus to be on making the playoffs and how far we can go.
There will be plenty of time to talk futures.
At least there is one certain.
Quinn.
The only certainty in my life that I need.