Chapter 22
OWEN
Mav and Gav are on edge tonight. Even if we’re playing on our home turf, we’re facing off against the Atlanta Frost, their old team. Atlanta knows our dynamic duo better than any of our competitors, and it’s clear from the drop, they’re itching for an upset.
Guess what? Atlanta doesn’t know me.
I’m having a killer night. After starting off right, blowing kisses to my girls, seeing Gina up there in my jersey… Hell, it was better than I even expected it to be.
We were all out on the ice, warming up, talking about what was coming, but my spidey senses were on full alert when the five of them took their places in the stands.
Haddy was there with Gav’s baby girl. Heather was there with my little girl. Gina was the only wildcard.
Sure, I’d texted her. I had the selfie of her in the mirror on my phone, but it wasn’t until she took off her jacket that I saw the big 13 on her back. She swept her hair up in a ponytail, revealing the name Stone across her shoulders, and I broke out into a laugh.
Hell, yeah. My girl is here with my name across her back. Now I’ve got two good luck charms.
The Jumbotron went off, sirens called, and it was time to play some hockey.
These guys are tough. I skate forward, doing my best to find an open space and anticipate plays. I know all our signature layups from Maverick, but so do the Atlanta guys.
They scrimmaged with Mav & Gav before any of us did, and they’re putting the pressure on hard.
Maverick passes the puck to me, and I go around, looking for an opening to pass it back. Seeing none, I decide to do my own signature play. It’s something from the minor leagues, where I look like I’m taking the puck back to center ice.
Then at the last second, I switch back, go down on one knee, and give it a slap shot. The puck flies so fast, right over the goalie’s shoulder, for the score.
The stadium erupts in cheers and air horns. A group of spectators begins shouting Sly! Sly! Sly! and I glide around, feeling pretty good about myself. Looking up in the stands, I see the girls jumping up and down, holding hands and smiling so big it’s contagious.
I grin, circling back around to take my place on the ice. Maverick is the lead center, and he makes the signal for our T3G play, as Gavin has started calling it.
It’s a variation of their old play, but we’ve been using it a lot. We’re counting on these guys having not done their research, which I know is a big risk at this level.
Still, we run it like we’ve practiced. Mav brings the puck down center ice, passing it over to Hancock midway. Here’s where the switch-up occurs. Hancock sends it to me on the other side of the rink instead of to Gavin.
I take it around, seeing Gav clear the net, and passing it fast to him. He slaps it over to Mav, and faster than the eye can register, it’s through the goalie’s knees for the point.
Again, the stadium erupts. We all skate together, patting each other on the back, and celebrating. It was a great play, but the game isn’t over.
The Frost are mad now, and they manage to sneak a puck past Akers. Mav skates right up to the defenseman, and whatever he says results in a body check. The big guy is on Mav, and just like that, we’re all in it.
I’m across the ice, slamming my fist down on the shoulder pads of Frost’s 72. He’s been pissing me off all night, keeping me from the net, bodychecking me into the boards. We all take a minute to punch it out and blow off some steam before the linemen come in and break us all up.
Gliding back to my spot, I look up to see our girls in the stands still holding hands. Their faces are so serious, and even my little Maddie is watching us with so much intensity. I shake my head, looking down. You can’t buy that amount of dopamine.
The puck is moving, and we’re chasing it down the ice so fast. If I make one more goal, I’ll score a hat trick. It’ll be my first in the big leagues, and I expect it’ll put me right up there with “the dynamic duo” Gav and Mav on the lips of all our adoring fans.
The puck comes down to our side, and we’re all following it. I feel Mav moving back, almost like he knows what’s on the line for me, and he’s giving me space to take it. He’s the best guy like that, not trying to steal the spotlight, willing to let us all shine.
The puck hits my stick, and I do a quick curve, passing it over to Hancock, getting the defenseman off me before I circle around again. A quick glance up at the time, and we’re down to seconds.
Seconds to bring us from facing sudden-death overtime to winning this thing. The guys want it. We all want it. The energy of the team, the crowd, the fans, drives me onward.
Hancock sends it back, and I scoop it into my stick. Two steps, and with a hard slap, it hits the edge of the net. My stomach rises to my throat, and I’m not sure.
I hold my breath as it wobbles, as the goalie reaches out, and at the last second…
He misses.
The place explodes in screaming, air horns, stomping. Caps rain down onto the ice, and it’s all over. The final buzzer sounds as the Jumbotron lights up with the words Make Some Noise—as if this crowd needs it. They’re all on their feet.
Our goal song plays, and the guys huddle around me, slapping my back, grabbing my neck, pulling me in for a hug. Lifting my chin, I can’t help a laugh when I see everyone dancing to the music and waving their hands.
It’s my first big play in the NHL, and I think of the one person I’m so happy is here to see it. The person I want to share it with most. My eyes go to the stands where the girls sit.
Haddy is there bouncing Lucy and waving her little arm. Heather has both of my daughter’s hands in hers, and they’re dancing side to side. My brow lowers, and I look all around, but I don’t see Gina anywhere.
The smile on my face fades a bit.
“Hey, bro, let’s do this!” Mav pulls my arm as he skates off the ice in the direction of our locker room.
My heart beats faster, and I start to get worried. Did something happen to her? She’s been at her seat the whole time.
Hopping over the boards to our bench, I quickly remove my skates. I leave my gear by the bench, stepping into the stands, not worrying about the spectators grabbing me and doing their best to slap my pads.
They’re all happy, but I’m too distracted by finding her. Music plays, everyone celebrates, but when I enter the short hall leading out to the concourse the sounds fade to silence.
Her back is against the wall in the shadows, and a guy I don’t recognize has his arms around her. He’s holding her tight against his body, and she appears to be holding him in response.
Anger burns like fire in my throat as I watch him move his nose into her hair, inhaling, and closing his eyes. What. The Fuck?
My muscles vibrate with adrenaline, and it takes everything in me not to rush forward, grab him by the neck, and throw him across the hall.
The one thing that stops me from doing it is when Gina steps back, she smiles up at him and exhales a little laugh.
She touches his shoulder, and my insides freeze. My world goes black, and I have to get out of this place. She turns and sees me. She says my name, but I can’t answer. The anger in my chest is too strong, and without a word, I turn and leave in the direction I came.