7. Celebration
Celebration
“Great game, Alex!” Jess beamed, ruffling their hair as they skated off the ice.
“Thanks! But I—” Alex started, but the words got swallowed in the celebration. They looked around, searching for Cassie, hoping to find her smile among the jubilant chaos.
Breaking free of the swarm of their teammates, where the air buzzed with chatter about the game, they spotted Cassie at the edge of the rink, dressed in their uniform but already glowing with post-game energy .
“H-hi,” Alex called, making their way over, suddenly feeling shy. “I’m not sure if you remember—”
“How could I forget? You basically hip-checked me into the door a few days ago. Oh, and I didn’t high-stick you that night either.”
Alex’s cheeks flamed. “I’m so sorry. I—wait, that was you?”
“I’m kidding. Mostly. Not about the ‘not high sticking’ part.” Cassie chuckled, smiling warmly. “You were amazing out there today.” Cassie’s eyes sparkled with genuine admiration, and Alex felt a warm flutter in their stomach.
“R-really?” They blinked, caught off guard. “I mean, I just played my part, you know?”
“Your part was scoring a hat trick, genius,” she teased, crossing her arms playfully. “I’d say that’s more than just ‘playing your part.’”
“Well, thanks.” The compliment made their cheeks flush again, and they fidgeted slightly in their gear.
“It’s Lexie, right?” Cassie asked.
“Oh. Um… uh, it’s Alex… a-actually.” Alex’s eyes darted around before finally landing on Cassie’s with a shy smile tugging on their lips.
Cassie reached out for a handshake. “Well, hi Alex… I’m Cassie.”
“Yeah, I know,” Alex answered with a sheepish grin.
“So, you asked around about me?”
“No!” Alex’s loud response drew a few looks from the folx around them. Lowering their voice, they continued to stammer, “I d-didn’t… not really… Jess told me.” They blurted out—their cheeks nearly as crimson as Cassie’s hair.
Cassie nodded knowingly. A confident smirk growing on her face.
Alex took a deep breath and squared their shoulders. “So, um, do you want to grab drinks after your game? I mean, if you’re free…”
Cassie hesitated, her expression softening. “I’d love to, but I’ve already got plans with my teammates. Sorry! ”
“Yeah, no worries,” Alex said, forcing a casualness they didn’t feel. “M-maybe next time?”
“Definitely,” she promised, her smile lingering in the air between them. “I should…”
“Yeah, of course. Good luck out there!” Alex replied as Cassie turned to join her team, their heart racing in a different way now.
***
Alex pushed open the heavy door of the locker room, a rush of warm air hitting them as they stepped into the room’s vibrant energy.
The sounds of skates on ice and the thud of pucks were overshadowed by the exuberance of the winning team.
Despite their own game being over, the adrenaline was still pumping through their veins.
Peeling off their gear felt almost ceremonial; each piece that came off signified a hard-fought victory.
“Hey, you coming?” a teammate called, already halfway to the door, her sneakers scuffing against the floor.
“Yeah, I’ll meet you there. I want to scout the next game.” Alex’s voice rising in a mix of excitement and nervousness. They could already picture Cassie gliding across the ice, confidence radiating from her like sunlight breaking through clouds.
“Suit yourself! We’ll be at the bar!” With that, their teammate disappeared out the door, leaving Alex alone with their thoughts. A quick glance in the mirror confirmed what they already knew: messy hair and flushed cheeks were their new look after scoring a hat trick.
“Hey, Jess!” Alex called, as the captain of the Queens gathered her things. “You staying to watch the next game? ”
“Absolutely,” she said with a grin. “Always good to see what we’re up against. Besides, I heard the redhead can play.”
“Don’t think I’m not aware of that,” Alex chuckled, rolling their eyes but unable to suppress a smile. “Let’s go then.”
After depositing their gear in their respective cars, the two made their way to the stands, the familiar scent of popcorn and ice filling the air.
As they settled onto the bench seats, the buzz of anticipation surrounded them.
Alex’s heart raced a little faster when they spotted Cassie warming up sans helmet, her long auburn hair shining under the rink’s bright lights.
She looked fierce and ready, and all of a sudden, Alex wished they’d worn something less. .. post-game.
“Focus on the game, not your crush,” they muttered under their breath, shaking their head at how ridiculous they sounded.
From the moment the puck dropped, it was clear that this match was going to be a nail-biter.
Cassie’s team, the Arctic Blades, was relentless.
Alex leaned forward, every muscle tense as they watched the back-and-forth on the ice.
Their heart soared when Cassie scored the first goal, her celebration infectious even from the stands.
“Nice shot CASSIEEE!” Alex shouted, fists clenched in excitement.
“Biased much?” Jess smirked, nudging Alex with her elbow. “We’re not supposed to pick sides. We’re here to scope out how both teams play.”
“Sorry, I didn’t get that memo,” Alex quipped, grinning as Cassie’s team took a 1-0 lead.
As the game wore on, the intensity increased. Alex could feel the tension in the stands… a collective breath held as both teams fought for dominance. The Blades maintained their one-goal lead throughout the second period, but took a late penalty that would carry over to the third .
The Ducks started the final period on the power play with their top five players on the ice.
You could see the determination on their faces as they took control of the puck, looking for the perfect opportunity.
With the Blades’ best defensive player in the penalty box, the Ducks caught a lucky bounce to score their first goal of the game.
“Just wait,” Jess murmured, her focus unwavering. “I want to see how they handle pressure.”
The score remained tied with both teams back at full strength.
Neither side was able to gain the upper hand as the puck moved up and down the ice.
With less than five minutes left in the game, Cassie’s team captain took advantage of an errant pass to whip a slap shot past the Ducks’ goalie.
Cheers erupted all around Jess and Alex, with Alex joining in to high-five all the Blades’ fans around them.
When Cassie scored her second goal of the game—an empty netter that sealed the victory for the Blades at 3-1—Alex couldn’t help but beam with pride.
The excitement in the air felt electric, and they stood up, clapping and cheering for Cassie and her teammates.
As Cassie headed for the locker room, Alex noticed her excited expression as she celebrated with her team, a glimmer of triumph lighting up her face.
Alex and Jess stood off to the side as they waited for the Blades to change back into street clothes.
After several minutes, the locker room door opened and the players started to exit.
Alex took a deep breath, their nerves bubbling again as they scanned for the redhead.
They wanted to talk to Cassie. Wanted to congratulate her on the win and the two goals she scored.
“Go chat with her,” Jess encouraged, sensing their hesitation.
“Right.” Alex steadied themselves, forcing their legs to move.
As they made their way closer to the locker room, Cassie and a couple of her teammates exited, the exhilaration of victory evident in their laughter. Alex raised a hand, trying to catch Cassie’s eye .
“Hey, Cassie!” they shouted, feeling their heart race with each step closer.
Cassie turned, and her face broke into a wide smile upon seeing Alex. “I thought you were headed to the bar?”
“My captain wanted to stay and check you out.” Alex felt warmth spread up their face at the faux pas, but before they could say more, they noticed Jess sharing a quick kiss with the captain of the Blades.
“Wait, are they—?” Alex blinked, caught off guard.
“Yeah, that’s Missy, our captain—and yes, they’re a couple,” Cassie said, catching the look on Alex’s face.
“Good for them,” Alex mumbled, feeling a strange mix of surprise and confusion.
“Right?” Cassie chuckled, her eyes sparkling. “So, I’m pretty sure Jess wasn’t here for me... I think she just wanted to see about getting a date to take to the bar.”
“Yeah, it looks like they will be celebrating together,” Alex suggested, their throat suddenly dry. Alex pulled their eyes from the couple to meet Cassie’s. “Maybe we could head to the bar together? To celebrate, I mean.”
“That sounds perfect!” Cassie’s smile widened, and Alex felt their heart flutter. As the players from both teams began to gather, the air filled with chatter and laughter, a sense of camaraderie enveloped them.
“After all,” Cassie continued, “both teams won today.”
“Yeah, and I think that calls for drinks!”
“Definitely!”
As they stepped into the crowd, Alex felt a surge of hope. Maybe this was the beginning of something special. Something worth moving back home for.
** *
Jess had texted ahead, so by the time the Blades’ players arrived, the Queens had secured enough space for both teams to celebrate their wins together. Several pitchers of beer and margaritas dotted the tables along with plates of snacks and finger foods.
The bar buzzed with excitement as both teams crowded around the tables, their voices rising above the background music. The Queens and the Blades mingled seamlessly, united by their shared love of hockey and the thrill of victory.
Alex found themselves at the end of one of the tables, Cassie to their left and Jess, the right. It had been over 18 months since the last time they had been in a bar like this, their senses overwhelmed by the raucousness of laughter, clinking glasses, and animated chatter.
“To the Queens and the Blades!” someone shouted, raising a frothy mug of beer. The room erupted in cheers as everyone lifted their glasses in unison.
Alex took a sip of their margarita, the tart lime cutting through the sweetness of the agave.
They couldn’t help but notice how the soft bar lighting caught the highlights in Cassie’s hair, making it shimmer like burnished copper.
They held their glass up to hide the grin that continued to grow as Cassie regaled her teammates with a play-by-play of her first-period goal.
“And then,” Cassie exclaimed, her hands moving in wide arcs, “I saw this tiny opening, right? Just a sliver of space between the goalie’s pads. I swear, it was like time slowed down.”
Alex leaned in, captivated by her storytelling. The way Cassie’s eyes lit up, the passion in her voice… it was infectious. They found themselves reliving the moment right along with her, their heart racing as if they were back on the ice .
Slowly, as the pitchers emptied and the snacks disappeared, players from both teams took their leave drawing the cacophony of sounds with them. As the servers cleared the dishes and returned several tables to their regular positions, Jess and Missy stood up.
“That’s it for us, as well,” Missy said, tucking her wallet into her back pocket. “I’ve taken care of the bill, but you’re on your own if you order anything else,” she continued with a wink.
Cassie stood to give her a hug. “Thanks Missy. We really appreciate that.”
“Of course. See you Tuesday.” She smiled. “Nice meeting you, Alex.”
“Same!” Alex replied, raising their mug.
Cassie turned back, sitting down; her elbows on the table, resting her chin in her hands as she looked directly at Alex. “So, I know a great Mexican place around the corner.”