Chapter 19 #2
The crowd is deafening. “Holy fucking shit.” I clutch my chest, and my eyes prick with tears.
Holy shit. Holy shit, he did it. “That’s my best fucking friend!
” All my guys join in a hug, dog-piling onto Atlas.
The crowd is losing their minds. It’s chaos and joy.
This is the hardest sports championship to win, and my guys just fucking did it!
I could not feel more pride than I do right now. I fucking love those guys.
Helmets are thrown; everyone’s screaming.
Our Coach comes onto the ice, hugging our players.
Oli, though, turns his sights onto Andre.
Andre takes off his helmet, grinning so wide.
Oli mouths something that makes Andre smirk before giving him a kiss, then he presses their foreheads together for a moment. The rest of the team swarm them both.
I sit. “Damn.”
“You alright?” Felix whispers in my ear.
“I am.” I don’t quite know what I’m feeling. Watching them below, I’m so fucking happy. Emotion clogs my throat.
The cup comes out and Oli grabs it, holding it up as our players swarm to touch it.
“They did it.” Felix smiles, and I lean in without a thought and kiss him hard. Damn. I feel a tap on my shoulder and look behind me, seeing Melanie, one of our Media agents.
“Oh, hey.”
She smiles at me. “We’d like you to come down on the ice if you can. You deserve this too.” I think for a moment, but yeah, hell yeah. “Can I steal him for a moment?” She winks at Felix.
My knee is screaming at me as I make my way down the steps.
Felix followed me down to the tunnel so I don’t have to climb back up them again.
I look back at him, and damn. Maybe it’s adrenaline, but just .
. . damn. Something hits me, looking at him now, and it’s a feeling stronger than I’ve ever felt before.
I walk through the tunnel and watch as our team shakes hands with the Vipers.
I can see some tears from here. For all its brutality, there’s a lot of respect as well.
I make it to our bench, and everyone’s still cheering.
That’s when Oli sees me and skates over.
They’re putting rubber mats out on the ice for families to come join the celebration.
“Come on, touch it. You know you want to!” Oli is beaming as I lay my hand on the trophy. “This is yours just as much as ours.”
My throat tightens, and I look out at the crowd. Oli hands the cup to Ivan, our other assistant captain, then I see Atlas skating by me, but when he looks at me there’s something vacant there. I make my way over to him as he skates then walks onto the rubber mat toward me.
I pull him in for a hug and feel the way his arms tighten around me. “So fucking proud of you!” I slap his back and squeeze him tight. “You’re incredible.” He pulls back, smiling slightly. “What’s wrong?”
He blinks, shaking his head and plastering on a smile. “Nothing. Just gassed. Took a lot out of me.” He looks beyond me, searching for something, then claps my back. “We did it, man.”
“You guys did!”
Atlas shakes his head. “You played on this team for twelve fucking years. This is your victory too.” He pats my head. I pull him in for one last hug, kissing his cheek. I’m so damn proud of them.
Felix has been quiet since the game. With the adrenaline of the arena behind us, I know what he’s thinking. That kiss. That very public kiss. Not that his ex watches hockey, but that shit was public. Non-hockey fans will be hearing about the championship for days.
Now I can’t stop the prickling feeling on the back of my neck.
Well, I guess if he didn’t know before, he’ll definitely know now.
I’ll protect him, though. That piece of shit doesn’t own him.
I don’t know what’s ahead for us, but we leave in couple of weeks for the wedding. Some time away will be good.
“Woo! There’s the sexiest goalie in all the league, right here!” Oli yells, setting down another tray of drinks. He drops into his seat and drunkenly leans into Andre as he throws his arm around him. “You are fucking incredible.”
Andre chuckles, pushing him back. “And you’re fucking drunk.” Murray’s is a small bar downtown from the arena. Coach rented out the place for us all to drink and celebrate. Family, friends, and players take up the whole place. “Hey!” Andre frowns. “Why just the league?”
Oli stands abruptly. “I want to make some toast!” he yells.
“Make a toast.” Andre shakes his head.
Everyone in the bar quiets. He sways in his seat. Damn, he’s plastered. “I just want to thank all of you for showing the fuck up this season!” Everyone cheers. “We showed those Vipers dicks what real champions look like.” Everyone shouts, then I hear booing. Confused, I look up.
Knox Morrow walks through the bar. Someone’s got balls.
His auburn hair is wet. He probably just came from the arena.
Can’t imagine their locker room is much fun right now.
“Yeah, yeah, fuck off. You all won.” He flips everyone off as he beelines for our table with a grin on his face. “Room for a loser?” He chuckles.
I’ve only met Knox a few times off the ice.
He’s a nice enough guy. Then I remember his very real feud with Colton.
Unfortunately, Colton is being watched for a concussion right now, so at least there won’t be any fighting.
I’m sad he’s not here to celebrate with us.
“I just want to pay my respects to my former teammate.” He tips his glass toward Andre.
“What could have been, man.” This is Andre’s second consecutive win, and I know he’s gotta be feeling good right now.
Even better now that he doesn’t live with his disgusting father.
Andre throws his arm around Knox. “You guys played like hell.”
“At least we ended the losing streak. Mind if I drink with you all?” His brows rise. “Things are a bit tense right now on my end.”
“Coach taking it hard?”
“The worst anyone can take anything. Your coach is a hardass. Ours is just a dick.” He laughs.
“He really wanted to win after our losing streak against you guys.” He shrugs.
“Next year. Who knows who they’re going to choose for a trade.
We’re still owed.” Shit, I didn’t think of that.
Andre was traded from the Vipers last year with the prospect of a future trade from the Otters.
They’ll probably cash in soon. “Is it alright if I sit in enemy territory?”
“I would love to rub our win in your face, so yes.” Oli throws his arm back around Andre. “God you’re sexy.” Andre pushes Oli away, but I see his smile.
“Colton here?” Knox asks, then thanks Andre who pours him a beer from the pitcher we have.
“No. Concussion. They’re watching him now,” Oli says. “What’s the deal with you two anyway? Andre and I hated each other, but it was all like sexual tension.”
Andre’s face screws up, snapping to Oli. “You hated my guts.”
“Yeah?” Oli leans in. “And now I rearrange them.”
“Thanks for that.” Atlas grimaces slurping his pina colada.
“He used to be my best friend.” Knox surprises us.
“What?!” Andre’s mouth drops open. “Really?”
“Yup. Before he stabbed me in the back.” He leans forward, pouring himself another drink from our pitcher. “Drinks on me, gentlemen.”
I look over at Felix. His eyes look faraway. “You alright?” He swallows then leans into me.
“I shouldn’t have kissed you,” he whispers in my ear.
I turn a little bit toward him, cupping his cheek.
“Hey, don’t worry. You have a table full of hockey players over the height of six-four.
No one’s doing shit to you right now.” That makes him smile.
“Then we’ll get a little vacation in a couple of weeks.
Some time away. You’re safe, okay? I mean it. ”
“What are you two lovebirds whispering about?” Oli’s brows rise with a smirk.
“Probably that hot kiss everyone saw during the second intermission.” Knox grins.
“Do you think that was smart?” Atlas bites out.
“Fuck smart. Anything that makes the bigots squirm is automatically amazing to me. I just know people are pissed.” Knox takes a drink.
“It doesn’t matter what people think.” I watch Felix, his eyes faraway. I slide my hand over the top of his thigh with a slight squeeze.
I’m not sure where I’ll end up, but I know is the best parts of my day begin and end with him. Watching him journal, listening to music, or watching TV. It’s all mundane shit on the surface, but watching him do those things fills me with joy.
I look over the bar, seeing my teammates.
I guess now’s as a good a time as any. I stand up.
Oli lets me pass him to get out of the booth.
Some eyes are on me and I clear my throat.
“Hey, everyone!” Slowly the bar starts to quiet.
Now or never. “I uh, just want to say how fucking proud I am. You all played a hell of a series. Games like these are why I became a player.”
“Yeah, when you coming back, Grey? We’re defending our title with our best defenseman next year,” I hear Sev yell.
There’s a ringing in my ears. It’s final.
This is it. It’s time to move on. While I’m upset that I wasn’t out there with them on the ice tonight, I don’t feel like I missed anything.
My eyes slide to Felix, and his slow smile drowns out the noise around me.
I look back to my friends. “The thing is, I won’t be.
” Murmurs echo through the bar. “The injury I sustained was worse than they originally thought. With age and just being in this career, I’ve been advised to retire.
If I get injured again, it won’t be good for me.
I want to quit on a high, and not in a wheelchair. ”
“What the hell!?” Viktor walks up to me with watery eyes, pulling me in for a hug and clapping my back.
My throat feels tight. I’ve played with most of these guys for a long time and I miss them all.
I miss hockey deeply, but I’m starting to realize that maybe there’s more to life.
There are more memories to make, they just won’t be on the ice.
My story isn’t over; it’s just taking a different path.
My teammates come up to hug me, and by the time I’m at the end, I blink to see Atlas. He looks so sad, and I don’t know why. He knew this before, but he just looks defeated. “I hate this.”
He hugs me tight, burrowing his face in my neck. I hug him tighter. “I’m not going anywhere. You know where I live. Anytime, you’re welcome.”
He pulls back, nodding. “You seem a little too busy lately for that.” He squeezes my shoulder before walking off. What the hell does that mean?
“Atlas?!” He ignores me, walking through the bar.
“I got him,” Knox says, going after Atlas. “No drinking and driving on my watch.”
I go back to sit down confused as hell. “What’s his problem? He already knew.” Andre looks at Oli, a look passing between them. “What?”
“Nothing, he’s just not feeling good. He’s tired. Adrenaline.”
Something passes through his hazel eyes, then he looks down at his drink. “What? What’s going on?”
“Hey, it’s nothing, alright.” Oli stands.
“He played like hell. We all did.” Everyone cheers when he yells this.
Everyone raises their drinks, and while the rest of the night is filled with laughs and cheering, I can’t help thinking about my best friend.
I know him better than anyone, and even if he didn’t feel well, I know he’d still celebrate.
So what the hell is going on with Atlas?