30. Ethan
30
ETHAN
I tighten my laces, each tug grounding me. The locker room buzzes with a mix of nerves and anticipation, the air thick with the scent of sweat and determination. I glance around at my teammates, each one lost in their own pre-game rituals. Liam’s voice cuts through the din, steady and commanding.
“Alright, boys, listen up!” Liam stands in the center, eyes sharp as ever. “This is it. Last game of the Stanley Cup Finals. We’ve worked our asses off to get here. Let’s not screw it up now.”
Noah chuckles from his spot on the bench, tapping his stick against his shin guards. “Yeah, Ethan, try not to get another penalty in the first five minutes.”
I smirk, adjusting my helmet. “Don’t worry about me, kid. Just make sure you’re in position when I pass you the puck.”
Noah grins back. “Deal.”
Liam nods approvingly, a rare smile tugging at his lips. “That’s what I like to hear. Focused and ready.”
We're just about to head out to the ice to warm up when the locker room door swings open. Olivia steps in, her presence like a breath of fresh air cutting through the thick tension. Her eyes find mine first, and a jolt of something warm and fierce hits me straight in the chest.
“Hey, guys,” she says, her voice a mix of nerves and excitement. “Just wanted to wish you all luck tonight.”
Noah is the first to respond, flashing that boyish grin of his. “Thanks, Liv. We’ll need it if Ethan doesn’t start another fight in the first period.”
I roll my eyes but can’t help smirking. “Keep talking, Kane. Maybe I’ll aim for you instead.”
Olivia laughs, the sound light and genuine. She walks over to Liam next, who’s standing by his locker with that intense look he always has before a game.
“You’ve got this, Liam,” she says softly, touching his arm. “Lead them to victory.”
Liam nods, his blue eyes locking onto hers for a moment longer than necessary. “Thanks, Olivia. We’ll make it happen.”
Her gaze shifts back to me, and she steps closer. My heart picks up its pace. “Ethan,” she says quietly, her green eyes searching mine. “Play your game. You’re unstoppable when you do.”
I swallow hard, feeling more motivated than ever. Her belief in me fuels something deep inside. “I will,” I promise.
She turns to Noah last, who’s been watching our exchange with an amused glint in his eye. “Noah,” she starts.
He cuts her off with a wink. “Don’t worry about me, Liv. I’ve got this.” He leans in conspiratorially. “Just keep an eye on Liam and Ethan for me, will ya?”
Olivia laughs again and nods, her dimples making an appearance that I’ve come to love seeing.
Coach Bergman’s voice booms from outside the locker room, signaling it’s time to head out.
“Alright, boys,” Liam says, clapping his hands together once more for emphasis. “Let’s do this.”
As we file out of the locker room and head towards the ice, I feel Olivia’s presence behind me like a protective shield against all doubts and fears. Her words echo in my mind: You’re unstoppable.
We step onto the ice for warm-ups, and I steal one last glance towards the stands where Olivia will be watching us closely tonight. Her faith in me – in us – gives me an edge I haven’t felt in a long time.
Tonight’s our night.
We’re ready to make it count.
The arena roars, the sound a visceral pulse in my veins as I skate hard, feeling the ice give beneath my blades. The game is neck and neck, each play a battle of wills. I can hear the crowd's energy surging with every move, their voices blending into a relentless wave of sound.
I glance over at Liam, who’s in his element, eyes sharp and focused. He barks out orders, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Noah, get to the left! Ethan, watch the center!"
"Got it!" Noah calls back, weaving through the opposing defense with his usual grace.
I take a deep breath, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline as I charge forward. The puck is loose, and I see my opening. I dive in, checking an opponent hard into the boards. He grunts as he hits the plexiglass, and I snag the puck with a quick flick of my stick.
"Nice hit," Noah quips as he skates by, his grin boyish despite the intensity of the game.
"Just keep your head in it," I reply, passing him the puck with precision.
Noah takes off like a shot, darting past defenders with lightning speed. The clock ticks down mercilessly – two minutes left. The score is tied 3-3. Every second feels like an eternity.
Liam intercepts a pass from the other team and shouts, "Ethan, right wing!" He sends the puck flying towards me.
I stretch out my stick and catch it on my blade. A defender barrels towards me, but I sidestep just in time. "Coming your way, Noah!"
Noah’s already positioned perfectly near their goal. He catches my pass effortlessly and makes a break for it. But their goalie is ready; he lunges and blocks Noah's shot at the last second.
"Damn it!" Noah curses under his breath.
"Shake it off!" Liam commands as he circles back around. "We've still got time."
The opposing team counters quickly; their forward charges down the ice with a determination that matches our own. Liam meets him head-on with a brutal check that sends both of them sprawling to the ice.
I’m there in an instant, scooping up the loose puck. My eyes dart around – we need an opening. My gaze locks onto Noah again. He’s back on his feet and ready.
With a powerful slapshot, I send the puck across to him just as he breaks free from another defender. The crowd's roar crescendos as Noah takes his shot...
The puck sails past their goalie and hits the net with a satisfying thud.
The arena explodes in cheers as we converge on Noah, whooping and hollering. "Hell yeah!" he shouts over the noise.
Liam claps me on the back hard enough to sting but it feels good – real good. "Great teamwork," he says gruffly but there's pride in his eyes.
We skate back to position for what’s sure to be an intense final minute of play. The pressure mounts but so does our resolve. This game is ours for the taking – together.
And Olivia? She’ll be there to see us win it all.
The clock ticks down, each second a hammering heartbeat in my ears. We’re tied, and the tension on the ice is suffocating. The other team’s forward barrels toward our goal, eyes locked on the net. I’m too far to intercept, but Liam, our rock, our captain, is in position.
Liam moves with a grace that belies his size, a hulking shadow ready to strike. He skates hard, meeting the forward head-on. The clash is brutal; sticks clatter, bodies collide. The forward tries to shoot, but Liam's there, blocking the puck with his body. It ricochets off his shin guard and skids across the ice.
“Clear it!” he shouts, his voice a command that brooks no hesitation.
Noah’s on it in an instant, his stick catching the puck with practiced ease. He starts up the ice, weaving through defenders like they’re standing still. My eyes scan the rink, looking for my opening.
“Ethan!” Noah yells, his voice cutting through the chaos.
I see it – a gap in their defense. I dig my blades into the ice and sprint toward it. Noah trusts me with this pass; I can feel it in every muscle of his movement as he sends the puck my way instead of taking the shot himself.
Time slows as I receive the puck. The arena's roar fades to a distant hum. My entire focus narrows to this moment – this shot.
I shift my weight and draw back my stick. The goalie’s eyes widen as he realizes what’s coming, but he’s too late.
The puck leaves my stick with a blistering slapshot that feels like an extension of my very soul. It flies through the air with deadly precision and slams into the back of the net just as the buzzer sounds.
For a split second, there's silence – then pandemonium erupts.
We did it.
We won the Stanley Cup.
Noah’s arms wrap around me first, his laugh ringing in my ears as we spin on the ice. “Hell yeah, Ethan! That was beautiful!”
Liam joins us next, pulling us both into a bear hug that nearly crushes my ribs but feels like victory incarnate. “Damn good work,” he growls into my ear before letting out a whoop of triumph.
Our teammates swarm us, everyone shouting and celebrating in a blur of exhilaration and relief. Amidst it all, I catch sight of Olivia in the stands, her face alight with pride and joy.
She mouths one word: “Unstoppable.”
And for once in my life, I believe it completely.