Chapter 40 Cole
Cole
Buffalo shoots, and I block it, freezing the puck under my glove.
“Got lucky,” their center mutters under his breath as he skates by me.
“Yeah, lucky you shot it right into my glove,” I yell back at full volume, and he flinches, which gets a smile out of me.
Sure, I’m learning to keep my emotions in check, but I’m still going to always enjoy a good chirp.
The game continues, and my heart thuds in my chest. It would be good to win this one—good for our playoff race, good for Noah’s confidence.
Not that he seems to need an extra boost right now.
Noah came onto the ice in the second line, and the crowd had basically erupted. Which melted my cold heart a little, seeing just how excited the fans are for Noah to join the big leagues. To know that Noah is feeling a warm welcome from the people of Boston.
Buffalo’s center is a demon, and we’re tied up at 1-1 after Miller scored a nice, clean goal with an assist from Noah in the second period. I’m already intensely fucking proud of Noah. An assist in his first game is solid stuff and should help to make a dent in some of those rookie nerves.
Now into the third period, Buffalo are giving Noah the classic ‘heard you’re a future star, welcome to the NHL’ treatment: targeting him physically along the boards, trying to rattle him and test his endurance.
But Noah’s speedy. He darts across the ice, bringing the puck into the offensive zone.
Out of nowhere, Buffalo’s defenseman crashes into Noah in a brutal check against the boards.
The crowd lets out a loud “oof” in sympathy, but Noah just scrambles back up and is off chasing the puck again in a second.
I grin under my mask. Good kid. He’s gonna do just fine in the NHL.
The period surges on with a few minutes of end to end play, and I easily block a couple of shots.
By the time there’s just two minutes left until overtime, Noah is back on the ice. Landon sends a quick pass to him. In a clean, precise slapshot—a thing of beauty, really—Noah sends the puck past the defenders and straight into the fucking net.
The air horn blares, and the team erupts: on the ice, on the bench, and I’m yelling my head off too from the goal. “Let’s go!”
Noah’s face has an almost hilarious look of shock. He’s grinning, and the team is hugging him. I glance at the stands, and Cassie is yelling too, jumping up and down in front of her seat.
That punches Buffalo’s momentum right in the face, and the game ends 2-1.
The Nor’easters tumble off the ice, and it’s already a party atmosphere as we head back down the tunnel.
Landon is slapping Noah on the back. “Great job, kid. What a start!” Roman is walking on the other side of Noah, giving him an intense speech that’s slipping into Russian half the time out of excitement. Noah politely nods along with a dazed grin on his face.
Back in the hallway outside the locker room, Miller is already circling the rest of the team, trying to get a headcount for post-game celebration drinks. He’s arguing with Coach Reed, who’s telling him not to give the whole team a hangover.
“Our new rookie is certified awesome,” Miller yells. “Doesn’t that necessitate shots?”
Cassie appears beside me, beaming up at me. “Can you believe it?”
“I know, Miller used a four-syllable word. This is a historic day.”
She laughs. “You know what I mean. Noah was incredible out there.” She lays a hand on my arm.
It’s brief, and the surrounding chaos is keeping everyone distracted, but it still makes my chest tight.
“A lot of rookies struggle when they’re called up.
He wouldn’t have been so good so fast without you.
He always had the raw talent, but you’ve really helped him. ”
What I really want to do is kiss her, right here and now, but I settle for thanking her instead. “Thanks, Cass,” I say gruffly. “I mean it.”
“Cole! Cassie!” Noah is extricating himself from the rest of the team and rushing over. “That was amazing. And terrifying. But good. At least I think it was good.”
“You scored a clutch goal in your first NHL game,” I laugh. “Yeah, rookie, it was good.”
Noah gets pulled to the side to talk to a grinning reporter.
“Congratulations, Noah,” the reporter says as Noah blinks into the camera. “What a showing tonight! How did your teammates help you get ready for your NHL debut?”
“The team’s been real supportive. Especially Cole Taylor.
He’s been a great mentor since I got drafted by the Nor’easters.
He’s given a lot of time to help me prepare for the bright lights of the NHL, so.
” Noah pushes his sweaty hair out of his face and grins over at me.
“Thank you, man. Tonight wouldn’t have happened without you. ”
Damn it, if my throat doesn’t feel just a little tight at hearing that.
“Well, there goes my reputation as a cold-hearted bastard,” I lean down to mutter to Cassie.
“Oh no,” Cassie teases, “your reputation is saved. How awful.”
“Okay, smartass,” I mutter, and if I could kiss her right now to get her to pipe down, I would.
By the time I’ve showered and changed, Miller is rounding up the team to go somewhere for celebration drinks that he’s loudly promising is the ‘hottest new club on the East Coast’, which I somehow doubt.
I spot Cassie by the tunnel talking to Rick, who’s wearing a visitor’s pass around his neck. Rick glances over as I join them.
“Well, well, well. Future’s looking bright for the Nor’easters.
Good game today, Cole.” He folds his arms, his voice turning sardonic.
“And great job on keeping it quiet that you were instrumental in mentoring a future superstar of the NHL. Sure could’ve used that information several months ago when I was trying to stop you getting traded. ”
I shrug, trying not to smile. “The rookie did good.”
“Speaking of that… I’ve just had a chat with the GM.
” Rick grins, that toothy, sly smile. “Front office is pleased with you, Cole. Very goddamn pleased. They didn’t know what an active role you’ve had in mentoring Noah, but it’s exactly the kind of veteran leadership they wanted you to show again.
And hey, it doesn’t hurt that you’re kicking ass on the ice lately too.
They aren’t just reconsidering the trade.
They’re talking about a contract extension to avoid free agency.
We haven’t formally entered negotiations yet, so I don’t have firm details. But I’ll keep you updated.”
A wave of relief washes over me. A contract extension with the Nor’easters is everything I want. I catch Cassie’s gaze, and she smiles, the warmth of it reaching her bright eyes.
“That’s amazing,” she beams.
Rick points at her. “Cassie, you’ve done a great job here. I admit this is an unconventional assignment. But it’s not crazy if it works, and guess what? It’s working. I haven’t made a final decision on the promotion, but it’s looking promising for you.”
The joy on Cassie’s face makes me grin wider. Feels even better than hearing about my own good news.
“Damn right,” I say. “She deserves it.”
Rick pats her shoulder. “I don’t know what you’ve been doing to him, Cassie, but keep doing it. Don’t change a damn thing.”
Her cheeks turn pink, and she mutters out a strangled “thanks, Rick,” before Rick bounds off to talk to someone else.
I smirk. What she’s doing is letting me make her come nearly every night, but Rick definitely doesn’t need to know that.
Well, that’s not all she’s doing. She’s done more for me than I can say.
But I tease her about it anyway. “You heard the man. He said don’t change a thing.”
Her eyes flicker under her dark lashes. “Well, All Star. Guess I’ll have to go home with you tonight after celebration drinks, then.”