22. Chapter Twenty-Two
My parents have been here for about two days, the jetlag has mostly subsided for them and we’ve gotten a suite at the game tonight for Calliope’s family, Joy’s family, and my parents.
My parents don’t get to see a lot of my games, especially in person. They usually look on the sports’ websites after my games so that they can see the highlights the next day. Mamma and Pappa are beyond happy that they get to watch a full game and be here afterward for me in the press conferences.
Hopefully the reporters will focus on having my family here rather than Calliope and the damn stories surrounding her and I.
I look up at the suite to see Mamma and Calliope with their faces smiling down at me, watching the ice as the rest of my team follows out of the tunnel. They’re laughing at something together .
I’m glad today’s latest article hasn’t hit Calliope yet.
This one is absolutely ridiculous. Some asshole took a photo of her and William. I’ll admit it doesn’t look great. But he did tell me that she tripped and was favoring her ankle the day the photo was taken.
I assume the paparazzi assholes are using the moment she fell and was caught by William to spread her man hunting ways. Spinning the story that she’s seeking older men who may have more money. What happened to responsible journalism? If anyone did any research into William they’d have their answer. But they’re just greedy assholes looking for click bait.
She would be absolutely beside herself if she knew that William and Rose were getting dragged into this mess too.
Ken already made a post on the team's social media with a photo of the four of us together at the gala with the caption that William and Rose are beloved family friends in response. I texted William first thing this morning when I saw it and made sure he knew it was being taken care of.
Of course he was just impressed he made it into a tabloid. Those two have the best personalities and attitudes towards difficult situations. I’m convinced it’s the only way they’re making it through Rose’s cancer diagnosis .
Coach yells my name bringing my mind back to the game. I pass Andrews as he comes off the ice and I’m heading out of the bench.
Andrews is pissed about the dirty hits they’ve been making on us all night. But he’s more pissed they fucking scored. They’ve been all over his ass all night, actually not just him, it seems like they’re targeting one player or another the whole game.
I go out ready for a fight. Ready to take out some of my frustration on this team doing the same thing back to them. We have ten minutes left in the game with a tied score. I’m ready to get that winning goal.
I glide over to my spot, waiting for the puck to drop. I know exactly what play Kayce is going to start. He’s going to get the puck to me, and then it’ll be on me to get it to Joaquin who will rally with Bram to shoot it to the net.
This goalie is too cocky for his own good. He’ll expect us to take a stretch pass. He thinks that no one wants to get close enough to him because he blocks everything. But he underestimates us and the fact that his team is ready for that. Because once the boys get it close, no one will notice that Kayce is right there behind the net, ready to pick up the puck after they purposely rebound it off his pads.
The whistle blows, the puck drops, and the first crack of the stick meeting the puck sounds .
Bram and Joaquin get it close, and just when I see the goalie drop to block his five hole, I see the puck fly left, right to Kayce. But there’s two guys on him. So I swoop in and steal the pass, tossing the puck right into the net behind the goalie’s back.
The buzzer in the arena sounds as the light behind the goal turns on. The goal made it in.
Holy shit.
My teammates attack me on the ice, creating a huge group hug between the five of us before we skate over to the bench to tap gloves with everyone else. Everyone is shouting and tapping me on the head as we celebrate the good goal. I can’t believe that worked and my parents got to see me hit a tie breaking goal.
I look up to the suite as the rest of the team celebrates around me, sending my heart hands to Calliope even if I can’t see her, I know she’s watching. Then, I skate back to the center circle to try and do it all again.
The last few minutes of the game pass in a blur, I swapped back with Andrews so I watched anxiously from the bench. As soon as the buzzer sounded for the end of the game without another goal from Nashville Lightning. I jump up, pumping my fist into the air. We flood over the bench and skate straight to Craig, tapping his helmet with ours before we go to center ice to thank the fans .
Fuck, yeah. We needed this win. I needed this win, I don’t need anyone else asking me if the photo of William and Calliope was the reason for the loss.
We all slap each other on the shoulders, congratulating everyone for the win as we walk back through the tunnel.
The celebration after these press conferences is going to be sweet.
Getting to celebrate with my parents, and my girl. Yeah, nothing better.