28. Chapter Twenty-Eight
Play-off game one was ours. We won four to three. But game two went to San Francisco.
The stress of game two sent Claire into labor. Calliope rushed her off to the hospital and Craig made it just in time to see the birth of his baby girl before he needed to be on a plane to San Francisco.
We lost game three, but won game four so we came back to Houston for game five. Winning with the home advantage once more. Our hunger to show the fans a win was strong.
Unfortunately that didn’t last for game six where San Francisco wanted a win at home. So now we’re back in Houston for game seven. It’s down to this one game to win the series and continue in the play-offs at our own rink.
The feeling in the stadium is electric. I search for Calliope’s face in the stands. She’s here with Joy and their parents tonight. I find her up against the glass across from our bench. She holds up her hands in a heart when she spies me looking for her. I love how her eyes light up as soon as she spots me.
Once the puck drops, we’re off with Kayce gliding down the ice when the center from San Francisco steals the puck and easily gets away. Bram is open and takes the puck back. The back and forth goes on the whole first period without a goal.
At intermission, Coach gives us a pep talk to get us through the second period with hopefully a goal.
“You have trained hard for this all year, you’ve played well, and you’ve earned this. Fight for it. Act like you want it more than they do!”
We rush out to the ice after intermission, ready to fight for it. It takes a few plays but we finally get a goal. The first goal and it feels good. But after that, San Francisco comes back hard, pissed at us.
They quickly get their own goal and their defense picks up. They don’t allow any more goals in the second period.
Third period starts and we’re not ready for the fast passing they have when the puck glides seamlessly in our net. The game is now two to one in San Francisco’s favor.
We’re in the last four seconds of the game, and Kayce has the puck. He passes it to Joaquin, and then to me. I don’t have an opening so I shoot it back to Kayce who takes a shot before the buzzer sounds the end of the game.
As soon as we hear the ting of the puck hitting the metal post of the goal, our faces drop. Defeat sinks in. The puck skids to a stop in front of Kayce’s feet. He stands frozen, staring at the puck, his stick falls from his hand.
Even though none of us want to be out on the ice anymore, we line up for handshake lines with the other team. And it kills us. We skate off the ice slowly, defeat in every move we make.
Our movements are slow, none of us want to be in the locker room now, all of us pissed at ourselves. The silence is deafening.
“Fuuuccckkkk,” Kayce screams as we get into the locker room, punching his locker.
No one intervenes. We all stand around, getting our stuff sorted, showers started, slowly making our way to the press conferences that none of us want to go to.
I don’t even want to face Calliope, I feel like a failure. I’m the last one to get to the press conferences, hoping like hell Coach sent someone else in instead of me.
I wasn’t so lucky. But thankfully, Harry is the one front and center. He smiles at me as I take my seat next to Joaquin and Kayce. I nod at him, a silent understanding that he’ll be picked first.
His name is called to ask the first question .
“You have had some great wins, and not many losses this season. What do you think this loss will do for the team morale?”
I look around at my teammates, most of the rookies looking up to us, and I think of Calliope and our future son looking up to me.
It hits me that sometimes life gets you down, but that it also provides you the people you need to support you through those hard times.
“I think the morale is going to be better than ever. We have great players with a lot of heart, and the support team we have is out of this world. And Coach is the best, he’ll push us and support us in the way we need. Mark my words, we will be back and better than ever next season.”
“Kayce, what were you feeling in those last moments of the game when the puck hit the post?” Another reporter yells out.
“I was disappointed in myself for letting the team down. I wanted the win for all of us. We all deserve it, and to know I had that last chance and couldn’t deliver is heartbreaking. But like Viktor said, we’ll be back better than ever next year. We’re hungry for that next Cup.”
The press conference ends, and we’re released from our duties. It’s still a somber walk out to the family area. I find Calliope alone. Grateful that I don’t have an audience for this .
She stands with her arms open to me, and I’m man enough to admit that I fall into her arms like a six foot five baby.
“I’m so sorry, Viktor. That was a tough loss. What can I do for you?” Her arms close around my middle.
“Just take me home. Let me be sad.”
“Pizza is already on the way, and Joy is stocking the freezer with Ben and Jerry’s as we speak.”
I kiss the top of her head. “That sounds perfect.”
We ride home in silence, her not pushing me to open up or trying to placate me with platitudes about how I played tonight. Something I’m grateful for. She just lets me exist.
Our pizza waits for us on the kitchen counter, and she’s already grabbing them on the way to the couch. Choosing a movie off a streaming app.
I snuggle in next to her. Ready for a night of wallowing.