Chapter 5
Pax
“Who were you looking at just now?” Zane asks me as I hit the bench after warming up before the game, and I’m asking myself a similar question.
Did I just do that? Did I seriously just skate past Sully and give her a head nod?
As if she came to the game for me? Fuck.
I’ve gotta get my head screwed on right.
Last night we didn’t even sleep together and I can’t get her off my mind.
“Just saying hi to the girls.” As if I do that every game.
Sully’s seated beside Wren and Hollis, who made it out to his dad’s game again.
Their little family is cute, and I’m happy for Hayes, especially since he’s less of an ass now.
Not by much, but every little bit helps.
Peyton, Willow, and Lacy just made their way to their seats too, and I can’t help but appreciate the friend family we have.
The Renegades have worked hard to build this family, and for the first time ever I see that because I’m single, I’m on the outs a little bit.
But then there’s Sully. And me. Sully and me. That’s a crazy thought.
“Sure. So you didn’t just go over there for Sully?” Zane prods me with his stick. “What happened last night? Or do I want to know?”
Wendell’s ears perk up at that. “So you went?”
And Brody’’s right there. “Of course he did. My guy’s loyal as fuck.”
“More like, anything for a good time.” But those words taste sour in my mouth. The looks the guys give me say it all and if there was time to take it back, I would. But the game’s on. Whatever. I don’t care anyway. It was one night. It’s not going to happen again. It’s all good. The player’s back.
Full swing into the first period, I take my job to defend Hayes’ net seriously.
We’re playing the Calgary Courage tonight, which is always a shitshow.
The Edmonton-Calgary rivalry is legendary.
You can’t cheer for both sides. The tension has split families before.
Ya, I dunno about that, but it probably has.
Canadians take hockey pretty fucking seriously.
Either way, Hayes battles his brother Hudson for the shutout every time.
Or at least, the W. Maddox flies up the ice with the puck, dumps it behind the net, and Boudreau races to claim it and wrap it around for a goal.
I deflect the puck with my stick and swipe it back to center ice.
But the Courage aren’t deterred. They’re back.
Ramming the puck down our throats. Dubois, one of their best shooters, takes a slapshot and I dive in front of the puck, blocking it with my face.
Fuck. That shit hurts. But it’s the game. And it’s all that matters.
“You good?” Hayes calls out from behind his mask.
Giving him the nod, I take off the ice for the change up.
“You’re on fire tonight, Pax. What was in your Wheaties?” Zane bumps my shoulder.
“Nothing. Just got my head in the game, that’s all.”
“Yeah, or, maybe whatever happened last night needs to happen again.” That nugget comes from Wendell, and fuck if that doesn’t just settle right in the middle of my chest.
It’s the third period, and we’re down a point. Hayes is in head, I can tell. And some new kid on the Courage skates by chirping at him.
All I hear is something about rehab and Hollis and I’m at the guys’ throat ripping his helmet off and throwing a punch. No one talks to my teammates like that. Not on my watch. Fuck that. More punches are thrown and then the asswipe is flat on his back and refs are pulling me off of him.
I fucking hate being locked in the penalty box, but I gotta trust my team to take care of this without me. Thank God they do. When I fly out of the box, I’m fucking ready.
The chirper ends up with his own time in the sin bin, and now we’re on the power play. With the man advantage, I whip the puck up the ice and Zane dumps in the net.
Goal!
After that, the game speeds by and we end up with the win. In the locker room, the guys are slapping me on the back, one after the other.
“Five blocked shots?!”
“Two assists!”
“Twenty six TOI!”
“Shit, Pax. That was a wicked game.”
I can’t keep the grin off of my face. Until Zane nudges me again. “Playing for something different tonight? Or maybe someone?”
“Fuck off.” I shove him off of me, but his words echo in my head all the way to the bar, where, not gonna lie, I’m looking for her from the second we enter the room.