12
The quickie in the bathroom stall was truly amazing. I can”t wait to seduce Emily back into my bed! There are so many things I want to try with her.
But when we get close to my place, after exchanging the promise of a torrid night, her greedy mouth against mine, we cross paths with the coach.
Shit...
Emily quickly runs off, clearly uncomfortable, and the coach gives me a piercing look.
My naughty evening just fell through.
“Coach, have you lost your way?”
His attention then turns to Emily, who is striding away, before returning to me. A small flush of anxiety passes through me and, suddenly, I”m nervous.
“I hope I haven”t upset your plans for the evening,” he says.
“No, of course not!” I reply quickly. “We”ve just finished studying together, and I was taking her home.”
“Ha? I thought we were near your university building here...”
He makes a little pout that doesn”t bode well.
“I was coming to see you to talk about the next game,” he explains. “I tried to call you, but you didn”t answer, and the situation is urgent.”
That”s right, I remember putting my phone on silent and completely forgetting about it for the duration of my tête-à-tête.
I nod, waiting for the next part.
“Logan is injured. After training, he had pain in his right leg, and it turns out that his knee was badly bruised. He won”t be on skates for the next game.”
I whistle through my teeth.
Logan is a striker, and he does a great job. I often rely on him to score.
“It sucks...” I whisper.
“And an important scout will be present at the game the day after tomorrow. I think it”s a great opportunity to show you off. However, it”s going to be a bit difficult without Logan. As captain, who would you trust most to replace him?”
My heart leaps and relief spreads.
A scout. This means that my performance in this game will be of particular importance. A feeling of excitement mingles with the pressure suddenly weighing on my shoulders.
“The best would be Mark. I can communicate well with him. He”s quick and attentive. And... Coach, I”ll do my best.”
Coach Franklyn nods with satisfaction.
“That”s exactly what I want from you, Liam. The match is in two days. Make sure you”re well prepared. We may have to add an extra workout with Mark to get you coordinated,” he ponders aloud.
“I”ll make sure we”re both in tip-top shape.”
The coach nods with satisfaction.
“I like the sound of that. You have to work hard, Liam, you know that?”
“As hard as I can,” I answer with determination.
“I hope you won”t let yourself be distracted by some woman... This game could be decisive for your career,” he says before strolling away, leaving me alone with my fears.
***
Time flies as I immerse myself in the exercises, my mind entirely focused on the game ahead. From fitness exercises to skating to shooting practice, every spare minute is devoted to an extra workout to keep Mark and me in top shape.
But this intensive preparation also means that I don”t have much time for anything else.
I keep reaching for my cell phone to let Emily know I”m thinking of her. But every time I see the screen, I remind myself that I don”t have time for distractions. I”m focused on the game, on my career - and I have to make sure I don”t let anything slip through the cracks to achieve my goals. Emily will understand.
On the day of the game, the excitement is like a rollercoaster in my body. The locker room is filled with a mixture of tension and anticipation as we prepare for the battle ahead. Coach Franklyn says a few words of motivation and we take possession of the rink.
This is where it all counts.
With my heart pounding, I stand on the ice, surrounded by my teammates, and I can feel the energy around me. It”s as if the air is charged with electrical tension. The stands are full, eyes riveted on us, and I breathe deeply to calm myself.
The scout will be watching our every move and I”m ready to show him what I can do. Emily”s eyes are on me too, and she gives me an encouraging nod.
Knowing that she”s there to support me makes me feel better.
The game is intense. The action on the ice is a wild mix of rapid movement and strategy. Every shot, every decision, every move counts.
My team and I fight side by side, and I put my passion for ice hockey into every movement.
Minutes fly by like seconds, and we soon find ourselves in the game”s final moments.
My breathing becomes heavy as I line up for the final kick-off. Time is running out and the score is tied. My hands shake with tension. Somewhere, high up in the stands, the scout is watching our every move, no matter how small.
Everything seems to pass before me in slow motion.
The linesman throws the puck. I pick it up in a flash and go for it. The defenders try to parry it, but I dodge around them and fake a pass. I use the last of my strength to throw the puck towards the opposing net and watch the scene before me, fascinated.
The puck slips past the keeper and is trapped. I raise my arms, euphoria coursing through my veins.
We”ve won! I scored the decisive goal!
Maybe my dream is within reach.
And then the final whistle sounds and the game is over.
My heart beats furiously in my chest as I take off my helmet and look at the stands where the crowd is going wild. Emily flashes a big smile and Coach Franklyn gives me a thumbs-up. I can only hope I”ve shown what I”m capable of, and that the scout liked what he saw.
We leave the ice and the locker room is filled with mixed emotions. The joy of victory, fatigue, excitement, hope - all reflected on the faces of my teammates.
I”m proud of what we”ve achieved together, but at the same time, uncertainty sets in. Have we done enough to impress the recruiter present?
“Great game, guys! I”m proud of you!” I declare loudly, tapping them on the shoulder.
As the commotion subsides and I leave to go home, I can”t help thinking about Emily. We agreed to meet at my place tonight, and I had to make up an excuse for the guys who wanted me to go partying with them.
Liam Scott”s refusal to attend a party makes a lasting impression!
But I”ve missed the presence of my lovely blonde these past few days, and I can”t wait to see her.
I”m convinced that my decision to concentrate on training was the right one, yet I must admit that not seeing her for forty-eight hours was difficult. My thoughts turn to the time we spent together, the moments of complicity and happiness.
I feel pulled in two different directions - towards my passion for hockey and my love for Emily. It”s a complex balancing act.
Suddenly, I see her. She”s waiting for me at my front door, a six-pack of beer in hand.
This woman is truly incredible!
“My captain!” she exclaims loudly, bowing.
As I approach her, laughing out loud, she applauds. I just shake my head. It”s a side of her I particularly like. So carefree and happy, funny and adorable.
Immediately, images of our embrace in the coffee shop’s bathroom rush into my head. I embrace her violently, and she instinctively wraps her legs around me. I carry her up the stairs to my apartment. She laughs heartily and kisses my neck as I unlock my door.
My pants start to tighten around my crotch, and I drop her on the bed without warning before literally throwing myself on top of her. I kiss her passionately as I try to undress her. As much as I want to go slowly, my body has other plans. I want her right now.
I help her out of her tight jeans, pull off my own clothes and kiss her. She”s so sexy, her skin so soft. Emily squirms beneath me and moans loudly as I stop between her thighs. I lick her, suck her, devour her.
It tastes delicious.
“Liam,” she murmurs, and the sound of her slightly deep voice only excites me more.
Without wasting any more time, I grab a condom and rush to penetrate her. We both sigh loudly.
To be united with her in this way is a divine sensation. I hold her by the neck with my right hand and slip my thumb into her mouth. She sucks and nibbles on it while my left hand holds her by the hip. After a few violent strokes, I have to stop to avoid cumming right away. I kiss her hungrily before turning her onto her stomach and penetrating her from behind. Emily rotates her hips and bites my pillow. This woman really drives me crazy. My fingers dig deep into her skin as I hold her by the shoulders and penetrate her deeper. Sweat breaks out on my forehead and I can”t hold back any longer. With a few quick, hard strokes, I make us both come.
Out of breath and with a smile of satisfaction, I roll over and lie down next to her. She turns to me.
Her tousled hair, her rosy cheeks, her post-orgasm glow and her incredible, loving eyes... For quite a while, we just stand there looking at each other. There”s something intimate and familiar about the silence.
I”d never want to be without it again.
I rub my eyes and stretch gently. Emily is still lying beside me. Her peaceful sleep is like a precious moment of calm in the midst of all the exciting events of late.
Her breathing is steady and I can”t help but stare at her for a moment, fascinated by the beauty she exudes. I detach myself from her embrace and stand up as discreetly as possible.
Last night”s perfume still lingers in the air, proof of the passion and closeness we shared. When I look in the bathroom mirror, I can”t suppress a smile. My hair is completely disheveled, and I have a small hickey on my chest.
After a pleasant shower, I slip into fresh clothes and head for the kitchen. The smell of coffee quickly fills the room.
Holding the steaming mug in my hands, I look again at Emily, still asleep. Her eyes, her smile, her closeness - it all means so much more to me than I could ever put into words.
I also pour her a cup of the scalding black liquid and place it on the bedside table. Carefully, I lean over her and kiss her on the forehead.
“Emily... It”s time to wake up,” I whisper.
Her eyelids flutter and she finally opens her beautiful eyes. A sleepy smile forms on her lips, and I can”t help but return it.
“Hello, sleepyhead,” I say softly.
“Good morning,” she murmurs, squirming in bed. “What a night...”
“Yes, huh...”
I hand her the cup of coffee and she accepts it gratefully.
“You”re the best!” she says, taking a sip.
I just smile and sit on the edge of the bed. It”s so familiar, so nice to be with her - even in these simple moments. But now it”s time to face the challenges of the day. I have a training session to attend and Emily is starting her new job at the newspaper.
As she dresses, I can only stare at her, fascinated by her beauty.
“You look great,” I whisper.
She smiles and winks at me.
“You”re not bad yourself!” she argues, laughing.
I want to undress her straight away and spend the rest of the day in bed with her. But instead, I force myself to hand her her bag.
The kiss she gives me is tender, before she turns away and heads for the road.
The day is now ahead of me, full of challenges and possibilities, and I feel that with Emily by my side, I can overcome anything.
The ice rink greets me with its familiar sounds - the scraping of skates and the clacking of sticks on the ice. But after training, something is different.
Chase and I are side by side, in full gear, waiting for Coach Franklyn. He says he wants to talk to us for a moment, and I can”t help but stress.
It”s not long before he approaches us and takes us both aside in his office. A smile spreads across his face, a sign, I hope, of good news. With each step, I feel my excitement rising.
“Have a seat, guys,” he says, pointing to the chairs in front of his desk.
We take our seats, and he leans forward to stare at us with serious eyes.
“I wanted to tell you both personally that the scout present at the last game was extremely impressed by your performance.”
I can hear my pulse pounding in my ears as I try to concentrate on his words. This information feels like a great victory. Chase and I look at each other, smiling broadly.
Coach Franklyn smiles.
“In fact, he was not only impressed by your sporting skills, but also by your academic records. Liam, you”ve done the right thing! He sees great potential in both of you. He firmly believes that you have what it takes to go far in the NHL.”
The words seem to hang in the air and I can hardly believe my luck. The NHL - it”s every ice hockey player”s dream! It”s been mine since I was a kid! Chase also seems to need to digest what”s just been said before reacting.
“He has already established contact with certain teams who are ready to come and observe you in upcoming games, and possibly draft you later.”
We can hardly contain our joy. A feeling of gratitude and pride runs through me and I can”t help but jump.
“It”s crazy!” I exclaim.
Chase is just as enthusiastic.
“Dude! We made it!”
Coach Franklyn nods but keeps a straight face.
“Nothing”s won yet, guys. You have the talent and the determination. Now it”s up to you to work hard and seize the opportunity. The world of professional hockey is a challenge, but if you work hard enough, you can make it.”
The coach”s words penetrate deep into my consciousness. This chance is a gift and I”m ready to give it everything I”ve got.
Chase and I exchange a glance and I can see the same determination in his eyes.
“We”re not going to fail, coach,” I say, confident.
He smiles proudly.
“I know you won”t. You”ve earned it.”
He explains the details of the period ahead. And together, we leave the office with a sense of euphoria that”s hard to put into words.
On the way to the locker room, I still can”t believe my luck. I”m touching my dream with my fingertips! If I take this step, if I manage to show what I”m capable of during training sessions, and also during games, I have every chance of being taken in the draft, and so does Chase!
And as I get rid of my gear, I feel that all the hardship, all the hard work and all the sacrifices were worth it.
Chase and I look at each other and we don”t need words to know what the other is thinking. The future is ahead of us, and we”re ready to seize it with both hands.
Completely fired up, we decide to celebrate and head for a bar we like, off campus.
The idea that this day could be the start of an exciting journey lends the atmosphere something magical. The bar is busy and the mood is festive. People are laughing, chatting and enjoying the moment. Chase and I look for a table and order some beers.
Each sip feels like a toast to the future, and the smiles on our faces are unwavering.
The euphoria lasts for a while until I remember that I haven”t told Emily yet! Caught up in the joy of the moment, I completely forgot! Shame on me!
I quickly take my phone out of my pocket and send her a message. As I wait for her reply, the bar fills up more and more and the atmosphere becomes more cheerful.
It doesn”t take long for my screen to light up, announcing a response.
* Liam, this is great! I”m so happy for you and Chase! Unfortunately, I”ve already made plans for tonight with the girls and I won”t be able to join you to celebrate. But I”ll raise my cup to your success!
Her words bring a smile to my face. Even if she can”t be there, I know she”s proud of me and that warms my heart.
I put down my phone and Chase toasts with me again. It promises to be an unforgettable night, and I”m determined to enjoy every minute of it. For once, we can give ourselves a little respite before getting right back into it!
Time flies and before you know it, it”s midnight. The bar is still full, the music is blaring and the mood seems to have reached its peak. After a while, I notice a few women paying attention to us. Attempts to approach us are obvious. Interest is perceptible in their eyes. However, despite all the commotion around us, my thoughts turn to Emily. I gently decline their advances and turn back to my beer.
Chase looks at me and laughs.
“Brother, what”s wrong with you?”
I smile.
“What”s wrong with me? Can”t I have a quiet party with my best friend?”
Chase nods and smiles in return.
“Yes, of course!” he replies.
An hour later, as we make our way back to campus, the city lights surround us in a soft glow. You”d think the night was endless. We stagger slowly, laughing over anecdotes.
“And remember when Mrs. Marshall forced us to clean up her yard?” exclaims Chase.
“Yes, I remember! Ugh! You decided to play with your father”s leaf blower, and you got it absolutely everywhere!”
“You dared me to do it and I...”
Suddenly, out of the shadows, a silhouette blocks our path.
“What the...”
Adrenalin rushes through my veins as I notice the glint of a screwdriver in the hand of the guy facing us.
“Give me your money, right now!” he growls.
Chase and I exchange a brief glance. We agree: surrendering without a fight is out of the question! We”ve been through so much already - we”re not going to be intimidated by a thief, especially on our night of celebration. Besides, there are two of us, and we”re both pretty hefty and younger than he is.
Unluckily, we forgot to take into account that we”re completely drunk...
Without hesitation, we pounce on him, trying to wrest the screwdriver from his hands. But his resistance is more violent than expected and we find ourselves in a chaotic brawl.
Pain grips me as his fist lands in my stomach, but my resolve remains intact. Chase fights in his own way and we both try to stand up to our attacker. Clearly, we”re dealing with a professional, and in a millisecond of inattention, he manages to wriggle free and knock us down one after the other with a powerful blow. My head hits the asphalt and I struggle to stay conscious.
The thief takes our wallets out of our jacket pockets and runs off.
What the hell?
Slowly, I get to my feet, staggering and staring angrily at his shadow around the corner.
As I fumble with my jacket to see what he”s taken from me, I feel a liquid warming my belly. Anger turns to horror as I realize it”s my blood. The screwdriver has hit my arm as well as my belly, but it seems to have rippled, and I”ve got a nasty gash running down to my hip. I”m also bleeding from my forehead, where I fell. The pain intensifies by the minute, and I swallow.
“Fucking asshole... Chase? Chase, are you okay?”
I turn to my best friend, still lying on the ground. He”s breathing heavily, and his T-shirt is turning crimson where he’s been hit.
“Shit! Chase!”
I throw myself on my knees beside him and he smiles at me with difficulty.
“We”re really good at fighting, aren”t we. If we tell this story, we”ll have to turn it to our advantage!”
“How are you feeling?” I ask, worried to see him so pale.
“Well, I”ve been better... But I don”t think it”s that deep. It”s mostly pain, really.”
He tries to stand up and I talk him out of it.
My heart pounds in my ears as I reach for my cell phone and dial the emergency number. Luckily, I”d left it in my jeans pocket and our attacker hasn”t stolen it!
The words pass my lips in a rush as I explain the situation.
It”s not long before help arrives, followed by a police car, and the tension is replaced by a sense of relief.
As we describe the incident, I feel like I”m not really there. I”m sore, cold and clearly sobering up. Suddenly, the world seems a dangerous place and reality more brutal than ever.
The agents chat amongst themselves while an ambulance takes us away. Then we”re driven to the nearest hospital with flashing lights and sirens blaring.
The pain from my screwdriver wounds is stinging, as I lie on the bunk of the vehicle. But I refuse to take anything to relieve the pain for fear of tarnishing my future blood tests. There”s no way I”m going to be disqualified for this! I prefer to wait for the approval of the coach, whom I”ve informed by text. I don”t care if it hurts! Chase is lying next to me, his face white.
Soon we arrive in the emergency department, and the nursing staff surround us.
The wounds caused by the screwdriver are not deep, thank God, but the pain is intense. My heartbeat echoes in my head.
The minutes stretch into hours, and the presence of the doctors and nurses reassure us. Franklyn ends up telling me to stop fooling around - basically - and take something to ease the pain. I”m grateful for that.
Chase and I are admitted for observation, because he has an ugly hole in his pectoral, and because of my blow to the head. They want to make sure I don”t have a concussion. The monitor that indicates my heart rate is making high-pitched sounds, and that doesn”t encourage me to calm down.
I can”t help thinking how quickly everything can change. The path we”ve just taken seems tainted with uncertainty, and I”m beginning to think that all this could have a negative impact on future training sessions, game results and, by extension, our careers.
Holy shit!
As I lay pondering the events of the last few hours, hurried footsteps suddenly echo down the corridor and voices murmur with apprehension. The door to my hospital room opens on Emily, followed by Coach Franklyn.
My heartbeat quickens when I see her, and all my pain seems to fade into the background for a moment. Her face is marked by concern, and I can see the determination in her eyes. Her presence is like a light in the darkness, giving me hope.
“Em!” I exclaim, my voice hoarse.
Without hesitation, she rushes towards me. Tears glisten in her eyes. Her embrace is so warm and comforting that I forget for a moment where I am and what has happened. It”s as if the world around us disappears and only the two of us exist.
“I came as quickly as I could after your text. I was so scared for you!” she mutters, hugging me tightly.
I return her embrace; with all the strength I can muster.
“I”m fine. We”re both fine.”
The coach stands next to us, his gaze shifting from Chase to me.
“You”re both idiots!” he says, shaking his head. “But I”m glad you”re safe and alive!”
Chase, lying in bed, smiles.
“We resisted, coach!” he croaks.
Emily detaches herself from me and walks over to him. She puts a hand on his shoulder and gives him an encouraging smile.
“And that”s where it got you...” she sighs.
We tell them briefly what happened, and the atmosphere relaxes a little.
She comes back to me and sits on the edge of the bed. Her hand finds mine and her warmth spreads throughout my body. It feels good to know that I have her support.
“I thought my heart would stop when I got your message,” she says softly, her eyes fixed on mine.
“I”m fine,” I repeat. “The wounds aren”t deep; they”re just keeping us under observation. But I”m... I”m glad you”re here.”
I kiss her hand and she smiles softly.
We”re brought back to reality by Chase”s throat clearing.
Stunned, we raise our eyes together, looking in turn at the witnesses to our exchange.
Caught up in the joy of our reunion, we completely forgot about Chase and Coach Franklyn.
Shit…