Chapter 23 – Life Goal
Hope for The Future
The night vibrates with the low thrum of a helicopter cutting through the winter night.
Its blades churn the crisp air above the Thunder Bay Titans arena as an onboard camera sweeps wide over the crowded parking lot. Bundled fans are still hurrying through the gates, heads down, collars up. The building glows against the darkness like a beacon, every window and entrance blazing.
"Good evening, hockey fans," the sportscaster booms. "Tonight, we've got the matchup that everyone's been dying to see. The Ice Hawks take on the Titans in their home territory. This promises to be yet another thrilling chapter in one of the league's fiercest rivalries. "
The helicopter banks, diving lower as the crowd's noise swells in the background.
"Defensemen Jaxson Kingston and Bash Duchesne meet once again, and when these two share the ice, sparks always fly."
The camera dives, like a bird folding its wings, plunging from the dark sky into the rink's brilliant white overhead lights.
Inside, the arena is electric.
The puck drops.
From the opening faceoff, Bash and Jaxson circle each other like rival predators, drawn together like magnets, ready to collide.
Along the boards, they clash shoulder to shoulder, sticks locked as they engage shift after shift.
Their bodies are weapons, driving into one another, each hit delivered with intent and malice.
Both are bruisers, defensive anchors who don't shy away from contact but revel in punishment.
The ice becomes a battleground whenever these two occupy it together, fueled by both their professional and personal lives, a rivalry burning out of control. It happens every game.
A shove.
A cross-check.
A muttered insult spat at each other beneath the roar .
They meet again in front of the net, bodies colliding, neither giving an inch. This isn't just hockey, it's close to the heart.
"You proud of yourself, Douche-say?" Jaxson snarls, jabbing his glove into Bash's chest. "You sleep okay after wrecking my home?"
Bash's jaw tightens. "You're the one who broke her heart and threw her away, Jackass. Remember that stellar idea? Open marriage."
Jaxson laughs, sharp and ugly. "You think she'll stay with you? She's just getting even with me for my stupidity. We're soulmates."
"That's it! You're delusional."
Bash's gloves hit the ice.
So do Jaxson's.
As fists inevitably begin to fly, the crowd goes nuts. It's not pretty or strategic. It's personal.
The refs charge in, hauling them both apart as they shout at each other, raw rage echoing through the now silent venue.
Two penalties.
Two sin bins.
Opposite sides of the ice .
Seething, Bash slams down onto the bench, throwing his helmet to the floor. His chest heaves while his knuckles burn.
Then he hears it.
"Bash."
He'd know that voice anywhere. It cuts right through the roar of the fans.
His head snaps up.
There, in the stands.
Amelia.
His face breaks into a smile as he sees her.
She's standing there, impossible to miss, her smile so bright it hurts to look at.
On her hip is a toddler with white-blond hair and crystal blue eyes, the perfect replica of Bash himself.
The dimple gives it away. The boy bounces, both hands in the air, fingers curling, beckoning, as if cheering.
"Da! Da! Da!"
Bash blows a kiss and mouths the words he never hesitates to say.
I love you.
He doesn't need to speak them out loud. He proves his love the same way he always has, by showing up, standing firm, and never wavering .
Amelia is wearing Bash's jersey, and so is the boy. She turns slightly, grinning, and points to her back.
DUCHESNE
24
Beside them, Bash's parents beam. His mother takes the boy into her arms as Amelia bends to pick something up.
She lifts a sign that reads.
PENALTY BOX EXPANDING!
BABY #2 COMING
The arena explodes.
The sports announcer laughs into the mic. "Well, folks, it looks like Mrs. Duchesne just dropped a pretty big surprise on her husband tonight."
But Bash doesn't hear another word.
He vaults from the sin bin.
Over the boards.
Over the divider.
Scrambling through the aisles, knocking over popcorn and drinks as fans cheer and roar, egging him on. He apologizes dazedly, but doesn't slow or stop.
"Excuse me."
"Sorry. "
He reaches Amelia and sweeps her into his arms, spinning her until they get dizzy and tumble into the seats together, giggling, breathless, happy.
The boy wriggles free from his grandmother and climbs into his daddy's lap. Tiny hands clutch Bash's jersey as he pulls the boy closer, pressing a kiss to his head, while tears drip down his cheeks.
On the ice, Bash's coach is shouting for him to get back to the box.
The PuckCam catches the moment where Amelia and Bash gaze into each other's eyes and share a tender kiss.
Then, framed in a glowing heart superimposed over them.
THEY'RE PREGGO!
Bash kisses his boy, then jogs back to the ice, fists in the air like a conquering hero, grinning while the crowd roars its approval.
Across the rink, Jaxson sits frozen, devastation etched into every line of his face. He watches the little family, and his color drains.
In the stands behind Jaxson, Mandy leans forward, a manic smile twisting her lips. Her eyes fixed on him, glittering with something unhinged, dangerous.
"Jaxson, darling, I'm here. "
He glances back at Mandy, who is still watching him with that wild, gleeful, predatory stare. Finally, he says out loud, but barely whispers.
"Why won't she leave me alone?"
His teammate, Axel, leans over. "What was that?"
Jaxson nods to Mandy behind them in the stands.
"She… she won't let go," Jaxson repeats, rubbing a hand over his face.
"She's always around. Yeah, we were friends with benefits, but nothing more.
Now she thinks she's my girlfriend, even though I've told her repeatedly that we have no relationship—not even friendship.
She won't listen. She laughs it off like I'm joking. "
"Wow," Axel laughs. "That's intense."
"Yeah. The police say she hasn't crossed any lines they can charge her for.
So, there's nothing they can do. They say she's just a hanger-on, a puck bunny.
She even has some of them convinced she's my girlfriend.
I keep trying to cut her off, but she keeps showing up, and we end up in bed together once again. It's exhausting."
"Man, that's bad," Axel shakes his head. "I don't blame Melly for never reconciling with the nutcase hanging around."
"I lost her. My own stupidity."
"Yeah, I remember how that went down. I have to agree with you, there. "
Jaxson's voice cracks as he adds, almost to himself. "I understand too late that trying doesn't guarantee healing. Some wounds are beyond repair."
The lights blaze.
The crowd chants.
The game resumes, and it really doesn't matter at this point who wins. The choice has already been made.
Fade to black.