Chapter 34 Mackenzie
There wasn’t a spare seat in the building as we hit the ice for our game against the Sunshine Hills Saints.
The stands were packed with students and fans from Ransom, but there were just as many people in the crowd wearing the bright white and gold of our opposition.
The energy in the arena was at fever pitch as the crowd cheered and heckled in equal measure.
I spotted Parker’s family quickly. His parents were here, along with his siblings.
I recognized Paige next to Grayson, and Reed’s arm was draped over a pretty redhead’s shoulders.
My brother sat right behind them with my stepmom and little sisters.
As Max caught my eye, he leaned down to whisper something to Daisy and Skye.
They both gave him a serious nod before turning and lifting the posters they’d made with my name high above their heads.
I stood a little taller as I lifted my glove and waved back at them. It was hard not to get emotional seeing my family all here supporting me. Especially now that I finally had my dad in my corner too.
There was still a lot riding on this game though, if we wanted to turn the Devils’ season around.
But the pressure on my shoulders felt different now.
I wasn’t on probation anymore. I was a real member of this team, and, thanks to Parker, I had my own jersey and number to prove it.
My mom’s number. I desperately wanted to win and to do her proud.
For the first time, I felt like both were truly possible.
Warm-ups went by quickly. And, before I knew it, I was skating to the net for the faceoff. I took slow, steady breaths. This game wouldn’t be like the others. I was going to make sure of that.
As everyone took their positions, Parker slid alongside me. “Time to win?”
“Time to win,” I repeated.
“Just try not to outshine me,” he added with a smirk. “Despite everything I’ve said and done these last couple of weeks, I still want to be the star of the team.”
“That sounds like a challenge.”
“Looking forward to it.” He gave me another wicked smile before he skated to center ice.
The game started, and I quickly realized it would probably be impossible to outshine Parker tonight.
From the moment the puck dropped, he was everywhere.
Chasing down loose pucks, slamming Saints players into the boards, firing off shots and setting up opportunities for his teammates.
It was no surprise when he opened the scoring with a brilliant goal.
Sunshine Hills were no pushovers, though. I could see why they’d played in the championship game last year. And I could also see why there was so much animosity between the two teams. The Saints were tough, aggressive, and skillful. But so were my teammates—and so was I.
I wasn’t the same goaltender I’d been just a few weeks ago.
I was stronger and faster. All the extra training I’d done with Parker was finally clicking into place.
Every early morning, every sore muscle, every mistake; they had all led to this moment.
And I felt unbeatable. I saved every shot that came my way in the first period, and it filled me with satisfaction to see the frustrated looks on the Saints players’ faces when we reached the first intermission.
The rest of the team were playing well too, clearly benefiting from our recent team-bonding sessions.
They were working harder for each other, making fewer mistakes.
It seemed like every single pass was finding a teammate.
There was no confusion, more confidence, and, even if the scoreboard didn’t reflect it at the end of the game, I think I still would have felt like we’d won something today.
The second period was just as intense, and I continued to make save after save, but the Saints finally broke through my defenses. While Cullen scored another goal for us, Sunshine Hills got two. The scores were tied.
The locker room was tense during the second intermission. Every player catching their breath, checking their gear, and visualizing how they could help to bring home the win. My dad said a few words, and so did Parker. But we didn’t need encouragement. We all knew exactly what was on the line.
I glanced up at the stands as I headed across the ice to take up my position for the start of the third period. My pulse fluttered with adrenaline at the cheering crowd. They seemed even louder now, more anxious, as everyone prepared for the decisive final period.
“I’ve been thinking…” Parker said, skating up to me before play restarted.
“About the game, I hope.”
“Well, sort of.” He grinned. “I think we should make a bet.”
“You want to bet now?” The scoreboard was counting down to the end of the intermission; we had less than a minute left.
He shrugged. “This game isn’t tense enough; we should up the stakes.”
“Isn’t tense enough? We’re tied two goals each in the final period against our biggest rivals.
How high do you want the stakes to be?” But then my eyes narrowed and I started to smile.
“Actually, don’t answer that,” I said. “I know guys like you. You’re probably going to say something like, ‘loser has to take off a piece of clothing’ or ‘if you score, I have to kiss you.’”
Parker laughed, and his eyes glowed with mischief. “Well, we’ve already kissed, and I seem to remember losing a lot more than one piece of clothing because of you. No, I have a much better idea.”
“And that is?”
“A date,” he replied. “If I score another goal, you go on a date with me.”
“Go on…”
“And if you keep the Saints from scoring any more, you go on a date with me.”
“It sounds like you just really want us to go on a date.”
“Pretty much.”
All the other players were in position, and I nodded to center ice. “Parker, the game’s about to start.”
“They can wait.”
“Parker…”
One of the refs was waving frantically at him. Only ten seconds left on the clock, but he didn’t look like he was planning on moving anytime soon. He seemed happy to wait me out.
“Okay, fine! You’re on. Just get to the faceoff.”
“So, it’s a bet?”
“Yes, it’s a bet!”
When the game restarted, I felt renewed energy flowing through me.
Nothing quite motivated me like beating Parker Darling.
But the Saints were motivated too. The third period was too close to call, like a tug of war between two evenly matched opponents; neither willing to budge an inch.
As the minutes ticked by, I was on track to win my bet, but Parker needed to step up if he wanted to win his.
He needed to find a way past the Saints’ goalie, who had saved even more shots than me.
The anticipation in the stands and on the ice only grew.
Suddenly there were just two minutes left.
Then there was one.
With the clock now racing toward zero, a Saints winger stole the puck, and before anyone could stop him, he was on a breakaway.
He streaked over the blue line toward me.
Our defense couldn’t keep up. And while Parker was probably the fastest player on the ice, there was no way he could make up the ground in time. It was all on me.
The arena fell silent. My heart pounded in my ears and my eyes lasered in on the puck.
The Saints forward flicked his wrist and shot.
I could practically feel the puck vibrating through the air as it left his blade and flew toward me.
I reacted instinctively, dropping to the ground like lightning and blocking it with my leg.
The puck spun on the ice in front of me, perfectly placed for a Saints player to pounce on the rebound.
I could have smothered it with my glove and stopped the game, but from the corner of my eye I saw Parker skidding to a halt by the boards.
Like we’d practiced countless times together during these last weeks, I flicked my stick against the puck, shoving it away from the net and right to him.
He gathered it up and took off like a rocket before the Saints players knew what was happening.
There were only seconds left. If he was going to score, he’d have to do it fast. He closed in on the net at the far end of the ice and went to take a shot.
But then, he slid the puck across to where Owen was just arriving.
The perfect pass. Owen snapped a wrist shot.
The Saints goalie was stranded. The puck hit the net, and the final siren blared.
The arena erupted. We had won. Owen stared at the net in shock as Devils players descended on him to celebrate.
Seconds later, he was being carried across the ice as we chanted his name.
Parker was celebrating harder than anyone.
He could have taken the final shot himself; he could have been the hero, but, instead, he’d done what was best for the team.
I was glad to still be wearing my helmet so no one could see the tears at the corners of my eyes.
Winning the game meant more than anything.
I’d finally proven to everyone that I was worthy of my place on this team.
But more than anything, I’d confirmed to myself I deserved to play the game I loved so much.
Even when Owen was finally lowered back to the ground and the celebrations subsided, there was still an excited buzz in the air.
The guys congratulated me on the win and praised my crucial save.
I pulled my helmet from my head and ran a hand through my hair as I watched them all make their way to the bench. But one player remained at my side.
“I told you not to go and outshine me,” Parker said, smiling as he pulled his helmet off too. “That was some save at the end. And the way you cleared the rebound to set up our winning play. Now who taught you that?”
“Uh, I think it was Owen. Or maybe Seth…”
He growled under his breath, making me laugh.
“You know, now that I think about it, there’s also this hockey captain whose been helping me train…”
“Wow, he sounds like a great guy. Probably good-looking too, right?”
“Well, I thought he was a bit of a jerk at first, but I’m starting to wonder if maybe he’s not so bad.”
“Oh, really?”
“Except, unfortunately, I don’t think he wants to go on a date with me.”
“Why do you say that?
“He didn’t score. He lost the bet.”
Parker dropped his stick and gloves as he skated in close. He reached out to gently take my face in his hands. I could feel myself melting into him, despite the fact that we were standing in the center of the ice with a packed arena surrounding us.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Showing you how much I want to date you.”
“You know we’re not alone here.”
“I’ve always liked an audience watching me win,” he replied.
“My dad’s out there.”
“Yeah, but I think we’re besties now.”
I released a breathy laugh as he dipped his head close.
“I’m not hiding my feelings for you anymore, Mackenzie. Not from anyone.” He pressed a kiss against my lips. The crowd around us burst into cheers once more, and there were also a few whistles from our teammates on the bench.
My cheeks flushed as our lips parted. But Parker was smiling brightly. Could anything embarrass this boy?
“Come on,” he said. “Let’s go check if your dad still likes me.”
We skated off the ice together to meet our teammates, friends, and family. No longer a secret. No longer enemies. Definitely not friends, but something teetering on the precipice of so much more. We’d either end in disaster or we’d be epic. And I knew I wouldn’t have it any other way.