Thankfully, Fletch drags Linc away before he starts throwing punches, and once Kodie is back on his feet, they take their positions for the face-off.
“Come on, baby. You’ve got this,” Casey cries.
But they don’t. Fletch doesn’t win the puck drop, and the Scorpions’ center quickly shoots to his left winger.
My eyes bounce between him and Cole, who is ready in goal.
He waves his arms up and down and wiggles his legs.
He’s got this.
The puck moves faster than I can follow. One second, they’re about to score, and then the winger is behind the goal, shooting around to the other side.
And then he goes for it.
I swear, my heart stops the second that bit of rubber leaves his stick.
It goes flying through the air, directly at Cole.
Come on. Come on. You’ve got this.
A cheer erupts around the bar the moment the puck lands in Cole’s glove.
“HE DID IT,” I scream. “HE DID IT.”
Casey glances over at me with a proud smile.
“Of course he did. He’s Cole fucking Hansley.”
I can’t help but laugh, though my attention is soon back on the screen as they get into position for what’s probably going to be the final face-off of regulation.
If we can’t find the back of the net, then this continues until someone does.
I’m not sure my nerves can take it.
Fletch wins it and takes off, faking a right to Linc but actually shooting left to Kodie.
The clock continues ticking down, but the guys remain cool as they move the puck toward the goal.
Unable to stop myself, I cross my fingers.
And then it happens.
“FUCK YES,” Casey screams as the rest of the bar erupts as Kodie finds the back of the net. “Oh, that man is getting so freaking lucky tonight.”
As the guys all pile on Kodie on screen, Casey turns and drains her drink.
“We need shots,” she declares.
“Uh…”
“You only live once, Freya. And we’re celebrating.”
Before I know it, a server appears with a tray containing four shots and two more cocktails.
Thank God for the food we consumed when we first got here.
“To our boys,” Casey says, lifting the first shot in the air.
