“Night.” And just like that, I’m alone in the dead silence. My heart hammers with something that’s not quite adrenaline. I don’t know what these emotions exactly are, but I’m not ready to leave this place. The day was so chaotic, I didn’t have time to slow down and take it all in. Needing one more moment, I make my way down the corridor and step into the arena. Only the emergency lights are on, casting a dim bluish glow over theice. Although it’s a brand-new venue, I’ve already memorized enough so I don’t need full lights to see.
I close my eyes, and it’s all there: the stands filled with fans wearing blue and orange, the rumble of the bleachers after a game-winning goal, my team celebrating.
This is what I always dreamed of.
And now it’s real.
I step farther inside until I’m right next to the boards, and I rest my palm against the cool plexiglass.My dreams came true.
But then the memory punches through like a slap to the face.
I’m twenty-three again.
Back when I was lightning on ice.
Playing in the NHL.
And there’s Blake Anton.
No, excuse me while I properly introduce him into this memory: Blake Loser Anton, my ex-friend who stole my girlfriend and got drafted to my rival team.
Lacy was in the crowd that night. Maybe that made me on edge?
Maybe he made me on edge?
He came at me with his elbow high. All I remember is thinking I could get around him, but I was thrown up against the plexiglass, right as his elbow cracked me under the chin.
My head snapped back.
I went down.
Concussion.
My doctor said I couldn’t risk another one, as that was my third. Just like that, my career was over.
The final score: Blake took my girl and my career.
For a long time, I stayed bitter, but then I came up with a new way to win—start my own team. Now, I scan the arena, and my heart fills with more than I would have ever dreamed about.I may have lost my career in the NHL, but this entireteamis mine.
Thisdream is alive.
Even though I’m all alone, I can’t help but smirk. “You didn’t win, Blake,” I say softly. “You did me a favor, because you pushed me to be even better. Every day I worked unceasing hours to become rich. I started buying little junky houses, fixing them up with my own labor, and flipping them to get down payments on bigger investments. One lucky deal led to another. Now I’m so rich, I have an empire, and I own a whole AHL team…”
A chuckle from the bottom of my gut erupts. It feels good to win. Surveying the empty arena, my heart swells. Then oddly, I find myself glancing to my side.
Then my other side.
It’s not lost on me that I’ve done this all by myself. That’s a point of pride for me. But as I stand here achieving my dreams, I can’t help but feel like it would be nice to share it with someone. I’ve always been too focused on getting here to slow down for any relationship, or even friendships.
Sure, I have friends, but they are the sort of friends you use for social climbing and business. I never really let anyone fully into my life.
I couldn’t trust anyone after what Blake did to me.
But now that I’m here, it feels like I might have missed something.
Just like that, a thought sparks.
I pull out my phone.
