Atty succeeds. He passes it to Rigbe who keeps its momentum going and sends it right on to Noah. Noah takes a shot while the puck is still moving and it sails toward Azure in the net. Azure drops like he’s a puppet, pulling his stick up at the same time. The puck slams off it with an audiblesmackand goes sailing toward the boards.
We manage to keep the puck. It meets my stick and I send it back in, straight to Rigbe’s stick. He makes an attempt but his stick’s momentum is stopped short by one of their players. The puck continues sliding, but slowly, and it’s an easy save for Azure.
Another tussle breaks out, but we still manage to keep the puck. Once more, it’s a game of keep away as we pass the puck all over between our sticks. I come out of the neutral zone, trying to close the gap a little and keep the puck closer to the offensive zone.
Two more attempts at goal are made and I slide myselfbackward again, once more between the blue lines. The puck comes sailing down this way and Wiliker stops it. He sends it to me and I push it along the boards to get back into their zone.
We get it back, but it’s quickly flung back toward us. I stop it and skate backwards with it, letting my team come to me and regroup. I pass it to Noah as he skates behind Winny. There’s a Vegas guy on his heels so he pushes it ahead of him to Miles.
Vegas is on us now and I think we’re in our own way. Too many men right in front of Winny and fucking Vegas makes the goal. I can see the irritation on Winny’s face as he glares at Miles and Wiliker for being too far in the crease.
“It’s okay,” I assure Winny as I get close. “We’re only two minutes in. We have a whole game to kick their asses.”
Winny shoves his helmet up and pushes his glove onto the top of the net so he can reach for his bottle of water. I watch as he takes a sip. When he puts it down, he meets my eyes and gives me a nod. “Right. Go take a breather, Hugo.”
Flashing him a grin, I head for the bench. There are days when I forget to get off the ice as often as I should. There are times when I’m just hovering in the neutral zone for long minutes while they fight for a goal, though. I’m alert but not active. Those times, I don’t need to take a rest.
I probably don’t need a rest right now, either. But I listen when I’m told to rest. I’m not always the most aware of my own fatigue signs because I get so into the game. So I appreciate the reminders.
Sitting, I watch as the puck drops and the game resumes while I take a drink. It’s another struggle at Vegas’ end as we make several attempts on goal. Azure is a damn machine, though.
My gaze drifts into the stands and locks immediately on Surry the Seal. He’s standing with a teenage girl who looks like she’s dressed for a beach day and not a frozen arena. Together, they work on making the crowd do the wave. Maybe he took note of her attire and thought she belonged at the beach, too.
The wave is moderately successful. They try again. With each attempt, the wave gets better. Including more of the audience.
Grinning, I turn my attention back to the ice and take another sip. I’m watching as the crowd starts chanting.
“LET’S GO L. A.”Clap, clap, clapclapclap.
Sports, adrenaline, can be like a drug. Their chanting, though it fades into the background, drives me to do better. To make our fans proud.
We’re going to win this game.
Chapter Six
TORIN
Another practiceI didn’t need to be at, but made sure to sit in the very front. Now that Coach has pointed out that everyone looks for me, I see as it happens. I flush (obviously), but it doesn’t erase the warmth in my chest.
I haven’t been able to stop myself from watching them look for me. Sometimes, I imagine them relaxing when they see me. How had I never noticed this before? Was I reallythatobsessed with Hugo?
Yes. Clearly the answer is yes, and I’m not even sad about it. If anyone deserves to be obsessed over, it’s Hugo Bladen. He’s just agoodperson. So sweet and kind and thoughtful.
And hot.
As usual, I wait until practice is done and gather the pucks. Ever since the day Coach Ajo told me about them looking for me, they always say hi on their way by. Sometimes, they still don’t see me in the hallway until Hugo says hi first. But they definitely see me in the stands now.
The team leaves for a series of away games tomorrow. They’ll be gone for nine days. I don’t usually join them since my role as the mascot isn’t usually something that’s allowed at other arenas. They have their own mascots. I only get invited along if there’s an event or something specific that I’m needed for.
Such is not the case with this trip.
I take my time on the ice, sliding around as I gather pucks. It gets lonely here when the team is gone. It’s really quiet, too. I don’t come to the arena as much either since Hugo isn’t here and I have no one to drool over.
Is it really stalking if I keep my infatuated stares reserved to in person practices and games? It’s not like I follow him. I don’t even search through his social media since it’s always a bunch of girls tagging him and who wants to see that?!
A smile touches my lips as I think about all the time we’ve been spending texting. He hasn’t given me any indication that he knows he’s textingme. Why would he know that? I doubt he programmed everyone’s phone number into his phone when he received the roster of the company with phone numbers. There’s literally no other reason he’d know my number.
I have no reason to believe he knows it’s me. Is it creepy that I haven’t told him? Or maybe romantic? I’m delusional to think it’s going to lead anywhere. He’ll eventually figure out it’s me and have a good laugh. Maybe we’ll remain friends.
