Each team gets close to scoring, but the goalies aren’t letting anything past them. Akers catches a puck in his mitt and tosses it to the referee, and Mav skates forward for the face-off.
We jump up and down, holding each other’s hands as he sends the puck “unexpectedly” to Gavin, who slings it to Hancock while Owen skates right up the middle. It’s theTic-Tac-Tac-Goalcombination, and we know where this is going.
Hancock passes to Owen, confusing the Cliffs who were already closing in. Owen shoots it to Gav as he comes around from behind the net. A pass to Mav, and with a slap, it’s a goal.
The crowd goes crazy, and the Jumbotron blasts their score song. We all jump up and down together, cheering for the guys. Fans near us blast air horns, but Baby Lucy sleeps through it all with her ears covered.
I’m breathless as I lean into Haddy. “When did they start with the air horns?”
I notice they’re all striped purple, white, and black with the Champions’ logo on the front.
“I thought it would be a fun thing for the fans. We came up with a logo sketch, and the gift shop stocked them.”
“This was your idea?”
She shrugs, and my eyebrows shoot up. “I’m getting four for the next game!”
“Okay!” She laughs, checking her baby girl before returning her gaze to the rink. “I can’t believe she’s sleeping through this.”
“I can’t believe she’s sleeping at all without Gavin holding her.”
My bestie-cousin gives me a hug. “Why is this so much more fun than football?”
“Because they’re ridiculously fast on those skates?” My nose wrinkles. “Because they wear those suits, and they’re all tall and hot?”
Haddy gives me a naughty grin. “Because they can fight!”
I throw my arms around her, laughing. “It’s true!”
The Champions manage to hold off the Cliffs through the final period. Smaller fights break out as the gameplay intensifies, but neither team manages to score again.
It doesn’t matter, because the boys win, and the fans are stomping and cheering and blasting their horns.
“Halloween is on a Saturday this year.”Mav hangs over the back of the couch studying his phone. “It’s the same day we play Anaheim again.”
“I remember that game last year,” Gav groans from where he sits holding Lucy.
“You played like shit.” Mav shoves his broad shoulder. “I was ready to punch you in the face.”
“Haddy wasn’t speaking to me.”
“Never let girl drama interfere with your game.” Mav points from his cousin-in-law to our new housemate.
“Playing helped me forget all my drama.” Owen’s deep voice is measured.
“I can’t wait for you to have some girl drama.” Haddy has Princess Petunia in her arms, so she bumps Mav with her hip. “What’s the deal, anyway?”
“Easy on the solar plexus.” Mav takes the teacup poodle from her. “I have a strict rule about dating. Hockey is my number one love, and if that’s okay with the ladies, we can have some fun. But hockey is my life.”
“That sounds eerily familiar,” I say from where I’m sitting on the floor, brushing Spanky. “What was up with that Cliffs’ player punching you in the face?”
“Phew, talk about drama.” Mav straightens, shaking his head. “He’s been carrying a grudge since we collided last season. Moron. It was a loose puck!”
Maddie is right at my side walking Zander across Ladybird’s back. “There’s this girl on YouTube, and she won a ribbon for walking a dog in a show!”
“You’re right. Her name is Caitlyn Mellor.” I slide the brush over Spanky’s shoulders. “She’s only four years old.”
“Could I walk Ladybird like that?” She puts Zander on Ladybird’s head like a hat.
