I want to take the win and go the fuck home. But apparently, the Jets offense wants to make my first game a banger as they fly down the ice toward me and Martel.
He and the opposing player are pushed against the boards, and I skate over for backup, but it’s all for naught as the puck dislodges and goes right to the stick of another Jets player.
He doesn’t waste the opportunity as Martel and I scramble to get back into defensive positions.
Max is anticipating the lineman’s move and is able to glove the puck, but as soon as he does, the opposing player’s shoulder is hitting him and taking Connery down.
I’ve protected so many goalies in my career, but this feels personal.
All that sluggishness drifts away as adrenaline fills me, and I skate over and grip the prick by his jersey and take the first swing.
The crowd is extraordinarily loud, chanting for violence. I thrive on it, not caring when he hits me in the side that I’m still tender in.
Whistles are blown, and more players are joining the fray as I hold his jersey and continue hitting, even though I’m winded and each hit hurts.
Don’t fuck with my goalie is the message I’m sending with every hit I give and take.
The tang of blood is fresh in my mouth as we’re eventually pulled away from one another. Both of us get called for penalties, and the end of the game will be played four on four.
I smile, blood staining my teeth as they blare my face on all the screens in the stadium.
If there’s one thing the Foxes can do, it’s four on four.
Like they were born playing hockey together, Martel and Beckford show us why pack contracts are a real deal as Martel gets the puck, passing it to Beckford.
He doesn’t even stop the puck, just rears back and slap shots it right into the goal. The horn blares, and the crowd goes wild as we wait for the final minute to tick down.
I skate out of the box and join my team in celebration, my arm around Max Connery of all people. I don’t know what takes over me, but like so many years before, I pick the most ridiculous time to lean forward and kiss him.
But this time, he does the same.
It’s a quick kiss, and when we pull back, we both seem surprised by our actions. But the smile that takes over his face has me feeling like I just won the lottery.
I don’t deserve this life I have, but I’m going to hold on to it with every amount of strength I have.
CHAPTER 39
Ididn’t want to leave the house. In all honesty, I feel like shit. I can feel people taking pictures of me, and I can only guess what the next headline is going to be. Probably something about me ruining the team or how I’m still bondless. God, when they find out I’m pregnant, the headlines are going to be miserable.
I scrub a hand down my face as I try not to fall apart. Everything feels like too much. I feel like crap all the time, and I’m doing my best to hide it from two of the men who love me most, which in turn just makes me feel worse.
Part of me wants to tell them right now, but another part of me is just so scared that what we have is so fragile that this might just ruin everything we’ve built. It’s like I’ve dug myself into this hole and I don’t know how to get out of it. Deep down, I know Max and Bram would be able to handle my emotions if we bonded, but I’m not sure how they are going to handle us having a baby together. What if the headlines are right? What if I’m not worth all of this effort?
I shake all those annoying thoughts away as I watch Bram’s first game back. Old habits die hard as I take pictures and videos of each of them—unfortunately, while people do the same of me.Just because I don’t work for the Foxes anymore doesn’t mean I can’t help them with their own social media.
“Have a second for your old man?” I hear behind me and sigh.
It’s my dad Henderson. He must have heard I was coming to the game, or maybe he assumed because it’s Bram’s first game back.
“Hey, Dad,” I say, not turning around.
Instead, he comes to stand next to me and watches the game with me.
“He’s come back with the same tenacity he had before,” he says.
“Bram is resilient,” I say.
“We miss you, honey,” he says.
