Cam’s skating so fast, and he’s got such a head start that Watts can’t possibly catch him.
The goalie panics and jumps out of position as Cam drives toward the net.
The goalie lunges for the puck, and he almost has it.
But not quite.
Cam slides the puck to his left and hooks it past the goalie and into the net.
I scream so loudly I can’t hear myself.
Our entire bench is shouting, and the players are banging their sticks against the boards.
Luckily, the players on the ice stay in control. The Caves pull their goalie, but Cam’s like a force of nature, forechecking all over the ice, and the Caves can’t get the puck out of their end.
The buzzer sounds, and the game’s over.
We won.
Cam is mobbed by his teammates, and the bunch of them fall onto the ice in some sort of crazy celebratory group hug.
I stay safely on the bench, hugging Bruce and then Eric and even Craig.
But once the bedlam dies down, Cam skates over to the bench alone.
His helmet’s off, and his bright eyes find mine. His face is flushed, and his black hair’s a mess. I’ve never loved him more.
He grins at me and gives me the thumbs-up.
“You did it!” I say.
“Wedid it,” he says. “Your play call was awesome.”
I jump over the boards and into his arms, and he gives me a hard kiss on the mouth.
“You deserve to be out here too.” He tugs at my ponytail. “No one worked their ass off more than you did the entire season.”
And then, he wraps his arm tightly around my waist, and with no warning, pushes off with his skates and takes off around the rink. I let out a surprised squeal, my feet dangling just off the ice as Cam speeds up on the curve.
“You’re a force, Cameron Wild,” I say as he slows down and we come to a stop in the middle of the rink. “You literally refused to lose.”
“I can’t lose when I’ve got you on my team.” He lowers his voice. “We’ll celebrate this win privately later.”
I kiss his jaw. “I can’t wait.”
* * *
The trophy presentation takes place on the ice, and Cam is awarded Most Valuable Player.
“I wouldn’t be up here if it weren’t for Savannah, who taught me how to have fun playing hockey again. This is ours, babe” he says as he points at me and then hoists his trophy into the air.
The crowd breaks into deafening cheers as Cam beckons to me.
When I hesitate, Bruce gives me a little shove.
Cam reaches out his hand and helps me up next to him.
I’m on a high, and even the eyes of the crowd don’t bother me. I cuddle into Cam’s side and laugh as he hands me the trophy and McLain takes a photo.
