The Wild Kings finished the regular season in first place, and they won their first three playoffs series.
I’ve been to every home game. The Kings have crushed their opponents, and Declan’s been an unstoppable force on the ice. Tonight is the first game of the finals against the New Orleans Fire. It’s a best of seven series, with the first two games here in Montana.
“These games are taking a toll on my stress levels,” I say to Jamie Beth as Declan waves to me and exits the ice for the locker room. “Each time the Kings finish a series and I think I can relax, Declan tells me they’re on to the next series.”
But all of the anxiety is worth it. Because Declan’s worth it.
And Jamie Beth is right—as much as I try not to say the ‘L’ word to myself, I do love my husband.
* * *
Declan
I’m amped for the game. I’m amped for the series. This is my last chance to win it all as a player, and I want to give my team everything I have. I got banged up in the last series, and my shoulder’s definitely been better, but I know I can gut it out for one last run.
I have to.
“You ready?” Jared holds up his gloved hand.
I bump his glove with my own. “No mercy tonight,” I tell him. “I know you’re playing against your brothers, but…”
Jared laughs. “That fact motivates me more, man,” he says. “We all love to beat each other. Max and I want this one bad, believe me.”
“Good to hear,” I say. “You two will have one up on Liam and Hunter if we win, right?”
“Yeah, we will,” Max says as he joins us at the door leaving the locker room. “So let’s go do it.”
* * *
I know Mia’s watching me as soon as I enter the ice. I raise my stick in her direction before the puck is dropped to start the game.
And then, the clock starts on the last series of my professional hockey career.
Tonight, I’m feeling it. I’m the only guy on the team who’s been to the finals before, and I can sense my teammates need some encouragement.
“Arch! Is that the way you do it in college?” I bark at him when he lets a Fire defender take the puck away from him. “Focus!”
I skate the length of the ice and scoop the puck out of Hunter Storm’s grasp. “Mine tonight, Storm,” I trash talk him as I fire the puck to Jared, who skates over the blue line and then finds an open Max.
He flicks his wrist, and the puck bangs into the goal.
“Way to go, Max!” I shout.
One to nothing.
And we’re just getting started.
* * *
I score my second goal midway through the third period.
And I do something I’ve never done before. As the Fire call timeout, I go to the bench and throw on my skate guards before I walk into the stands.
She’s sitting in the VIP seats behind the bench with Jamie Beth and my parents, and all my cousins.
“Declan, what—” she starts to say.
I lift the helmet on my visor and cut her off with a hard kiss on her mouth.
