"He's got this. The team is playing so well."
The arena was packed—the entire town had come out for this game. Emma was there with her parents, wearing a homemade sign that said "GO COACH JAKE!"
The game started, and Lucy's stomach was in knots.
It was fast, physical, intense. The Wolves went up 2-0 in the first period. Lucy screamed so loud Rei had to tell her to calm down.
But the other team came back, tying it 2-2 by the end of the second period.
The third period was agony. Back and forth, neither team able to score. Lucy's hands were shaking.
Then, with five minutes left, Marcus made an impossible save. The crowd went wild.
The Wolves pushed forward. Owen had the puck, passed to Marcus (who'd joined the rush because of course he did), who shot—
Goal.
3-2, Wolves.
The arena exploded. Lucy was screaming, Rei was crying, Emma was jumping up and down.
Five minutes. They just had to hold on for five minutes.
Lucy watched Jake behind the bench, completely focused, calling plays, managing his team. This was what he was meant to do. Not play hockey—coach it. Help others achieve what he couldn't.
The other team pulled their goalie for an extra attacker. Lucy couldn't watch.
Two minutes.
One minute.
Thirty seconds.
The buzzer sounded.
The Wolves had won the championship.
Lucy watched as Jake's team mobbed each other on the ice. Watched as the officials brought out the championship trophy. Watched as Jake hoisted it with Marcus, both of them grinning like kids.
This was his moment. His triumph. His dream realized.
Lucy made her way down to the ice. Jake saw her, handed the trophy to Marcus, and skated over.
"We won," he said, breathless.
"You won. Jake, you did it!"
"We did it. The team, Tommy's foundation, all of it."
Lucy kissed him through the glass barrier, not caring who was watching.
"I'm so proud of you," she said.
"I'm proud of you too. Margaret's is incredible, Lucy. Everyone's talking about it."
"We both did it. Same week. Both our dreams."
"Yeah. Pretty amazing timing."
