Kendall is gripping the railing with both hands, mascara streaked down her cheeks, laughing and crying at the same time. I point my stick directly at her.
The Jumbotron catches it, and suddenly, she’s on the screen, mouthing,I love you.
I think twenty thousand people turn to look at the woman inmyjersey. Cell phones immediately go up in the air.
I skate toward the tunnel, and she’s already moving, pushing through the crowd. By the time I reach the entrance, she’s there, running toward me. I catch her and lift her off the ground, pulling her against me so tight that my pads dig into her, but she doesn’t care. She wraps her legs around my waist and buries her face in my neck.
“You did it,” she says against my skin. “You’re the greatest goal scorer in league history.”
“That last one was for you.” I pull back enough to look at her, wiping the mascara from under her eyes with my gloved thumbs. “They all were.”
She laughs and desperately kisses me as my teammates stream past us into the tunnel. Someone whistles, but I don’t care.
We break apart when I hear a clearing of a throat behind us.
Coach is standing a few feet away, arms crossed over his chest.
He looks at me for a long moment, then at Kendall, still wrapped around me, then back at me. I set her down onto her feet, and she blushes.
“Hell of a game, Cross.”
“Thanks for letting me play.”
He shakes his head. “Like I had a choice.” He pauses. “Ninety-four goals. Not bad.”
“Not bad? Coach, I broke the all-time record.”
“Okay, don’t get cocky.” But he’s almost smiling. He extends his hand. “Sunday dinner?”
“Sure, I’ll be there,” I say, taking his grip.
He nods and looks at Kendall. His mustache twitches. “Did you enjoy yourself?”
“It was the best game, Dad. You should be proud. You coached the best in the league.”
“You two are made for one another.” He chuckles and walks toward the locker room, pausing at the entrance to look back. “New all-time record with ninety-four goals.” He shakes his head. “My future son-in-law. Lord help me.”
Then he’s gone, and I’m laughing, and so is Kendall. As I move to kiss Kendall, Nick Banks appears next to me with his wife, Julie. He pulls me into a tight hug.
“I’m so fucking proud of you, Patty,” Nick says. “You earnedeveryone of those goals.”
“Learned from the best.”
“Damn right you did.” He pulls back and grins. “Ninety-four goals. You crazy son of a bitch.”
“Someone had to knock you off that pedestal.”
“Glad it was you, kid.”
My mom, dad, Jameson, and Addison swarm us next. Everyone is hugging me, and they’re all talking over each other. The celebration carries us along. There’s champagne in the locker room and a handful of interviews I barely remember. The next few hours are blurry and rushed with joy.
When Kendall and I finally get a moment alone, she leans up and whispers in my ear, “I love you, Pattycakes.”
Months ago, she would’ve used the wordhate. We were trading insults like currency, pretending we didn’t want to devour each other. Now she’s wearing my name on her back, and I’m wearing her on my skin, and I can’t remember why I ever thought this was something to be afraid of.
“I love you too, Ken Doll.” I kiss her forehead. “Now let’s get out of here before I do something I shouldn’t.”
38
