Instinct takes over.
I don’t second guess it and shoot without hesitation in one pure motion.
The puck sails straight into the top part of the net.
The horn blares.
The crowd erupts, screaming like a bomb went off in the stadium.
Our team lost.
By a landslide.
But McLanely, Renthrow and Kinsey skate over and grab me. They’re joined by many of my teammates.
As everyone converges on me, I find myself skating back and laughing from the force of their hugs and congratulatory pats on the back.
Joy detonates in my chest.
After my accident, there were so many dark days. It was difficult to keep going when everyone was telling me that I was wrong, that I was hurting myself, that my hockey days were over.
Of course I had my doubts. While I was doing physical therapy, a moment like this felt like a dream that I could never achieve.
But I did.
I made it.
Hockey, I’m back.
Chapter Forty-Five
RILEY
The crowd is on its feet and screaming Nat’s name.
He isbeamingon the ice, green eyes sparkling behind his helmet.
Emotions swirl in my chest. I remember the pinky promise we made a few weeks ago.
‘No matter how hard it gets and no matter what we face, I won’t give up on hockey and you won’t give up on fixing airplanes.’
My dreams changed, but Nat never lost sight of his, even when people were counting him out and calling him a liability.
I feel something wet rolling down my cheek.
Stunned, I brush at my face and realize that I’m crying.
This is so embarrassing.
I duck my head and search through my purse for a tissue to hide any signs of my tears.
“That was amazing!” My brother yells to be heard over the roar of the crowd. His hair is sticking up on end from how many times he’s been tugging at it.
Chris was livid when the coach kept substituting players thatweren’tNat. It seemed like he was screaming at the Lucky Strikers’ coach for half the game.
My brother’s eyes are wide. “I’ve never seen a top shelf that smooth. It’s like he was playing on two-x speed.”
“Sensational.” Renea is clapping and her eyes look misty as well. “He’s even better now than before the accident.”
