He’d missed this. He’d missed the game and the team and the immediacy of his job. Everything else faded away but the game, the team. Thenow.
They were up 2-1 with five minutes left in the third. Jamie was starting to feel the burn in his legs–no amount of conditioning could fully prepare a body for the demands of a live game. But his hand felt good, his body felt ready, and his mind was focused.
For the first time all year, he was playinghisgame. Not Sharpie’s game, but the kind of play that had earned him a spot on the second line for the past five years. He focused on the things he did best–defending Dallas’ top line, and keeping their star forward without a point for the period. On their end of the ice, he worked the puck from the top and then from behind the net, using his sharp eye to find passing lanes to Coop and Esa.
He was working his ass off, but he wasn’t trying to do more than his role required. He wasn’t trying to be someone else.
Just be Sully.
As his line was called and he hopped back over the boards and onto the ice, he’d never loved hockey more.
“Great work, boys!” Jamie, still in his shoulder pads and skates, made the rounds, tapping shoulders and slapping helmets as the guys started shedding their gear in the locker room. “Bergy, unreal save there in the third. You were amazing out there.”
Anders Berglund gave Jamie a rare smile. “Is good you are back, Sully. We missed you.”
Jamie squeezed his shoulder. It meant a lot to hear those words from their veteran goalie, who tended to be more of the stoic type.
“Cap, we thought you had that clapper from the circle off the draw,” Matt Lee tossed his jersey into the laundry cart. “That would've been epic.”
Jamie shrugged. “Ollie was right there for the rebound. It all worked out.”
They’d finished the game 4-1, with two late goals locking in their victory. Dallas’ star player, Kevin Smith, who Jamie had matched up with, hadn’t gotten a single point. Jamie was riding high, his smile so big his cheeks hurt.
“Next practice, can we work on tips?” Ollie was still breathing hard, half of his gear still strapped on, when he sat down next to Jamie’s stall. “You’re right. I’m getting the chances in front. That rebound off your shot…I see it now.”
Jamie nodded, tapping the rookie on the knee. “You got it, kid.”
“I will help,” Onni said from his stall, as he removed the last pieces of his dry gear. He hadn’t played tonight, but still sat on the sidelines, ready to go in as the backup if the team needed him. “I need more practice with rebound control. We will get better. Together.”
The two rookies shared a long look and a nod that Jamie didn’t even attempt to understand.
“Count me in for training with the Cap,” Liam Olsson shouted from across the room. “I need to learn how he does that silky neutral zone footwork.”
Jamie felt a pleased, and slightly embarrassed flush climb up the back of his neck.
Maybe I can do this,he thought.
Coach Hollister came into the room. He clapped Jamie on the back, offering him a crooked smile. “It’s good to have you back, Sully. What you did out there tonight?Thatis the player we named Captain of this team. Keep it up and we just might surprise everyone this year.”
Jamie thanked his coach before stripping off the rest of his pads. There would be just enough time to run home, clean, and then pack, before heading to the team plane. They were flying to Chicago that night, and would have a day of practice before their game the following day.
It was good to be back.
When Jamie got to his hotel room in Chicago late that night, he stripped down to his briefs, brushed his teeth, and collapsed onto the bed with his phone in his hand.
It was late, but he wanted to hear Tyler’s voice. If he was already sleeping, his phone would be off and Jamie would leave him a message.
He fuckingmissedhim.
The phone rang twice before Tyler picked up. “Hey,” he said.
Immediately, Jamie heard loud cries in the background. “You guys okay?”
“Um,” Tyler started, and Jamie hated how ragged and defeated that one word sounded. “Kiddo, I know. We already had some cheese and apples, and now it’s time to find your rest.”
“Noooo!” Rowan’s small voice wailed, more strained than Jamie had ever heard it. “Sleep is not comingggg!”
Jamie wished he was there. He wished he could pick Rowan up in his arms and share some of the load.
