Looking up at the scoreboard, I know we need only one more to win after their two empty nets in a row, giving us the advantage in a best out of three.
I see number eighteen skate around the front of their bench, letting me know he’s next if we don’t get this next goal.
“Stone, you’re up. Bring us home,” Coach says, grabbing my shoulder as I grin widely.
“You got it,” I reply, putting all my focus on this next shot as I hop over the bench.
Tuning out all the noise, the world goes silent as my blades glide across the ice and come to a stop at center line.
I size up the goalie and look him straight in the eye until the whole arena disappears from my vision and all I see is him. From the footage I watched earlier and by watching his every move in this game, I know his weaknesses and his strengths.
He crouches low and gets in position as he waits for me to begin. Leaving the puck on the ice, I skate around it and head toward the opposite end before turning and picking up speed. I grab the puck on my way past it, stick handling it back and forth to keep him guessing where I’m aiming for.
When I get close, I backhand it low into the corner and watch it flip in right past his left leg and into the net.
The fans suddenly come back into my tunnel vision as my name is chanted in a wild roar of excitement. I briefly touch mygood luck charm branded on my chest before the team swarms the ice and shares the win with me as my helmet is tapped and gloves are hit.
Blade reaches us, and I touch my helmet to his.
“Nice saves,” I grin.
“Nice shot,” he adds, chuckling.
We skate off the ice, but not before I glance at the raven-haired beauty who’s grinning ear to ear in the stands. Her finger comes up to briefly tap her red-painted lips, and I lift my eyebrow in recognition as a smirk plays on my face.
That’s right, sunshine.
Those cherry lips are mine with that goal.
I step through the door leading to the locker rooms and quickly strip my uniform off before sinking into an ice bath. The guys are loud and excited from the win, already talking about celebrating tonight at Breakaway.
“You going out with us?” Hayes asks, walking over from the interview he just did. His pads are already off, and he’s removing his pants as he speaks.
“Nope. I’ve got other plans.” I stand up from the ice bath and grab a towel as Hayes sinks into the ice tub next to mine.
“Married already,” he chuckles. “I guess that just means more girls for me.”
“They are all yours,” I grin, heading to the shower.
I got the one I want.
I take a shower in record time, thankful I don’t have any interviews tonight, before tucking the two stuffed animals in my suit jacket that I had sent over earlier and heading outside.
A few fans are waiting, and I take the time to sign a few things, knowing how much it meant to me when I was younger to have one of the players acknowledge me.
When I’m done, I see two heads of dark curls flying in a blur before I catch Bee and Charlie in a hug as I bend down to their level.
“Hey,” I laugh. “Did you girls enjoy the game?”
“It was so fun! I got popcorn, and Daddy caught your puck!” Bee exclaims, holding out the black disc in her hand.
“My daddy caught one too!” Charlie grins, her grey eyes so like Savi’s brothers that there is no doubting that she’s a Montgomery as she shows me the puck.
“I got something else for you guys.” I reach into my pockets and pull out the dolphin stuffed animals with the Bolts emblem on the tail.
“It’s Stormy!” The girls squeal when they see the famous dolphin of our team.
“It is,” I grin, handing it to them as they hug it to their chest.
