We want a win.
I make a split second decision to shoot, praying to any of the hockey gods to guide the puck in as the crowd counts down from five.
Four.
Three.
Two.
One.
We’re screaming in the locker room, elation rolling through us.
My heart is thundering as I let the emotions wash over me.
We won!
Game one is ours.
Only thirty-eight more games to go.
We’ll play them at least two more times this season, but this puts us on the front foot. Taylor finds me, leaning up to kiss me. She’s still a few inches shorter, even with skates on, and every fibre of my being is on fire. This is the type of kiss that is hungry, desperate for more.
Telling me that we’re not going anywhere.
We’re jostled as more of the team streams in, cheering and screaming. We break up the kiss, and Taylor looks frenzied, eyes wide, cheeks red as she jumps up and down. She’s lucky if she doesn't break an ankle before I force her to go take her skates off.
The energy is still high, but we’re slowly starting to settle down when Brynn brings out a tiny cowboy hat that has a giant star saying “Rootinest Tootinest ‘Tex.” It’s a hideous shade of pink, sogarish it’s comical, and Brynn clears her throat, raising it above her head.
“Ladies! We have the pleasure of naming our Tex-iest Vortex of the game. The one who put her body on the line, the one who told us to hammer them and who knocked a few Sparks’ lights out! The one who lit up the lamp in the final seconds,“ she shouts. The team screams in response, and something warm fills my stomach.
Something that tells me I picked well.
That this is my team.
It’s like Taylor said—this is our family.
“Eloise Harper, will you do us the honour of accepting the hat of Tex-iest Vortex?” She holds it out to me, and I drop to a knee, bending my head as she places it upon the rats nest that is my sweat-soaked wet hair.
“I accept the role of Tex-iest Vortex!” I say, standing up. “But know this, we’re not done tonight! We’re going to kick ass right to the Walter!” I shout.
“But before then,” I start as the team settles down. “Team drinks before lights out!”
Taylor brushes her blond hair out of her eyes, and the twinkle of pride in the green tells me everything I need to know.
I’m here to stay.
Epilogue
Taylor
...Five Months Later
Tonight’s the night.
It’s one we’re sprayed in champagne and spend the entire next few days celebrating winning the Walter, which we have.
But it’s going to be the night I ask Eloise for everything.
