Turning back to Theo, I offer an explanation that will placate him for now. “It’s new. Very new. She’s different. I’m taking things at her pace and she didn’t want to tell you.”
He holds his anger, staring me down. “If you fucking hurt her in any way?—”
“I wouldn’t ever hurt her.” The force of my growled response startles both of us. We never fight. I incline my head. “Sorry. I mean it, though.”
Theo sighs. “Alright. Whatever.”
We finish our drills before it’s time for the face-off. Both of us take our positions while our linemate Putnam skates to center ice against UConn.
Once the puck drops, I give myself over to the game. UConn’s center wins the face-off. He doesn’t make it far into our zone before Theo steals the puck. Our stands erupt in cheers when he pulls off a tight turn and passes to our captain, both of us flanking to support Putnam on either side of the ice.
He catches my eye and signals me. I’m ready for his deke.
Putnam feints a pass to Theo before he dumps the puck into UConn’s zone once he crosses the red line. I skate my ass off to chase it down and reach it before their defense reacts. Momentum is on my side and I grin when I pick up the puck first to maintain possession. The d-man closest to me curses, hot on my tail after I skirt around him.
There are two potential paths to a goal right in front of me. Either I take a shot on the goal, or I pass back to Putnam as he pushes into the attack zone.
Before I reach the opening in their defense, UConn’s huge defenseman checks me, sending us against the boards.
“Not so fast, you little shit,” he barks.
He’s a big fucking dude, but I won’t let him take the puck. I look for Putnam while faking a struggle to find the weak point in his form. Smirking once I manage to break away from the guy on me, I flick the puck to our center.
Putnam takes the shot and the lamp lights up with the first goal for Heston.
“Yeah!” I shout.
I catch Lainey’s eye and her expression knocks into me harder than UConn’s behemoth defense player that tried to keep me pinned against the boards. Her amazement isn’t like the blur of faces in the crowd—it’s in sharp focus, piercing me. My gazedips to my number emblazoned across her chest and satisfaction burns through me.
When she recovers with a radiant smile, I’m unprepared. Utterly unequipped for the way my heart squeezes.
A Heston defenseman skates around me to herd me back up the ice, breaking me out of the moment.
Once I have my focus back on the game, something’s different. I feel more aware of the players around me, of myself. I’m skating faster, handling the puck, and seeing plays with precise clarity. Maybe I was right about Lainey. She feels like a good luck charm that makes me play better.
By the end of the final period, I’ve been off and on the ice for two more shifts, switching out with the other lines throughout the game. I’ve always loved the sound of the stadium filled with the screaming fans and the blades carving up the ice. Yet I’m pumped like never before.
Tonight I’m on fire, and each time I’ve dominated the ice during my shift, I’ve felt Lainey’s eyes on me. It draws my attention back to her, my heart hammering hard.
When we win thanks to the goal Theo puts up to take our score to 4-1 before the clock runs down, all our guys rush the ice. Blake barrels into my side, Reeves jostling into my other. I bump fists with Theo, his attitude from warm-ups washed away by the win.
Then as I skate around the rink, the cheering of the crowd pales in comparison to the way my chest feels once I lock eyes with Lainey because she’s smiling right at me.
SIX
LAINEY
If I thought goingto the hockey game was a feat of madness, walking into the after party to celebrate Heston’s win holding Alex’s hand is a clear sign I’ve lost it. The noise is deafening once the people hovering inside the entry hall see us. Alex responds with equal enthusiasm, receiving back slaps and fist bumps. He doesn’t let go of my hand, keeping me tucked against his side, providing me with a buffer between me and everyone else.
I search for the girls I met at the game that sat in the same row as me. Even though I was there by myself and not part of their group, they were surprisingly nice. Once they realized I was alone, they included me, celebrating every great play with me like we were friends. My stomach sinks when I don’t see them on our way through the house where most of the team lives.
Maybe they’ll come later. I cling to the hope of something familiar to latch on to. It’s the only way I’ll get through a party with the hockey team.
Alex squeezes my hand and leads me to the kitchen where we congregate around an island. “Want a drink?”
I shake my head. He accepts a bottle of water from the freshman who warmed up with Alex and Theo.
“Thanks, E.”
