“Go.”
I surge over the boards. “McKinley!”
Jack hears me, heading for the bench as I switch in for him. Our D-men shut down any play UMass tries to get through theirwall. Nick Briggs pries the puck away from one of the forwards and barrels his way through.
Noah gets to an open spot, taking it when three UMass players converge on Briggs. He moves the puck across the red line and passes to Madden.
“Go! Let’s make it happen!” I yell.
Madden has a zippy UMass guy on his ass. It screws up the shot he sets up, sending him on a goose chase to outskate him.
“Here, here!” I move into position to receive the puck.
He sends it so fast, I catch it off my blade to control it. Then I’m off, racing to attack.
When the game moves fast, you have to be faster. Not only to see what’s going on, but to be two steps ahead of the other guys.
Being able to read the ice in a matter of seconds while the pressure is on is where I excel. I find my opening. The sound when I slap the puck is pure fucking magic.
Once it’s in the net, I search the crowd for Maya’s face in the section where she’s sitting.
“Hell yeah, man! That was a damn beauty,” Noah says.
“Buy me two minutes,” I say in a rush when he collides into me for a celebratory hug.
“On it.”
He heads for our equipment manager, holding up his stick to change it out before the next play starts. A couple of our teammates switch out.
It gives me just enough time to reach Maya’s section. She goes from clapping and smiling with excitement to gaping at me when I wave at her.
Everyone around her in Heston’s student section gets hyped, chanting my name. She swings her gaze around, wide-eyed. I point at UMass’ net, then at her, mouth stretching in a broad grin as it dawns on her what I’m doing.
“Oh my god.” Her words are barely audible, muffled by the noises surrounding us, but I make them out by reading her plush lips.
She hides her face, shoulders trembling with laughter. Her friend nudges her while I wait.
The clock won’t start again until the puck drops. I don’t have much time, and I’m risking a penalty if I delay the game. The ref gives me a warning to get my ass in gear with a pointed blow of his whistle, but I’m not moving until she knows.
I tap on the glass with my glove. “Maya! Come on, baby. Look up for me. It’s important.”
At last she drops her hands and meets my eyes. Her embarrassed exasperation is cute as hell.
I lean closer, my helmet resting against the plexiglass as I mouththat was for you. She gives me a slow smile, shaking her head wryly. I nod, blowing her a kiss that makes her cheeks turn the prettiest shade of pink.
The fans in the section shout at her in encouragement. When she stands to press her palm to the glass where my glove is, they go wild, erupting in frenzied cheers.
With a cocksure grin and a wink, I push away from the boards. The ref gives me a flat look when I scrape to a stop at center ice.
“Finished with your girlfriend?” UMass’ center sneers.
The corner of my mouth lifts as I sink into position to face off with him. “You wish. I’ll never be done with her. Now, are we ready to play some hockey, princess? Or do you guys plan to skate around with your dicks in your hands some more?”
His outraged growl is hilarious. I smirk, adjusting my grip on my stick, ready for the puck to hit the ice.
It feels damn good when I win the face-off against him.
Even better when we take the W for this game.
