“That’s right,” I shout back, my voice clear in the stunned silence of the Dallas crowd.
We both look up at the clock.
Fourteen seconds.
After their team takes a timeout, we’re back in the circle. Dallas wins the draw and dumps it in.
Ten. Nine.
I beat their winger to the puck along the boards. He jams it loose behind me and passes to their D.
Seven. Six.
We seal the middle, boxing out, sticks in lanes.
Four. Three.
Their point flings a wrister toward the net, but traffic eats it before it gets anywhere close.
Two.
One.
The final horn sounds, and our bench explodes.
Helm crashes into me first. Then Fox. Kettler. Logan. The win is even sweeter for Knolls, competing against his old team. Then the whole team piles on, gloves flying, sticks clattering to the ice. Bodies surround me. One giant mass of helmets and sweat and fucking victory.
Volk skates the length of the ice, a rare, wide smile visible through the cage of his goalie mask. I grab his helmet with both hands, pull him in, and thump my forehead to his.
“We did it,” I choke out.
After our celebration, we line up for handshakes. The guys follow, tapping gloves with the opposing team. One of the Dallas guys grips my hand. “Hell of a series, King.”
It was.
And we won.
We’re advancing to the second round.
I skate off with the rest of my team, chest still heaving, one thought cutting through everything else:I can’t wait to talk to Summer.
We file onto the team jet.
I take my usual spot. Window seat, left side, six rows back. My phone’s out before I’m even buckled in. With hands still shaking from adrenaline, I pull up her contact. It rings and rings before finally kicking me to voicemail.
She’s probably at the afterparty. Or, I guess, the award show could still be going on?—
Fox drops into the seat next to me. “Mind?”
“Go ahead.”
Once everyone’s settled, Coach stands in the aisle. “All right. Listen up.” The chatter dies down. “Hell of a win. Enjoy it. We’ve got seventy-two hours until Round 2. Minnesota finished in five. That means they’re fresh and they’ve been watching us all week. So, get some rest and stay locked in.”
We take off, and the cabin settles into that steady hum. I stare out the window, trying to find stars in the midnight sky, butall I can make out are distant lights below. As soon as the Wi-Fi connects, I pull up Summer’s contact, hit call, and wait for her voicemail.
After the beep: “Hey—we won. Can you believe it? You’d probably say you knew all along.” I chuckle. “I know you’re busy. Call me when you can. Can’t wait to hear how everything went. I love you.”
Fox is watching me. “Wow… Throwing out the L-word. When did that happen?”
