Next, the Sea Turtles skate out, warming up on the other end of the rink. The ribbon boards light up with the wordsSting Rays vs. Sea Turtles, flashing and racing around the arena, and amping up the fans even more.
Then comes the puck drop, and the goalies go at it. I keep my focus on Wade, trying to gauge where his head’s at. So far, he seems to be steering clear of Chase, who seems more interested in playing the game than causing trouble. But that’s how he works, like a stealth attack you never see coming.
Lily leaves to do a security check, leaving me between Sophie and Mia, who each keep leaning into me as if they think they need to hold me up. But what they don’t know is that I’m seething inside. I know Chase, and the only reason he would send Amber to tell me he’d made this change to help another player is to taunt me. To make sure I know he has something planned to try to hurt Wade. I’m sure of it.
The first period ends, giving me a five-minute break to recover and prepare for the next one. Thankfully, the second one plays out smoothly, except for a goalie losing a blade on his skates. After a short stoppage, they head into the second intermission without any more complications.
That leaves twenty minutes of playtime—ten with Wade and Chase sharing the ice.
Sophie pats my arm. “It’s almost over.”
I appreciate her attempt to reassure me, but I’m still on edge. “I know Chase is up to something.”
“You think so?” Mia asks.
“I know so. Chase only does what serves him. I’ve no doubt he’ll try to pull a stunt before the game ends.”
Third period starts with Wade’s team in the lead by one point. One of the players on Chase’s team pulls off a Michigan, which seems like it would be impossible to manipulate the puck like that using a goalie stick and in all that gear, but he does it—picks up the puck with his stick from behind the net and scoops it into the top shelf as he rounds the crease.
The move is stunning and beautiful, but I wanted Wade’s team to win so this would all be over. Now it’s looking like a tie game.
The horn blasts, signaling the end of the third period. Instead of the usual shortened overtime period, Zach planned a shootout as the tiebreaker. Each team picks a goalie in net and three goalies to take shots against the opposing team. The one with the most points wins.
Wade gets picked to be in the crease for the Sting Rays. The Sea Turtles select a goalie from a team in North Carolina, which means Wade will have to face Chase one-on-one.
But there’s a game—a win—at stake here. I can’t imagine Chase blowing that in an attempt to take Wade out.
Wade and the other goalie both block the first two shots on goal, leaving the tie in place. If neither team scores in the last round, we go into sudden death.
The third goalie from the Sting Rays skates down the ice, working the puck in a slow glide, moving to the left side of the net as he gets ready to take his shot, but at the last second, stretches his stick to the right and pulls a deke, sending the puck over the line.
The fans cheer, chanting, “Sting Rays! Sting Rays! Sting Rays!”
Then Chase skates out, pausing at center ice as he gets ready to take his shot. The hair on my arms prickles. I glance at Sophie, then Mia. On the other side of the rink, Lily stands in the tunnel, ready to unleash her security team if needed. There’s nothing more we can do other than hope Chase decides to keep things professional and honor the game.
He taps the puck with his stick as if he’s testing the waters. Wade squats down, blocker and catcher in front of him, bouncing a few times to get ready.
Chase pushes off, stickhandling the puck, picking up some speed as he gets closer.
Wade skates forward, just past the edge of the crease, tracking Chase’s every move.
About five feet from the net, Chase finally takes a shot, sending the puck into the air and heading for the gap above Wade’s right shoulder, but he lifts his blocker and stick, knocking it away.
The crowd explodes into cheers, chanting the winning team’s name as the rest of the Sting Rays flood back onto the ice to congratulate Wade and each other. Chase heads toward the tunnel to leave the rink, but then he doesn’t.
I grab Sophie’s hand. “Why isn’t he leaving?”
She follows my line of sight with hers and squeezes my hand. “Don’t worry. Lily and her team are there.”
I know she’s trying to reassure me, but I hear the uncertainty in her voice, and mine’s twice as intense. I know Chase won’t give up that easily. He has something planned. I just don’t know what yet.
Wade’s team heads toward the tunnel but stops when they see Chase hanging back. Wade drifts closer, gaze fixated on Chase while leaving a good distance between them. Chase removes his helmet and his catcher, tucking them under his left arm before holding his right hand out.
Sophie tugs my shirt sleeve. “Look, he’s trying to make peace with Wade. Maybe the article had an impact after all.”
My stomach hollows out, then fills with dread. I shake my head. “No, he’s luring Wade in.”
I jump up from my seat and race down the steps until I’m at the boards, pressing my hands against the glass. Wade has to seeme. He searched for me in the stands enough times during the game to know where I am.
