“Are we ready?” Lucky yells, and I refocus my attention on my team. He blares the music, which starts off with Burna Boy, and expects me to lead. Some of these white boys got no rhythm for dancing.
I step into the center of the room and let the music guide my body. Benz takes my hand and twirls me around. We do this all the time, but I catch the grimace on Theo’s face and back away. Dancing is a huge part of our winning routine, but I can do it without making Theo jealous. Although a thrill runs through me, clocking his possessiveness.
We’re playing a new expansion team, and the chirping starts as soon as we skate out for warm-ups. There’s something off about them that I can’t put my finger on. Chirping is normal, but they’re acting like we did ’em wrong.
Mav, Griff, and I stick together as a line during the pregame skate.
“You good, King?” Mav asks, putting his gloved hands on my shoulders. “You’re distracted.”
I nod and knock my helmet against his. “Keeping my head down and locking in,” I assure him. I’m great at mentally ignoring my opponents.
With updated rules, expansion teams are becoming better faster. This team has quality players but lacks cohesion. It shows as soon as the puck drops.
The first period only has a minute left, and my eyes are glued to Theo. His skating is an art form. He glides as if top speed is easy and cutbacks are child’s play. He’s playing for our team and not himself, and it’s incredible to watch.
Second period, Mav gets a breakaway, and Griff and I chase him from the wings. We’ve done this so many times at this point in the year that we can read each other’s minds. Griff and I swap sides by skating behind the goal, confusing the defenders. Mav takes advantage and shoots on goal.
The goalie stops the puck but can’t get a hand on it. Griff scoops it and dishes it to me, and I slide it past the goalie’s left shoulder.
The three of us meet for a quick celly hug, and their winger yells something at us. Both Griff and Mav snarl in response, but I drag them over the boards for a line switch.
“How can you ignore that?” Mav demands.
“Don’t hear none of it.” I squirt water into my mouth.
“It’s his superpower,” Griff says. “He’s unflappable.”
Those words haunt me in the third period. They’re playing well, but we’re playing better. Theo and Brant have leveled up our game.
Ace shouts to me as our lines shift. “Watch yourself. They’re getting chippy.”
He doesn’t need to warn me; I can see their aggression and cheap shots from the bench. I’m tripped from behind but get myself back into position. The game speeds up, and the refs are letting us play through the high-sticking, trips, and shoves.
I spend as much time on my ass as I do on my feet. By the time I get back to the bench, I’m winded. Theo holds up his gloved hand as we pass, and I fist-bump him with a small smile.
That should’ve been my first clue things were about to go off the rails. We don’t acknowledge each other on the ice. He skates into position, taking an aggressive stance. The puck drops, and he’s off like a shot, ramming the defender who tripped me into the boards.
They push and trip off-puck while the refs continue to turn a blind eye. I can’t hear Theo, but his mouth is constantly moving, trash-talking the defender.
My line takes our shift, so Theo and I will be on the ice together for less than a minute. A minute of pure chaos. The defender rips his gloves off and goes for Theo’s helmet, which he tosses. Theo takes a punch to the face before pushing off and getting a hit in.
The refs circle, deciding if they should step in or let them get a few more punches. I keep my distance as usual, so I don’t get dragged into the fight.
But technically, this is my fight. Theo is fighting him because I won’t. He’s sending the message not to fuck with me.
He takes another blow to the face and is tackled onto the ice. Brant wrestles one of their players who tries to hit Theo too. This could become an all-out brawl, and it’s my fault.
I’m frozen in place.
There’s blood.
Theo’s blood annihilates the ice in my veins, fueling me into action.
No one hurts my man.
He protects me, and I protect him.
The next thing I hear is Theo’s gravelly voice. “Maj, stop.” It’s the nickname that gets my attention.
