“You know I do. Just need to recoup for a few.”
“No rest for the wicked.” Troy laughs.
The trainer takes a few minutes to check out my tape, making sure I’m ready to go for the last period.
From the time we hit the ice, we’re on the attack. Boston gets an easy goal but we answer with one of our own.
It’s a constant back and forth. No one is giving up. Noah and Troy are working hard when one of them passes the puck to me.
One of our guys blocks Boston and it gives me an opening.
I fight through the pain, flying down the ice. Out of the corner of my eye, I see one of our guys block a Boston player, and it’s just me and the goalie.
I watch his glove drop a fraction and I fire, watching the puck pass through the small space between his glove and the bar.
Hearing that horn blare might be the best sound ever.
“Fuck yeah!” I cheer as the guys all pile on around me.
“Amazing goal, Willy!” Troy claps me on the helmet.
“Damn straight!” I tell him, smiling like a fool as I skate back to the bench. I don’t feel an ounce of pain right now. With a minute left, we need to run the clock out and hope like hell Boston can’t put the biscuit between the pipes.
The energy is palpable as the seconds tick away. Our guys are fighting hard. The last thing I want is to go into OT. All I want is to collapse into bed with Piper right about now.
And as the clock hits zero, it’s our game. We squeeze out the win, 4-3.
The entire team heads into the locker room. The mood is jubilant. Boston is not an easy team to beat, so it’s lively as music plays from someone’s locker.
“Cash, got a few minutes?” Weber asks. A few reporters are already in the locker room talking to the guys.
“Sure thing.”
“First off, how are you feeling?”
“I’ve been better.”
“It was a hard hit into the boards. You came back and were able to seal the win for the Black Diamonds.”
I nod. “The guys did a great job keeping us in the game.”
“You did too. That goal was a thing of beauty.”
“Thanks, Franklin. It wouldn’t have happened if Noah and Troy hadn’t set me up.”
“How are you going to celebrate the win?”
“Boston is a tough team, so I’m going to enjoy it and then buckle down and focus on the next game. Take the time to rest up so I’m ready.”
“Thanks, Cash.”
Weber leaves and I hit the showers. Adrenaline from the game was carrying me through the night, but now exhaustion is settling in.
I don’t waste any time because all I want right now is to go home. I know I’ll need to check in with the trainers, but I want to sleep.
With Piper in my arms.
Heading back to my locker, I grab my phone and am met with a slew of messages.
