Neither one of us makes any move to get cleaned up or detach from one another. I could spend the rest of my life in Bex’s arms and die a happy, happy man.
This may have started under the guise of us needing help at the whole dating thing, but it doesn’t feel like that anymore.
Not now when there are feelings involved.
Feelings that keep growing every time I’m with this woman.
I only hope she feels the same way. Otherwise, I’m going to get my heart shredded.
Chapter Fourteen
NICK
“Alright men. Tonight is going to be a hard game,” Coach Barney starts his pregame speech. “Carolina is a good team, and I don’t want you underestimating them. We’ve been playing well on this road trip, and let’s finish it off with a win.”
He nods to Troy who brings all the guys into a huddle in the middle of the drab visitors’ locker room. The black lockers are basic with one hook each for our suits. Not the most welcoming of locker rooms I’ve ever been in. Even our visitors’ room is better than this.
Their way of trying to intimidate their opponents.
“Let’s drown out all the noise tonight and work on playing the Black Diamonds hockey I know we can. We’ve worked hard this season, so let’s keep it going. Black Diamonds on three. One, two, three…”
“Black Diamonds!” echoes around the locker room from all the guys.
Troy stands at the door of the locker room and gives each guy a fist bump as we head out onto the ice.
Boos echo around the arena as we’re announced as the visiting team. The guys start their own warm-ups while I head tothe crease, scuffing it up to get ready for the game tonight before the pregame and anthems start.
Carolina’s arena is one of the newer ones in the league. Lights flash around the different concourses in the team’s colors. Music rocks through every inch of the place. A lone banner from a Stanley Cup win a few years ago hangs in the rafters above.
My eyes scan the crowd. It’s a sea of gray and yellow with their team colors. Occasionally, I spot a Black Diamonds jersey thrown into the mix—the die-hard fans that will travel to the closest arena to watch us play.
I pause when I spot the box that I know Bex is in tonight. She’s been with us on this trip.
I try not to let myself get too deep into my thoughts about her. Especially what we did last night. The last thing I need is to lose this game because I’m thinking about Bex riding me. Should I have snuck into her suite?
No. But damn if it didn’t feel good to burn the excess energy I had from our win against Tampa.
My attention is brought back to the game as all the guys get in position for the puck drop. As soon as it hits the ice, it’s all hockey.
It’s the only thing that’s important.
Carolina wins the puck and heads straight into our defensive zone. Cash is there, ready to defend as he scoops up the puck from an errant pass. Shooting it up to Troy, they move in sync.
Troy. Noah. Back to Troy. Over to Wright before he sends it sailing back to Troy, ready to shoot it at the goal. But Carolina’s goalie is good and snatches it out of the air with his glove.
No easy goals.
Our guys are fluid, skating hard, working as one as they set up the play to try and get one into the net.
The puck is tipped off one of the guys’ sticks, and Carolina is able to get the ricochet off the boards.
Carolina moves as one as they skate down the ice toward me. I’m ready. Cash moves into the defensive zone and prevents a breakaway. Another player for Carolina sends the puck to their center, who passes it off immediately.
The play is setting up, but our guys are there, fighting for the puck right in front of the net. There’s a scrum and before I can process who has the puck, Carolina steals the puck from under the chaos and their winger is firing it right over my glove.
The horn sounds, the lamp lights up, and the crowd erupts.
“Fuck!” I slam my stick against the bar. It was an easy top-shelf goal that I let in.
