We operated like a well-oiled machine during the beginning of the tournament. Team after team fell beneath our might. We skated like pros and passed like we’d played together our whole lives. The semi-finals were a battle for the ages against the Wild Cats, but our team had a newfound syncopation that hadn’t been there before. Everything just clicked, and we skated as if we knew exactly what our teammates would do, predicting their moves and being exactly where we needed to be.
With two minutes left in the second period of the finals, the game was tied against the Hawks, a beast of a team from Delaware.
We skated circles around the other teams, but the Hawks were fast and smart—they’d kept us on our toes the entire game.
We were facing off in their zone. My body ached as I lowered into a ready position. Beads of sweat dripped along my brow and down my face. The throbbing ache in my legs made me wobbly on my skates. I knew that feeling—it meant I was running out of steam. My eyes closed, and I took three deep breaths, summoning every ounce of strength I had.
The puck dropped, and their right winger grabbed it from Asher.
He slapped it to their left winger, but Cody was there. A battle ensued as they fought fiercely for control of the puck. I soared across the ice, and Cody passed it my way. I sped toward the net, but a defenseman checked me just feet from the crease.
I fell back, losing control of the puck, but Asher was there. He battled with the defensemen, finally regaining control and passing it to Cody. He took a shot that bounced off the goaltender’s shin pad.
Their left defenseman took control and carried the puck around the corner. The Hawks’ center was open, and I rushed toward him, ready to engage and keep the puck in the offensive zone.
It was a setup. Their right winger had followed the defensemen around the corner, who quickly reversed the puck to him. Cody and Asher followed, but the winger passed it to the center, who made a swift breakout pass to the defensemen. He soared into our zone.
I backchecked like a motherfucker, hot blood pumping through my veins like lava. Their center was right next to me as we raced down the ice.
Theo charged, but the defenseman passed the puck to the center. Our sticks collided as he and I fought for control. He stole the puck and passed it back to the defensemen.
Rowan had been lurking close to me at the far end of the goal crease. The defensemen capitalized on the opening.
The buzzer rang, signaling the end of the second period. We were down by one.
Cody
The locker room was silent as Coach did everything he could to boost morale. That wasn’t how you wanted to enter the third period, but it wasn’t over yet. We had to pull out of our slump and get it together.
“You’re all fighting like hell out there,” Coach bellowed. “But we gotta get those backchecks when they get the puck. When the game’s this tight, the forwards need to be where the puck is the whole damn game.”
I knew he was right, but I’d heard it all before. These fuckers were fast, and we needed to amp up the speed. I looked over at Rafael, his face twisted with rage and defeat.
Coach finished his talk, and I walked over to him. “Hey. Come talk to me.”
Rafael looked confused but got up and walked to the far end of the space, around a corner, and out of sight from the other players.
“Whatchu thinkin’?” I asked him.
“I’m fucking spent, and I hate it. I shouldn’t be this bushed. Where’s the fucking adrenaline in me? I’m moving slower than you and Asher, and, no offense, but I can skate fucking circles around you two.”
He wasn’t wrong. Rafael was faster than anyone. His downcast eyes narrowed in frustration, jaw clenching as he, no doubt, raged against himself in his mind.”
I scanned to my left, then right. The coast was clear. I grabbed the back of his head, pulled him in, and kissed him passionately. My tongue invaded his mouth, savoring his taste.
I pulled back and whispered, “Do you have any idea how much I fucking love you?”
He looked at me wide-eyed. “Where’d that come from?”
I inched in a little bit closer, praying nobody walked over. “No matter what happens today, I know I’ve already won because you’re mine. I love the game, but nothing beats what we have. So, let’s go out there and play like hell, but don’t forget that this, “ I motioned between the two of us, “is what really matters. You’re amazing, and you’ll be amazing when you get back out on that ice. But it’s up to all of us to win. Not just you.”
Rafael’s eyes glistened. Then, he grabbed me by the jersey and pulled me in for another kiss. His hand wrapped around the back of my body as he pressed me into him.
“I fucking knew it.”
We pulled away, and Asher was there.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
