Grayson flanked me on the left side. Landon darted toward the net. The defense collapsed toward him. My nerves were shot,listening to the chanting but not able to process it. I pulled the puck across my body and slipped past the first stick. The second defender slammed into me as I drove toward the crease.
The puck popped loose again. I lunged forward, reaching around his skates while the goalie sprawled across the goal line. My stick found it. I shoved it under his arm and into the net.
The horn blasted. Again.
“Santos! Santos! Santos!”
Grayson grabbed me around the shoulders while the other guys skated circles around us with their sticks raised high above their heads.
Seven to two.
The final minutes bled away with the whole arena still chanting my name. When the horn ended the game, the ice turned into a blur of gloves slapping helmets and sticks banging against the boards. When we skated toward the tunnel, the crowd still roared above us.
Inside the locker room the noise continued. Tucker crashed into me first, chest against mine, then he grabbed the back of my helmet.
“Three goals,” he said. “You hiding that all these years?”
Cash nudged my shoulder as he passed. “Guy turns into a machine the second he gets first line.”
“Next time warn us you’re about to break the internet.” Landon said, swinging his phone around so everyone could see the screen.
I dropped onto the bench and pulled my helmet off while the room erupted around me. Gear flew everywhere, and the guys stomped a rhythm with their skates on worn out rubber.
It was more than I’d been expecting. More than my wildest dreams could’ve conjured up.
“Relax,” I said, raising my voice over the noise. “It’s not like it’s the playoffs or anything.”
A few guys laughed.
“Maybe not,” Grayson said, wiping his face with a towel. “But after tonight, we’re still in the running to lift that cup.”
The room quieted for half a second before the cheers kicked up again.
Tucker started peeling off his jersey. “So which bar are we hitting?”
“Something loud,” Landon said. “Tonight deserves it.”
Cash pointed at me. “Guest of honor decides.”
“Not tonight.” I grabbed my bag from under the bench.
Groans rolled across the room.
“Don’t tell me you’re skipping this,” Tucker said.
“No kidnapping either,” I warned, fixing them with a stern look. “I didn’t put up much of a fight last time, but tonight I will.”
Landon threw his hands up. “Come on. You need to celebrate.”
“Didn’t you know maximum absorption happens when there’s a beer and hot girls involved?” Tucker said.
I zipped my bag and swung it over my shoulder. “I didn’t say there wasn’t gonna be a hot girl involved.”
Wolf whistles exploded as I left the locker room, their laughter and stupid comments following me out.
“Go get her, tiger!”
“Don’t pull a hamstring!”
