For the first time since Brodie died, it doesn’t feel like we’re living around a bunch of lies that we have to survive. It feels like honesty—something that makes the past feel lighter, the future something we can reach for. And somehow, that feels like a beginning.
Our beginning.
CHASE
This is it.
Today’s the game that will decide whether we’ll be Stanley Cup Champions or not.
It’s been a tough few weeks with the funeral and wrapping my head around everything that’s happened, but my team—no, myfamily—has rallied around me and my girl. They’ve been a constant source of support, and I’m eternally grateful for them more than ever.
Chants invade my thoughts, and the clattering of helmets hitting metal grabs my attention.
Once again, Hayes stands with Coach Avery and the GM, tall and proud, and the cheesy grin on his face has me chuckling.
In the next few hours, I could be holding that cup over my head, and I want that desperately.
The noise simmers down as Hayes starts his speech.
“Everything that we’ve done this season was for this very moment.” A hum echoes throughout the locker room in agreement. “We’ve fought harder, faster, better, and stronger than any other team. That’s why we’re here.” Cheers and whistles erupt, and I nod at Hayes, who holds my gaze.“We’re fighters.”
“Fuck yeah, we are!” Oliver hoots as he stands.
“Our town. Our fans. Our rules. Let’s do this!” Hayes shouts.
Before long, we step out onto the ice as we’re announced and take our usual lap. Just like every home game, I stop and find my girl cheering as hard and as loud as she can, her petite hands cupped around her mouth.
Her hair cascades down her back, and she’s wearing my jersey.I’m in love with Eighty-Sevenispainted on her right cheek. She grins at me when I capture her gaze.
I tap over my heart twice and point at her. The crowd goes wild as her face hits the jumbotron. She pats her own heart twice before pointing right back at me.
Right on cue, Rudy stops beside me and waves manically at his sister. Erin throws her head back and laughs. She waves back at her clown of a brother.
“For Elliot,” Rudy says, and then the game begins.
No one scores anything in the first period. The Hellions come for Austin, firing hard and fast, but Austin is faster and blocks every single one of them.
To anyone watching, they’d think he does it with ease, but I know just how much time and effort Austin has put in during practices. He’s a beast, and I know he wants a shutout.
He wants the title for the most in a single season. He’s sitting on nineteen, but the record is holding strong at twenty-two. So, he wouldn’t get the title this season, but I had no doubt he would next time. Either way, he’s just as hungry for the W as the rest of us.
“Let’s fucking go,” Rudy yells as he scores our first goal in the second period. The crowd chants in ways I’ve never heard before. Rudy celebrates his first goal of the night by sliding on the floor and punching his fist in the air. Oliver crowds him as The Hellions scowl at the two of them celebrating.
We end the second period with a score of 2-0. Hayes, number fifty-four, takes the second goal of the night, and the women in the stands go wild for him. He grins at the jumbotron and winksat no one in particular. The crowd goes even crazier for our captain.
I’m sweating everywhere, the saltiness dripping from my forehead onto my lip. I skate fast and hard, my entire body hurting as exhaustion winds through me.
Third period comes, and we’re 3-0 now. Rudy plays like an absolute monster, wanting to finish the season with thirty goals. If he does, he’ll beat his previous record of twenty-five.
His shots are powerful and tenacious tonight. He hits the puck with such force, it smacks the crossbar before going into the back. It flies straight back out in a flash—a goal everyone will be replaying over and over again for a while.
The Hellions are pissed. They’ve not scored a single goal, but they’re not giving up. Not yet. I skate faster and harder, determined to give Austin the shutout he wants and lead Rudy to his thirtieth goal.
Austin takes a hard hit to the ribs with a puck. The center takes possession of it again and goes for the rebound, which Austin blocks with a glove save.
Four minutes remain.
Rudy gets his thirtieth goal on a breakaway that nobody could have stopped, and I’m so dang proud of him.
