16
Cole
“Listen up,” Coach's voice booms through the locker room, cutting through the pre-game chatter. “This is what we've been working toward all pre-season. Tonight, we show Nashville what Renegades hockey looks like on home ice.”
The room explodes with energy, players banging sticks against lockers and stomping their feet.
I should be dialed in, completely focused, but my mind keeps drifting to Harper. I haven't seen her since this morning's rushed breakfast.
It's been like this all week. Ships passing in the night. She leaves before I'm awake, comes home after I'm already reviewing game footage.I miss her.
“Last season, we let our heads get too big and thought we had it in the bag,” Coach continues. “We missed the playoffs by three points. Three. That ends tonight.”
“Hell yeah!” Novak shouts from across the room.
“Let's fucking go!” Alex pounds his gloves together.
This is what I live for: when twenty guys become one unit with one goal. Except tonight, part of me is on Harper and whether she’ll make it tonight.
She mentioned something about coordinating with the children's hospital representatives who would be speaking at the charity event.
“Captain?” Coach's voice cuts through my thoughts. “Anything to add?”
Shit.Everyone in the locker room is looking at me, waiting. Logan elbows me in the ribs.
“Yeah,” I say, forcing myself to focus. “We've earned this. Let's show them what we're made of.”
It's not my best captain speech, but the guys respond anyway, voices rising in another wave of energy. I nod along, trying to match their intensity, but my heart isn't completely in it.
As we file toward the tunnel, Blake falls in step beside me. “Yo, Cap. You good? You seem off tonight.”
“I'm fine.”
“Bullshit. What's eating you?”
I can't exactly tell him that I'm distracted because I'm missing a woman I'm supposed to be keeping secret. “Just focused on the game.”
Blake gives me a look that says he doesn't buy it, but he drops it as we reach the tunnel entrance.
The crowd noise hits us as we enter the arena. Eighteen thousand Renegades fans are on their feet, navy and silver colors flashing everywhere.
I immediately scan the family section. It's a habit I've never had before, but tonight I picture Harper there, wearing my jersey, cheering for me.
She's not there, of course. But fuck, I want her there.
I scan the rest of the arena, but she’s not there either. A heaviness comes over my body.
The crowd explodes as we burst through the tunnel. The ritual takes over. Warm-up laps, practice shots, line drills.During the national anthem, I scan the crowd one more time. Nothing.
Then, just before the puck drops, I catch a glimpse of movement in the PR box. Harper. Intense relief floods through me.
She came. She's here.
The puck drops, and everything else fades away. Now I can focus on my game. Nashville comes hard in the first period, but we're ready for them. Alex makes a perfect pass to Hoffman, who sets up Ryan for a beautiful goal. The crowd goes wild.
We take the first period 1-0.
By the end of the second, we're up 3-1. I've got a goal and an assist, and the team is clicking like we haven't all season. Every time there's a break in play, my eyes drift to Harper.
