Page 102 of One Shot

Disagreement can be heard in the irritated shouts of the crowd, and disappointment settles across the faces of the entire team.

“We got time boys, heads up!” I howl.

Tyler chimes in with some more pep talk.

The next three minutes seem to go at an agonizingly slow pace. The Terriers and the Wyverns are both holding steady. Neither team is giving up. There’s less than a minute left. Liam and I are both at the front of the BU net ready for a pass to try to tie the game.

The pass doesn’t come. The buzzer signals the end of the game. BU won. My team's heads hang low.

“Cheer up, boys, we had a hell of a season!” Tyler yells.

“An unforgettable season, boys. We took our one shot, and we’ll keep taking it.” I bellow back.

We skate to center ice to congratulate BU on their victory.

“Great game, Donato, maybe I’ll see you around the NHL soon,” Jedd Linkman says to me as he shakes my hand and slaps my back.

“Amazing game, Captain. Where are you playing?” I ask Jedd.

“It’s on the DL, but I’m about to sign with Chicago after this tournament is over, if they’ll still have me.”

“They’d be stupid not to Linkman,” I respond and shake his hand again.

“I saw you talking with Deschute. Hope you’ll come down for a game,” he responds before skating a way to celebrate the win with his team.

He just clued me in that Deschute is a scout for Chicago. My brain starts to swirl with the possibility of signing with my dream NHL team. I knew today was going to be epic, regardless of the game outcome.

Chapter forty-five

Laur

The semifinal game was intense. Despite the loss, the Wyverns were a force to be reckoned with.

We stick around to watch the championship game on Saturday. It can’t be easy to watch the finals knowing they just lost, but all the Wyverns are all great sportsmen, even Mitchell. Well, at least for today. Some of the guys, including Lucas, Liam, and Tyler know people playing for one of the final two teams. I shouldn’t be surprised. It seemed like Nick had friends on almost every team too.

I notice Lucas taking notes in a little blue notebook. He must be trying to emulate what Nick did. It warms my heart knowing how much of an impact my brother has had on the man I love well before I knew Lucas even existed. It’s funny how the universe works.

Chapter forty-six

Lucas

We arrive back at our home arena. Not all teams wait to have this moment until they are back on their own stomping grounds, but I’ve always admired that we do. This ice, this locker room, this arena—it’s our home that we bleed in, sweat in, and probably cried in all season. It helped shape us every step of the way. It’s tradition for the captain to give a speech on the season and Coach to give a few updates.

All eyes are on me waiting for my speech. I walk over to the locker that we still leave empty in memory of Nick, place my hand on the number 88, and start my short but sweet Captain’s speech.

“A hockey legend that we all admire and look up to used to ask this team ‘If you had one shot, would you take it?’ Boys, we took it. We worked our asses off, and we played hard. We were pushed, tried, and tested, more than just on and off the ice. I am proud of every single one of you. You all took one shot to be a better player, a better teammate, a better man. We had a fucking phenomenal season making it to the Frozen Four. That’s something to be proud of. It’s going to lead us to great success next season, but we’ll save that lecture for when we start practicing over the summer.”

Coach makes his usual announcements about our training schedule for next season starting pretty much right away, but we have two weeks off in the middle of summer.

Someone mutters something about a trip to a ranch in Texas. I’ve never actually taken a vacation with the two weeks we have off. I hate being off the ice for too long. I need to keep honing my skills andimpress the scouts even more next season. But I could take a few days off. A ranch doesn’t sound like something the guys, or I would be very into for a relaxing summer trip but maybe somewhere by the beach. The thought of seeing Laur in a swimsuit is very, very enticing. I could sacrifice some ice time for that if I make sure to up my workouts and maintain my protein intake.

“Now, I am honored to announce that two of our very own seniors have accepted and signed contracts for the NHL. Boys, would you like to share?”

Liam and Connor deserve it. Pride swells in my chest for them but I’m going to miss having them around. I’m losing two of my best friends, but that’s the way the business works. I already know where they are both going. They told me the second they signed the contracts. Hopefully, that will be me next year.

Connor excitedly shares that he signed with the New York Rangers. Liam announces he will be moving to Seattle.

I wonder what Bren is going to do with Liam so far away. I heard her mentioning to Suz she wanted to stay at West this summer to support Laur. She was still holding off saying yes to her job offers. Honestly, I’m not even sure where she applied to, but I know she had several offers.

I leave the locker room with Liam, Connor, and Tyler. Laur is waiting for me, giving me one of her famous Bellinger smiles. God, I am so lucky that I get to witness that all summer, all next season, and if I’m being honest, I’m hoping for the rest of my life.

“It was an amazing season, but I’m ready for a little bit of wild this summer,” Laur says.

“Wild? I don’t know if I can handle a wild summer after that wild season and a stressful one coming up,” I laugh.

“You have one shot next season, Captain. Who knows what could happen? I believe in you.”

I take her face into my hands.

“I got my one shot this season, Lauren Chip Bellinger. It was always going to be you. I wouldn’t change that for anything.”