Page 59 of Breaking Away

59

KAVI

Tyler isn’t ignoring me.

Every chance he gets, he rattles the glass in front of me, knocking his shoulder into it. When he spits on the ice, it’s in that spot. My gut is in knots, because the Blades aren’t restraining his attitude and neither is my dad. He’s too focused on the game.

The Wings are livid. It’s even worse, because they’re losing.

The Blades won the first two games in the series. Playing in Vancouver tonight, everyone is on edge for Game Three. Recovering from a 2-0 loss is so rare it’s the stuff of legends, but not impossible. It can’t be. Not after Dmitri and the team have worked so hard.

When the Wings breakaway to score, I get to my feet and scream. Everyone is yelling. We’ve been waiting for this moment. Dmitri to Hughes to Matt to Dmitri to Matt?—

Matt goes down.

Instead of trying to stick-handle the puck away, Smith tripped him. The referee didn’t call it. Coach Forrester is red in the face, challenging it. Dmitri storms towards Smith. His gloves are off.

They go at it.

Hughes skates up close, watching Dmitri’s knee like a hawk. The second it’s at risk, I can tell he’ll interfere.

Thankfully, referees pull Tyler and Dmitri apart when they both hit the ice.

They get sent to the box.

Since Dmitri traveled towards Tyler and dropped his gloves first, he’s the instigator. His penalty is much longer.

Tyler cackles when he finds out.

With the Wings down a man for longer, the Blades score. If they win this game, they are almost guaranteed to go on to win the Cup.

The blood in my veins feels frozen. I can’t breathe because Dmitri’s lip is bleeding.

When he gets out of the box, Dmitri finds the puck, and slaps it to Hughes, who scores. Three minutes later, Dmitri assists Emmad. The Wings score again.

Later in a highlight reel that goes viral, sports pundits claim this is the fiercest Dmitri has ever played in his career.

That night I kiss every bruise and cut on his body. It takes his breath away. And then he takes me, pushing into me slowly, tenderly, until we’re both pleading.

He doesn’t let me pull away.

I don’t want to.