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Luke

S he’s magnificent. You wouldn’t know that just two days ago, she was taken off the ice on a stretcher. Every single move is purposeful, precise, and absolutely dominating.

There’s no panic when Jordyn takes a tripping penalty and Northwood goes on a power play in the second period. She gets them out of it, and by the time the third rolls around, she’s kept them at only one goal, while Charlotte and Austen have added two for the Huskies.

As the minutes tick down, the energy in the arena rises to a boiling level. But like she’s learned to do, Lennon seems to be completely unaware of the cheers and jabs being thrown her way. Her attention never wavers from the ice, not for a single second, and as much as I wish I was down behind the bench cheering her on, I’ll take being up the nosebleeds.

Nothing was going to stop me from being here today.

And as the final two minutes hit, I don’t think I breathe for a single moment of it as Northwood pulls their goalie for an extra skater.

They get a shot that gets past Maria, only inches from being deflected, and Lennon slaps it away with her stick. It’s rebounded on a backhand shot, but once again, Lennon knocks it away. Austen scoops it up and is able to clear it down the ice. It misses the empty net by mere feet, but it doesn’t matter. The clock has run down, and by the time Northwood reaches the other end of the ice for it, the buzzer sounds.

The entire Huskies team tosses their gloves in the air, sticks abandoned, as they scream in victory. The crowd around me erupts as blue and white confetti shoots from the ceiling. Music thumps through the arena, the beat reverberating in my chest.

I’m not sure if I cheer, if I scream my excitement, if I clap my hands.

Not as every part of me is honed in on watching her. Lennon drops to her knees, falling forward on the ice, mask coming to rest on it. She’s stolen from my sight as the team surrounds her, and when she emerges, her mask is abandoned, leaving an unobstructed view of her gratification.

Her body is jostled about by her team as they all celebrate as one, and I wish I could be down there with her but also with the rest of them. They earned this. After falling short last year, they came back with vengeance.

A carpet is rolled out onto the ice, and the president of the NCAA comes out to present the trophy. Alice and Jenna stand proudly at the girls’ side, and as one, they raise it in the air to the screams of the crowd.

Then one by one, each girl has their turn with it. As the captain, Aubrey takes it first. And once her lap is done, she hands it proudly over to Lennon.

I watch as she takes her turn hoisting the trophy in the air and gliding around the rink. Her smile beams all the way up to the nosebleeds, bathing everyone in the arena with her triumph. The camera zooms in on her face, magnified on the screens above, as two lines of tears fall down her face.

Tears of joy. Tears of relief.

The extra hours she put in the weight room, the rink, the hours of lost sleep and time with friends. It was all for this moment right here.

She once told me that this was the highest level she knew she could reach within the sport, and that was her goal. She knew she was capable of it, of greatness.

I saw it too. I saw the hunger my younger self had for the game reflected in her.

And when she asked for my help, I told her I couldn’t make her any promises, but I’d teach her what I could. It was up to her to take it and run with it.

She didn’t just run. She soared.

And now she holds that trophy in her hands, a winning score on the scoreboard above, a Frozen Four Champion.

Pride is bursting through my chest as I watch her celebrate. I will never diminish my own achievements, but watching her journey come to fruition feels just as, if not even more, sweet than the rest of them.

Confetti continues to rain down onto the rink as the entire team celebrates. I notice Lennon scanning the arena, like she can feel my presence and is seeking me out in the crowd, but I duck away. I want her to enjoy this moment with her teammates.

Once the arena clears out, I slip downstairs and out toward the back parking lot where I know the team bus will be waiting for them. Families, friends, and Haulton students who made the trip down linger around in small groups.

It’s stupid for me to be here, but I’ve done a lot of things I shouldn’t this past year. I stay toward the edge of the circles, keeping my hat tucked low. Seb texted me after, asking if they should stick around, but I told them I’d catch them later. This isn’t exactly the time to introduce them to Lennon.

Half an hour goes by when the first player swings open the door. Charlotte and Maria step out together and are immediately flooded by who I presume are their families.

The crowd grows more excited as more of the team appears. I scan over the top, watching, waiting, until finally I spot Lennon.

She steps outside, laughing alongside Grace, and they take in everyone around waiting to congratulate them. A few students come up to them and they hug, celebrating and cheering.

I smile as I watch her, and suddenly, her head perks up. She goes alert, and I don’t know what it is, but I just know in my gut she’s aware of my presence. Her head darts back and forth until she freezes as she spots me.

The moment she does, she bolts across the parking lot. She draws the attention of everyone around, and all plans of sneaking her off to the side to have a private moment go flying out the window.

It doesn’t matter. Not as her entire face is covered with that beautiful, winning smile, and her eyes are bright and alive with her victory. Her loose hair blows in the wind, bits of white and blue confetti stuck in it.

People part for her as she runs, and damn it all to hell. I hold my arms out for her as she catapults into them. Her arms and legs wrap around me like a koala, and I squeeze her to my chest.

Noises of surprise and murmured gasps sound off like popcorn around us, but we both ignore them, too caught up in each other, in the moment to care.

“You did it,” I whisper in her ear. “You fucking did it, baby.”

“We did it,” she says excited, practically vibrating in my hold.

“It was all you. I’m so proud of you.”

She pulls back, and her eyes bounce excitedly between mine. “You came today.”

“I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. Besides, what’s one last rule to break?”

With that, I crush my lips to hers, unafraid to finally show whoever wants to see that she’s mine, and I’m hers.

Rules be damned.