Page 46 of Just my Puck (Love & Laughter #1)
CARTER
A s I stand in the crease, the air crackles with anticipation, looking up at the flurry of players on the ice before me.
My heart rate accelerates, and my muscles tense to meet the challenge.
The incoming team is determined to break through my defenses and put the puck in the net, but I’m just as determined to keep it out.
My teammates are shooting and passing, zigzagging around me, while the coach’s voice rings in my ears, barking instructions and orders. My glove flies up, my feet spread out wide in a crouch, my body ready to react to the barrage of shots coming my way.
I feel the impact of the puck as it slams against me, knocking me back, but I hold my ground. I spin around and stretch my arms out wide, blocking shots that try to slip past my defenses. My skates slash across the ice as I dart and weave, trying to stay one step ahead of the attackers.
My gloves and pads take a beating and get scraped, but I’m unfazed. I’m fully focused on the task at hand, driven by a will to make the save.
The team is fired up; their winning streak keeps them pushing hard toward exhaustion while I struggle to keep up. Every hit and block takes a bit more out of me, but I’m not about to let them get away with a goal.
Then I see her, standing on the sidelines, her presence lending me strength and courage. Lucy is my rock, my support system, my everything, and she stands there with an encouraging smile, cheering me on. Her presence gives me the energy to keep going, to keep pushing.
I feel my body and spirit come together, and a surge of adrenaline rushes through my veins as I throw myself across the ice, arms spread wide, gloves ready to make the block.
I dive for the puck and manage to block it just in time, skidding across the crease and barely getting a glimpse of the net as it whizzes past.
Rising to my feet, panting and sweating, feeling the pain in my body from all the hits, but it was all worth it for that save.
As the practice continues, the momentum swings back and forth. I play well, making one impossible save after another. The tension is blinding as the clock ticks down to the final seconds of the mock game.
As soon as the puck drops, I make a quick save and pass it off to one of my practice teammates. They take off down the ice with lightning speed, trying to get a goal.
In those final seconds, my heart is racing, and my mind is focused solely on protecting our lead. The other side comes at me with everything they have, trying desperately to tie up the game.
But I stand firm in that crease, blocking shot after shot until the buzzer finally sounds.
“Fucking hell,” I groan and collapse, glad this was just a practice session and not the real thing. I’m fucked.
Jase rushes over to celebrate his ‘win,’ but I can only muster a panting smile as I take my helmet off.
Glancing at Lucy, I wave, and she waves back before Steele goes off the ice to draw her into a kiss. Jason skates off after him, and I know I have to get to my feet and follow them or be left out. Skating over to the side, Lucy grins and claps her hands.
“You were awesome! Is practice always this brutal?”
“Only when we need to win.”
“Isn’t that all the time?” she asks, scrunching up her nose.
Chuckling, I nod. “Yep. Winning is always the goal, but sometimes we have to push ourselves to the limit to get there.” Taking a deep breath, I shake out some of the tension in my muscles. “But it’s worth it, especially when we have you cheering us on.”
“Agreed,” Jase says, kissing her forehead. “You know how to make a man play his best, princess.”
Lucy’s smile widens, and she steps closer to me, reaching up to brush a stray strand of hair from my forehead. “I’ll always be here for you, no matter what. You know that, right?”
Feeling a surge of warmth inside my chest, I nod. Lucy is my everything, my rock in an unpredictable world. She’s the one constant in my life that keeps me grounded and focused. “Thank you, Lucy. I don’t know what I’d do without you now.”
She steps even closer now, her eyes locking onto mine. “You’ll never have to find out,” she says softly before kissing me.
The rest of the team whistles and cheers as we part, laughing and teasing us in good-natured fun.
But I don’t mind. At this moment, all I can think about is how grateful I am to have Lucy by my side.
No matter what happens on the ice or off it, she’ll always be there for me, Jason, and Steele.
“We’d better hit the showers,” I murmur as Jason and Steele skate off with Coach yelling at them to move their asses. “You’ll come tomorrow night?”
Lucy nods, her eyes bright with excitement. “Of course I will. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
I grin, feeling a spark of anticipation rise in my chest. Tomorrow night is the big game we’ve been working towards for months.
The one we have to win against Grove City Blades, but with Lucy cheering us on from the stands, nothing can stop us now.
Blowing her a kiss, I skate off, knowing she is still our good luck charm, even if she doesn’t know it.
She will make the three of us play like kings, and we are invincible with her support.
As I head into the locker room, I feel a sense of pride over what we’ve accomplished today, but I also know that the real challenge is just beginning.
The game tomorrow night will be intense, and we’ll need to bring everything we have if we want to come out on top.
After quickly showering and changing, I head out of the arena with Jason and Steele. The night air is chilly, but it feels refreshing after being under pressure for so long. We walk toward the parking lot, discussing the strategy for tomorrow’s game.
“I think we should focus on quick passes and keeping their defense off-balance,” Steele suggests.
Jason nods in agreement. “And we need to be aggressive on defense too. Don’t give them any room to breathe.”
“And I’ll try not to let anything past me. We can do this, guys.”
With fist bumps and words of encouragement, we see Lucy waiting for us, leaning against Jason’s Range Rover.
“Let’s get you home, sweetheart,” I murmur, climbing into the back with her as Steele takes the front.
“Yeah, I’m exhausted, and I have work tomorrow.” She yawns and settles against me, her head on my shoulder. I stroke her hair, smiling into the dark night as Jason heads toward her apartment.