Page 55 of Penalty Shot

“Absolutely, though I should point out that I only know one.”

“Anyway, I’ve been staying up at night polishing the scene but haven’t had the courage to propose it this late in the game. Nothing says amateur director like a last-minute scene addition.”

“I think the word you’re looking for istalenteddirector. You already polished the scene, why not share it?”

“Because they’ll say no.”

“Make them say no,” he bursts with vigor, as if he’s looming over the artistic director, daring him to contradict me. “If they say no, that’s their loss. Don’t say noforthem.”

My throat clogs with pent-up emotion. He’s right that I’ve been in a vicious cycle of working on the scene and then talking myself out of it.

Don’t say no for them.

“If I didn’t know about your day job, I’d swear you do this professionally: say all the right things.”

“No, but I might need a new job if my hockey gig doesn’t work out. Maybe consider my prospects in the motivational speaking circuit.”

His cynicism rattles me. As if something so many people admire and applaud is a mere “gig.” Being a goaltender for a professional team isn’t something you stumble into; evenIknow that. It’s a remarkable privilege he earned through superior skill and hard work.

It occurs to me that Randall might take his own advice.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“If I make this preposterous proposal that could risk my integrity and fuck up the play, will you do me a favor in return?”

“Not sure what I can do from here, but I’ll try.”

“Make those saves like you did when you made me wear your jersey. Play like you want everyone to know your name. Will you do that for me, Haughland?”

He makes a sound I can’t quite identify. Something between a choke and a chuckle. A long pause follows in which we both relish the words that passed between us. Things we wanted to say and wanted to hear, sentences that flowed like nourishing water, encouragement that makes anything seem possible.

“I’m not the only one who says the right things,” he mutters. “Thanks, Elise.”

“You’re very welcome.”

“The motivational speaking circuit is big enough for the two of us.”

“Not today, Satan. Not today, not tomorrow, not any time soon.”

“Does that mean you’re wearing my jersey tomorrow night, while I’m playing?”

“I’ll wear it all day and night. I’ll wear it when I make my pitch.”

I had brought it with me to Cleveland because it makes me smile every time I put it on.

“I’m going to need proof that you’re wearing it.”

“You don’t trust me?”

“I trust you. I just like seeing you in it.”

“So, we’ve got a deal?”

“You pitch your scene the first chance you get, and I’ll leave everything on the ice tomorrow night. Yeah, Elise, we’ve got a deal.”

The Mavericks’ journey through the playoff series has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. After falling short in the first three games against the formidable Miami Sharks, the Mavericks found themselves teetering on the edge of elimination.