Page 122 of Pinch

We made a big splash in the tabloids last time with our kissing and the declarations of love during a big fight and ultimate tie-breaker. This time I’m going for the whole enchilada, the proposal, and hopefully her saying yes.

It’s a great feeling to know how close we are to making it official. Heading out onto the ice, I turn around to look up at them. It’s a big group, but she sees me waving. They all do, and the cheering begins.

Our theme songs blast through the arena, and we do our part, warming up, tossing pucks, giving the fans what they want.

Colorado is a killer team, big and tough. We barely beat them the last time we played them, and it’s clear they’ve been studying all our plays. I doubt we’ll have an easy time scoring this go-round.

Sure enough, right off the bat, I’m body-checked into the wall by a massive forward. He didn’t have to hit me that hard, and it ticks me off. I go after him, grabbing him by the front of his jersey.

“You sure you want to do this, little man?” he growls back, and it makes me even madder.

“I’m not so little.” I have him by the neck, and we’re gliding across the ice.

A lineman comes and breaks us up, but I’ve got my eye on that guy. He’s a bully, and I’m not letting him hit me again without a fight. My mom Elaine is here, and I know she hates it when we fight.Sorry, Mom.

The whole game is a struggle. We fly up and down the ice, turning the puck over again and again. None of our plays work out. I try for a pinch, and a different player slamsme out of the way. They’re taking every opportunity to hit us hard.

As I expected, our tic-tac-goal play is blocked, but we still manage to hold it at 2-2 on the scoreboard. Donovan does his best to keep us upbeat and motivated, but Mav is pissed.

He’s going for an undefeated streak, and we haven’t lost a game since Christmas.

The clock is ticking down, and I notice Knox and Gigi moving Haddy closer to the rink entrance. My stomach tingles with what’s to come, and for a moment, I forget to be pissed at how this game is going. It’s probably why I get careless.

The forward is lined up ready to go for the slapshot, but I see an opening and reach for it with my stick. I don’t have time to think about the miscalculation.

The puck hits the pine, then flies into the air with the force of his blow.

The last thing I remember is pain exploding through my forehead and everything going dark.

33

Haddy

My dad is right.

The first place they take him is to the trauma center at the stadium. He’s evaluated, and the trainers decide to send him on to Cedars.

As soon as they say the name of the hospital, I try to fall again. This time, my dad has me.

“It’s a good thing, baby. They’ll take care of him there. Don’t panic.”

I’m trying. I nod, but my hands are shaking. I’ve never seen so much blood, and Gavin still hasn’t regained consciousness. They bound his head, but the wound had already started to swell into an ugly mound on his forehead.

It’s a horrible, scary injury, and I can’t get the sight of it or the possibility of what it means out of my head.

We fly across town to the hospital. He’s taken ahead of us in the ambulance, and when we’re finally all together, we have to wait in the hall as they set him up in the private room.

Mom is with me, rubbing my back, and Gigi finally appears with Mav close behind her.

“I had to go home and take care of the dogs.” She runs to me, hugging me. “How are you doing, honey?”

Fresh tears heat my eyes at her voice. “All I can think about is how much I need him to be okay. He’s such a good man. He’s done so much for the baby and me. He was always so prepared, and I guess I leaned on him more than I realized.” I’m nervous-talking, I know, but I can’t seem to stop. “What am I going to do if he doesn’t?—”

“Stop that, now.” Mav puts an arm around my shoulders, pulling me and Gigi close. “He’s going to bounce back from this. Gav’s a hockey player. We know how to take hits.”

“That was a very bad hit, Mav.” My voice is thick, and I’m doing my best not to fall apart.

Gavin’s dad is talking to the doctors, and his moms are close by as well, listening with wide eyes. Kenny is stoic, unflinching in the face of whatever the doctors say, but Elaine has tears streaming down her cheeks.