Page 11 of Pucking Tangled
ELEVEN
Mia
“We’re almost halfway through overtime with just eight minutes and fourteen seconds to go.
The crowd is on the edge of their seats here in Charleston.
It’s a war of attrition out there—bodies flying, sticks clashing, both goalies standing tall,” Tessa Long, one of the game’s announcers, said into her mic.
“Owen Hawk has been everywhere tonight—what a leader. And now he’s out there again, double-shifting, refusing to sit down,” Mark Vaster, the second announcer, added.
Charleston pressed into the Lancaster zone. A blistering shot headed in Owen’s direction, but he sprawled out to block it .
“Hawk with a fearless block! That’s the captain putting his body on the line!” Tessa shouted.
“Fuck yes, Owen!” Mia cheered and jumped up and down. “Almost there guys. Almost there.”
Owen scrambled to his feet and pushed the puck up the ice.
“He dishes it to Casey Novak flying down the left side—Novak splits two defenders!”
“Novak cuts in—he SHOOTS—kicked away by Dawson!” Tessa continued.
“Damn it,” Mia cursed.
The rebound kicked to the far side, where Waylon pinched in from the point.
“Ryan scoops it—fires it through traffic—OFF THE POST!” Mark yelled.
The puck ricocheted wildly to Luca at the blue line.
“Come on, Luca, you’ve got this,” Mia bit her lip. That blue line tripped Luca up from time to time. They couldn’t afford for it to get in his way right now.
“Rookie Luca Blackford settles it—he’s got space—winds up—BLASTS ONE—IT’S IN! HE SCORES!!”
Tessa shouted, “LANCASTER WINS IT IN OVERTIME! BLACKFORD FROM THE POINT BURIES THE DAGGER!”
Mia squealed at the top of her lungs. Skeeter watched like she was nuts from where he was trying to rest on the sofa. “Yes! Yes! Yes! That’s what I’m talking about!”
“Owen Hawk sets the tone with the block, Novak drives the lane, and Luca seals the deal with a pass from Waylon Ryan! That’s textbook Barn Raisers ’ hockey—grit, hustle, and heart!
” Mark summarized as cowbells rang, hats flew, and the team mobbed Luca near the blue line while Charleston skated off in stunned silence.
Mia collapsed backwards onto the sofa. “Jesus Christ. That was stressful.”
She pulled her phone out of her pocket and shot off a text to the group chat.
Mia: Way to keep me on my toes. Congrats on the win.
She exited the group chat and pulled up Luca’s name.
Mia: Hell of play, Luca. Not going to lie, that was the sexiest thing I’ve seen in a long time. Looking forward to Book Club. Tomorrow? Maybe after dinner?
Luca
“Fuck, that was incredible, Luca!”
“Killer instincts, Rookie!”
“A hell of a shot, Blackford!”
Their praise for Luca continued for several minutes until they headed back to the locker room.
“That was a tight game,” Coach Matthews said as he joined them.
“I’m proud as hell that we made a comeback.
You all know that if you want the championship this year, you’re going to have to do better.
We’re two to one coming into an advantage at home.
I need you guys to get it together out there.
There are too many mistakes happening on the ice. ”
They all knew it.
Luca may have been on fire, but the whole team was off balance. Tonight’s game was more of the same until the very end. He was actually shocked when Waylon passed the puck off to him.
Charleston was a damn good team to go up against and they played on the Barn Raisers weakness at every chance they got. That couldn’t keep happening.
“Figure your shit out between now and Game 4. Mandatory team building Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. If you miss it, you don’t play. Got it?” Coach Micheals added.
The whole team agreed.
“Good.”
Coach walked out. Several of the guys started grumbling.
“Casey.” Nate approached him cautiously.
Luca froze and watched, ready to jump in at a moment’s notice.
“The other day, the dumb shit I said…I’m sorry. It was out of line, and you’re right. None of my damn business.” Nate looked around at the rest of them. “I owe all of you an apology. I’m a jackass, and I’m sorry.”
Casey held out his hand and Nate shook it. “Don’t let it happen again. I meant what I said, Nate.”
“It won’t. We’re all a team, a family. And I respect the hell out of you all. I crossed a line and I don’t have a single reason for it.”
“Apology accepted. Next time anyone in this locker room decides to pull some stupid shit like that, know that we will not hesitate to kick your asses. No one on this team should have to defend their preferences, especially not to their teammates. That’s not who we are. Got it?” Waylon spoke up .
The air in the room shifted. A calm settled around everyone as they agreed.
“Now, show up tomorrow and let’s let Coach know we’re in it to win it, got it?” Owen added.
Luca felt pride swell in his chest for his teammates.
This was the kind of team that players wanted to be a part of.
Nate walked away, leaving the four of them to their after game routines.
Luca hoped Nate’s apology went a long way in putting things back on track with the whole team.
The minute he was alone, he retrieved his phone. He fought back the grin when he saw Mia’s name on the screen.
He pulled up the group chat first. A post game congrats text. One he wasn’t going to be the first to reply to.
Their private message thread was much better anyway.
Mia: Hell of play, Luca. Not going to lie, that was the sexiest thing I’ve seen in a long time. Looking forward to Book Club. Tomorrow? Maybe after dinner?
‘...that was the sexiest thing I’ve seen in a long time.’
There was no way she meant that.
It had to have been post game excitement clouding her judgement, but Luca couldn’t fight the urge to lean into it.
Luca: Sexiest thing ever, huh? You mean it?
Mia: Oh I mean it, Luca Blackford. That was a bad ass play.
He blushed.
Luca: Thanks. I can’t wait to get back home. Sleep in my own bed. See my favorite girl ::winky face emoji::
Mia: Your favorite girl? Do I know her?
Luca: Pretty well actually. She’s coming to Book Club tomorrow. I heard she’s bringing the snacks.
Mia: Mmm. Snacks. I like snacks. And what are you bringing, Luca?
Luca: The charm. Lol.
Mia: Cute. I can’t believe I’m admitting to this, but it’ll be nice to have everyone home again tomorrow.
Luca: Don’t worry. I won’t tell Waylon that you missed him.
Mia: Don’t you dare!
Luca: Better be on your best behavior then.
Mia: Always.
Luca: Goodnight, Mia. See you tomorrow.