Page 19 of Scoring One Night (Blue Ridge Mountain Hockey #4)

M y heart pounded in my chest as I sat in the locker room waiting for the game with Baltimore to start.

Yet all I could think about was Melanie. I hadn't stopped thinking about her since she walked out my door Friday evening.

Her words echoed in my mind as I laced up my skates. I had to prove myself tonight—prove that I was more than just a reckless player chasing every thrill.

Somehow that meant nothing knowing I had no one to share my win or loss with.

"You ready?" Liam slapped me on the back.

"Sure." I slapped the fakest smile I could muster on my face, pulling the laces tight. "Show them what we're made of."

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves as I looked at my fellow teammates.

"Listen up, boys!" he barked. "You all know how important this game is. We've got scouts in the stands tonight, and they're here to see if we have what it takes to represent our country on the international stage. This is the off-season, so you know this game isn't for the cup, it's so some of us can represent our country. So let's show them what the Blue Ridge Mountain Devils are made of!"

As he spoke, I felt my focus narrow, honing in on the task at hand. This was it—the moment I'd been waiting for. All those years of sweat, blood, and lots of bruises had led me to this pivotal point in my life.

I just wished my dad was here to see it.

"Remember," Coach continued, looking each of us in the eye, "you're not just playing for yourselves tonight. You're playing for your families, your friends, and everyone who's ever believed in you. Now get out there and do what you do best: win!"

Everyone in the locker room cheered and we filed out to the rink.

My body tensed, anticipation coursing through my veins as I prepared to take the ice. But in the back of my mind, Melanie's voice still lingered, and I glanced up at the crowd, wondering if she was there.

Shaking my head, I pushed thoughts of her aside; there was no room for hesitation tonight.

"Let's go Devils!" I shouted, my voice joining the chorus of cheers and whoops from my teammates. And as we charged onto the ice, I planned to use my pain to win.

I felt alive the moment my blades touched the ice. My heart raced as I effortlessly glided across the surface, every stride a testament to years of dedication and training. I could hear my father's words in my ear: Focus on the puck because nothing else matters . This was for him; this was my chance to prove myself and leave no doubt about my place on the International Games team.

As the puck dropped, I was a whirlwind of motion on the ice. My muscles tensed and released like well-oiled machinery, propelling me forward as I maneuvered around the Crabs' aggressive checks and attempted blocks. I could feel my confidence grow with each passing minute, my resilience unwavering in the face of challenge.

I slid across the ice and got to the puck first, and with a swift push, managed to get our first goal of the game.

"Nice one, !" Jackson shouted. "Keep it up!"

"Thanks," I panted, my breath fogging up my visor. In the back of my mind, and for a second, I thought I heard Melanie's voice call out. Glancing to the stands, I realized it wasn’t her. I tried to quickly refocus, but one of the Crabs took advantage of my distraction and knocked me aside.

"Fuck," I said under my breath before pushing forward on the ice. Baltimore took advantage of my screw up and got a goal.

I couldn't let that happen again.

The scent of sweat and adrenaline filled the air as I gripped my stick, poised for action. We were neck and neck with the Baltimore Crabs, but I wasn't about to let them walk away victorious.

"Rivera, over here!" shouted Liam as he skated toward me. I darted to meet him, receiving the puck with a deft swipe of my stick. The crowd's cheers fueled my determination, and I set my sights on the Crabs' goal.

Sweat was stinging my eyes, but I kept working hard to help my teammates score.

The first twenty-minute period ended, and we were back in the locker room while coach talked to a few of us. I noticed he left me alone.

Time flew and pretty soon, we were back on the ice.

"Watch out, pretty boy!" yelled a Crab's defenseman, barreling toward me with bared teeth. I couldn't help but laugh; their banter only served to sharpen my focus. In a split second, I dipped my shoulder and slid past him, leaving him floundering in my wake.

"Nice try," I muttered under my breath. My body surged with power with each stride, driving me closer to the net. I could feel the weight of Melanie's rejection propelling me forward.

"You got this!" Jackson cheered from the sidelines, his enthusiasm infectious. There was no room for doubt in my mind—I was going to make this shot.

"Time to shine," I whispered to myself as I approached the goalie. My eyes locked onto his, a silent challenge passing between us. The world seemed to slow down as I prepared my shot, muscles coiled like a spring, ready to release.

With a final burst of speed, I pivoted and swung my stick, sending the puck hurtling toward the net. The sound of rubber meeting metal echoed through the rink as the puck clanked against the post, ricocheting at an impossible angle.

"Goal!" the announcer boomed, and the home crowd erupted in wild applause. A triumphant grin spread across my face as I skated back to my teammates, each of us reveling in the moment's victory. My heart swelled with pride, not just for myself but for the entire team.

"Way to go, Rivera!" Teddy bellowed, clapping me on the back. "Knew you had it in you."

"Thanks," I replied, breathless but exhilarated. The satisfaction of proving myself on the ice was a balm to the sting of Melanie's rejection.

We were ahead after the final fifteen-minute break, but not for long. As soon as we stepped back on the ice, the Crabs scored twice, putting them ahead.

The sound of skates carving through the ice filled my ears as I gritted my teeth, willing myself to keep pushing forward. The Baltimore Crabs were relentless in their assault, their aggressive plays and checks making it difficult for us to maintain control.

"Watch your back, !" I heard Liam shout as a bulky Crabs defenseman slammed into me, sending me crashing into the boards. My entire body ached with the impact, but I refused to let the pain slow me down. But when I pushed off the boards to rejoin the fray, a bolt of pain shot up from my ankle.

"Nice hit," I muttered sarcastically to the defenseman as I tried to play off the pain.

", come here!" Coach Williams barked from the side, his voice barely audible over the din of the crowd.

I skated over as another player went in for me. Stepping off the ice, I tried not to wince.

"What is it?" I asked, hoping he didn’t notice the hit.

"It's your ankle." He pointed to my foot. "After what happened to you earlier this month, I can't risk you injuring your ankle more. You're out for the rest of the game."

My eyes widened. "No, you can't do that—"

"I can, . It's my job to make sure my players are in top shape, and right now, you aren't. Now, you did great out there, so I know the judges noticed. But for the last ten minutes of the game, you're here with me."

I sat on the bench and stared straight ahead. That was it… my chance ruined.

Up in the stands, I noticed several judges observe the game intently, their eyes occasionally darting back to their notepads. They were watching the game, but they also noticed me. I realized they had seen coach pull me. They knew something was wrong.

I sat back and let out a breath. That's when I noticed something unusual. I should be angry—mad at coach or at my crappy luck; mad at my missed chance at the International Games.

But as I sat on the bench watching my team play, I felt relieved. A sense of calm washed over me, and I smiled.

In that moment, I made a decision—one that felt both excruciating and liberating in equal measure. I never wanted this. Being a hockey player was my dad's dream; I always did it to make him happy. Even trying to get on the International Games team was all for him.

Everything he had wanted became more important after he passed a few years ago—hockey and winning. Perhaps that's why I partied so hard, because I wasn’t truly happy. Until I got close with Melanie.

For the first time, I found someone who made me smile and challenged me. Someone who wasn’t impressed with me being a hockey player. She liked me for me.

I loved Melanie. Even if she didn’t feel the same, it was time I grew up and did something for someone else that wasn’t so I could get something in return.

I couldn't continue to let this jeopardize Melanie's career. It was time for me to step back, to find another path that would allow me to make a difference without risking the happiness of the woman I loved.

The game ended, and the Devils won. The players piled back into the locker room, everyone happy and laughing.

"Cheer up, . You played great out there. I'm sure the judges noticed," Liam said as he came up to me after showering and changing.

"It's fine." I slapped him on the back. "There are some people I have to help."

I got up as Liam tilted his head in confusion.

"You did great, too, Liam. I’ll let them know."

"What are you going on about?" Liam chuckled. "Man, you must have really hit your head out there."

"Something like that." I turned and headed to the coach's office, ready to terminate my contract.