Page 23 of Second Chance with the Enemy CEO (Second Chance Hockey Players #1)

Chapter seventeen

Hazel

T he puck slides across the ice, a flash of silver blurring in the bright arena lights.

I am behind the lens of my camera, fingers steady as I snap shot after shot, capturing the intensity of the game.

The Avalanche team is in a tight match with the Sharks - only two minutes left on the clock, and the score is tied.

I can practically feel the energy pulse through my fingers as the sound of skates carving through ice echoes in my ears, sharp and fast, and the loud roars of the crowd.

I lean in, catching a wide-angle shot as Steph, the defense, skates to the side, eyes locked on the puck as he glides toward the blue line.

He passes it to James, who shoots, but the goalie’s glove shoots up just in time to deflect it out of play.

A collective groan rises from the stands, but their captain reels them back in.

They skate back into position, determination written on their faces.

One minute left and the score is still tied. Everyone is on the edge of their seats, waiting for someone to break the 3-3 deadlock. I hold my breath, ready to capture the players in motion, the intensity of the crowd, and the way their faces twist with focus and desire for that final push.

My gaze shifts to Liam, and I can see his breath misting in the cold air, his grip tight on the stick.

As soon as the puck is dropped into the neutral zone and the whistle blows, the action accelerates.

The Avalanche team surges forward, Liam leading the charge as his linemates fan out around him.

Logan is right beside him, covering his back.

The two of them pass the puck back and forth, faking left and right, tricking the other team.

Oh, the satisfaction.

The defense of the Sharks is tight, but Liam sees an opening on the left. He makes a hard cut to the inside, dodging a check and leaving one defender in his wake. The crowd gasps, leaning forward in anticipation, the last seconds ticking down.

With only a few feet of space between Liam and the net and 45 seconds left, the defenseman who had been trailing him steals the puck. The crowd gasps in shock.

The Sharks are racing down the ice, their skates grinding as they try to break through the defense.

They push toward the Avalanche’s goalie, hoping to take the lead.

For a second, it looks like we might lose control, everyone holding their breath - I’m holding my breath, picture-taking duties abandoned as my hands are clasped tightly in prayer.

But just as the Sharks team member is about to shoot, James makes an incredible play, sweeping in from the right and poking the puck away at the last second.

The crowd erupts in relief and cheer. Liam’s eyes lock onto the puck as it slides across the ice toward him, only a few feet away. He sprints toward it, his powerful legs pumping. The seconds tick by like hours, and I am holding my breath, every muscle tight.

One. Two. Three. And four, he is there. He scoops it up with the blade of his stick, shifting into position.

The opposing goalie is ready, but I can see Liam’s already calculating the angles. He fakes left, making the goalie bite. With a quick flick of his wrist, he sends the puck sliding across the ice, not to the open side, but a perfect pass to his teammate, Alex, who is skating in from the left.

Alex does not hesitate for even a second. He takes the puck in stride, slides it past the goalie’s outstretched glove, and -

Goooooalll!!!

The crowd erupts in a deafening roar, a wild explosion of joy and disbelief. The puck is in the net with 0.02 seconds left on the clock. The Avalanche have won.

The team skates together in a jubilant blur, slapping sticks, hugging, and celebrating the victory. Liam raises his arms to the sky, his face lit with a fierce grin, his eyes scanning the stands as the roar of the crowd reverberates in his ears.

I capture the moment - Liam’s smile, the burst of celebration, the pure joy radiating from every player. The intensity of the game, the teamwork, the drive to win..., it all comes together in this one perfect shot.

The announcer’s voice breaks through the chaos, booming over the speakers.

“The Avalanche win it with a final score of 4-3! Incredible teamwork and precision in the final seconds!”

I exhale, lowering my camera just as the Avalanche players start to gather by the boards, throwing their gloves into the air and raising their sticks high.

I snap a few more photos as the team piles on Liam and Alex, lifting them up in celebration.

Their smiles are wide, their energy impossible to miss.

After a while, the announcer's voice booms through the speakers.

“Ladies and gentlemen, now that the first part of the charity event hosted by the Avalanche team and NextPhase Performance Technology has been completed, it is time to head to the second phase, at Lakeview Park! Get ready to have loads of fun, and of course, please remember to donate generously to support the ‘Hope for Kids Foundation,’ which helps underprivileged children access sports programs in Autumn Cove and across the country. Let’s make a difference today! "

As the crowd starts to disperse, I stand beside Landon and Brooke, feeling the hum of the game still vibrating in my chest. My shoulders ache from holding the camera for so long, but the adrenaline of the game is enough to keep me from caring.

People shuffle past, their voices rising in excited chatter as they head toward the exits.

“Great game,” Brooke says, grinning at Landon, “was that last-second goal intense or what?”

Landon just nods, a satisfied smirk tugging at his lips. “Definitely. Always a thrill to finish strong.”

“Yeah,” Brooke adds with a grin. “I was holding my breath the entire time.”

I laugh, adjusting the camera strap on my shoulder. “Same. It was insane. Honestly, I was scared they were not gonna pull it off at the end.”

A familiar voice calls out, and I turn to see Grace, Maya, and Luke making their way toward us. Grace waves enthusiastically, her auburn curls bouncing with every step, while Maya gives a sly grin.

“Finally!” Grace says as they reach us. “We’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

“Been here the whole time. Hey, remember these two? Lydia could not make it. She has the flu,” I say, gesturing to Landon and Brooke with a grin.

Maya’s eyes light up as she looks at Landon, a playful smile curling on her lips. “Who forgets a hottie like this?” She winks at him, her tone teasing. “Good to see you again, Landon.”

Landon chuckles, flashing a grin in return. “The pleasure’s mine.”

Luke, standing next to Maya, playfully shoves her with a grin. “Don’t mind this flirtatious lady. She’s like this 90% of the time with everyone. It’s embarrassing,” he says, shaking his head in mock exasperation.

Maya just rolls her eyes, unbothered. “Hey, I’m just speaking the truth.”

“It’s no issue,” Landon says, shrugging casually. “It’s good to see you all again, too.”

I laugh, shaking my head at Maya. “Did you guys enjoy the game?” I ask.

“It was amazing,” Grace says at once, her face lighting up. “That last play? Unreal.”

Maya’s about to say something - probably something equally dramatic or flirty, knowing her - but before she can get a word out, I hear my name.

“Hazel!” Katie’s voice cuts through the noise, and I turn to see her waving me over from the edge of the rink.

“Hold that thought,” I tell my friends before walking over to her. Katie’s expression is her usual mix of professionalism and playful energy.

“You’ll be riding with the guys in the bus,” she says without preamble.

I blink. “Wait, what? Why?”

Katie grins. “Because I need you to get pictures of them on the bus. Especially James. I know he is going to fall asleep with his eyes and mouth wide open, and I need those shots. I want it documented for posterity.”

I cannot help but laugh. “Say no more. I am on it.”

“Good,” Katie says, nodding approvingly. “By the way, well done today. The pictures have been fantastic so far. The destination shots came out beautifully. We will need to schedule the next round soon.”

“Thanks,” I say, a warm sense of pride bubbling up at her words. “Just let me know, and I’ll be ready.”

With a satisfied nod, Katie gives me a quick pat on the shoulder. “Alright. Let’s head out, then.”

As she walks away, I look back at my friends and ask Landon and Brooke who they are driving with. Landon says he is taking his car, and Brooke is going with him. After bidding goodbye to my friends and reminding them for the umpteenth time to go to the charity event, I make my way to the bus.

As soon as I get on the bus, the team greets me with a mix of exhaustion and camaraderie.

“Hey, great game tonight,” I say with a smile, looking around at everyone sprawled in their seats. “Congratulations on the win!”

“Thanks, Hazel,” one of them says, raising a tired hand.

Another teammate grins. “You catch that winning goal on camera?”

“Every angle,” I reply with a wink.

Scanning the bus, I notice there’s only one obvious spot left - next to Liam. My stomach twists at the thought of sitting next to him for the ride.

I take a deep breath and start toward the back. When I see one of the guys with his bag sprawled across the seat, I stop beside him.

“Hey,” I say politely. “Do you mind moving your bag? I need a seat.”

He glances up and shrugs. “Can’t. Got something fragile in there.”

I blink, caught off guard. “Oh, okay… no problem.”

I move down to another row and try again. “Is this seat free?”

“Not really,” the guy says, nodding toward Liam. “There’s an empty spot right there.”

I bite the inside of my cheek, keeping my tone light. “Got it. Thanks.”

“Logan, can I sit with you?”

“No, can’t do. I need enough room to stretch my long stressed-out legs. There’s an empty seat next to Liam, it’s pretty glaring.”