Page 38 of Tempting the Goalie (Riverside U #5)

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

L uc

The locker room smells like sweat and stick tape. It’s the kind of scent that would make anyone else gag, but for me, it’s the scent of the rush before the game. I stretch my leg out, rotating my ankle in the boot of my pad, tightening the strap on my blocker.

“Is the kid’s name Atlas?” Macklin asks from across the room, pulling his jersey on inside out. “Like the Greek guy who held the world or something.”

“It is, cute baby. He’s got a full head of hair,” I say, checking my glove, snapping it shut and open a few times.

“Listen to you talking about babies,” Hutch says. “Ever since you went home for the summer to spend time with your baby nephew, you’ve gone soft.”

“Screw you,” I say to him. He isn’t wrong though. Spending all that time with Braden did something to me. The thought of having a kid doesn’t seem so scary anymore. Elyna has her hands full but she’s single. I can understand the need for a partner when raising kids.

Seth smirks beside me. “I can’t believe this guy is living with his girlfriend.”

“Screw you too,” I say to him. I wish Aaron was here for our first game of the season.

It’s bad enough that Cade, Finn, and Hayden are no longer on the team.

At least I still have Aaron and Macklin, but with Aaron still in the hospital with Briar and their new baby, Atlas, him being here was impossible.

Tyler slaps the back of my helmet as he walks by.

Coach goes over the game plan. “These are your clean zone exits, smart line changes, keep the pace.” The team nods along. I've done this a hundred times, but this one feels heavier.

Montreal. Philadelphia. They both want me.

I try to shove that thought to the back of my head. Right now, I need to stop pucks.

We head through the tunnel and go through the regular routine before a game. We’re playing Northeastern, a respectable adversary. Coming off a Frozen Four win means team morale is high.

The puck drops.

Brody is up at face-off and wins the draw, taking off down the ice, fast and clean. He threads the puck through two defensemen like it’s nothing and fires a wrist shot at the top corner. It clanks off the crossbar, close but no cigar.

The crowd groans, but the energy’s electric. Izzy is somewhere up there in the stands. She texted me before warm-up.

Isabelle: You’ve got this. Love you.

I exhale behind my mask and settle into the crease.

Northeastern pushes back right away. Their winger slides into the slot and takes a shot low on my glove side. I drop and catch it easy and kick it out with my pad, tracking the rebound. No second chances.

Tyler clears it, and we reset. The rest of the period goes by in a blur.

Sweat builds on my skin. This team is good.

They are making me work for it. By second period one of their guys skates in front of the net and fires a low shot toward my glove.

I drop down and scoop it up without a problem.

One of their forwards skates right into the middle, not far from the net.

He takes a quick shot, aiming low toward the side I catch with my glove.

I see it coming the whole way. I drop into position and catch it, no problem. Easy save.

I get a breather when Brody takes the puck and flies over the blue line. He passes it into the corner, and Seth’s right there, fighting off their defense to grab it. The pressure in my chest loosens. Just for a second, I can take a slow breath.

They make it to the other end of the ice.

I lean on my stick and watch from my crease.

Brody’s circling down low, and Seth’s waiting near the middle, looking for a pass.

I take a deep breath through my mask. My heart’s not pounding so hard now.

I’m still laser focused, but it’s not that full-on panic mode anymore. It’s just watching. Waiting. Calm.

Coach Heaton is yelling something from the bench, arms flying everywhere like he’s trying to land a plane. I spot Izzy in the stands, standing up and shouting, probably telling Brody to shoot. I grin a little behind my mask.

Seth shakes off a crosscheck and slides the puck back to the blue line. Tyler’s there, steady as ever, stopping it like it’s nothing. That’s when I snap back into position. One of their guys is creeping my way, ready to break out if we mess up.

I drop into my stance again. Part of being a goalie is always being prepared.

Showing up for your team. The game is not over just because the puck is far from me.

Things can change in a heartbeat. As the game moves on, I feel the rush of adrenaline in my body.

People say you have to have a screw loose to be a goalie but with time I’ve understood my purpose, and it’s an important one in the scheme of the game. We end up winning 3-2.

After the game, we all head to the locker room to shower.

One of the reporters decides to interview me.

It isn’t a shocker because this is what happens when you become a senior.

Everyone wants to know your next move. Hell, I’d like to know my next move too.

Izzy told me she was looking at different grad schools.

She said she’d give me a list of three she’s going to apply to by the end of the week.

There’s no way I want Christmas to roll around and not have a contract signed.

After the game the guys want to go out for beer.

Most of them assume I’ll be joining them.

Izzy has an early class tomorrow and she gave up time from doing homework to be here, so I tell the guys I’ll take a rain check.

That buys me more comments about how I’ve changed.

The thing is, I don’t think I’ve changed at all.

I’ve just grown-up and it’s thanks to my brown-eyed girl.