Page 65

Caleb

It’s the third period, and this game is getting away from us. We started strong, like we always do, but something changed. The Eagles have remembered they’re coming to this as the defending champions, and now we’re at a near draw.

Whoever scores next wins.

“How’s the knee?” Coach asks.

I twist it and hide my wince. “It’s fine.”

Coach points at the physio. “Ice it. Maybe tape it.” He looks at me. “You think you have one more minute in you?”

I know what he’s saying.

Sitting back to give the physio room to work on my knee, I look at the scoreboard and the time we have left.

There’s only one way we win this game, but it doesn’t come without risks. Mainly to me and my fucked-up knee after a painful collision with two defensemen.

“The power play,” I say.

In the Lamont Wolverines’ playbook, we have a lot of plays we’ve perfected over the years. The ‘Go Big or Go the Fuck Home’ play is the biggest we have.

It’s showy, it’s designed to win a game, and it always sends the crowd wild.

And we haven’t pulled it out in too-fucking-long.

“Go big or go home?” Theo says with a grin.

The rest of the team is nodding.

“Let’s give ’em hell,” Reid adds.

Coach eyes me. “Because it’s all about winning.”

I look around the arena like I haven’t in so long, soaking in the crowd’s energy. My eyes linger on the group of kids who are out in force, cheering and waving. They see me watching and cheer even louder.

The Lamont Hurricanes made me realize how much I love to give back, teach, and pass on what I know to the next generation.

But not only that.

I smile. “Not just about winning because that play is fun as fuck. Let’s give our audience a good show, huh?”

Javier grins. “Let’s.”

Knee iced and taped up, I step out on the ice, and my eyes find Tobie.

She’s chewing her nails, visibly tense as she hugs her tub of popcorn with one arm. I hope she’s not holding her breath. She looks like she’s barely breathing.

The game has always been about having fun. It’s what drove me out on the ice day after day for hours and hours. I couldn’t have done it if I didn’t love it, at least not for as long as I have.

It was always about playing for the fun of it with my kid brother.

My eyes find Christian’s green gaze on the other side of the rink. He raises an eyebrow as if to say, you game?

He did the same when we’d play street hockey in the middle of summer.

We’d be out for so long, Mom would have to drag us in to eat, and even then, we’d be out again the second our plates were empty.

Tobie did this.

She brought Reid, Jay, and me closer together. Helped me mend the break between Christian and me. She reminded me of the joy of the game, and I will always love her for it.

I want to win this game for her.

This goal is all hers.

I skate to the center, gripping my stick as my team fans out behind me.

This is it.

One minute.

One play.

One last chance to steal glory from the jaws of defeat.

“You ready to get this, Wolverines?” I yell.

“Let’s GO !” they scream back.