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Chapter Forty-Two

Troy

The roar of the crowd hits me like a wave as I step onto the ice. The energy in the rink is electric, the kind that gets under your skin and sticks there. Missouri’s team is already lined up on their side, and I lock eyes with their captain for a beat. He smirks. Cocky bastard.

“Let’s show them why they don’t belong in the same league,” Jamie mutters, his voice low but steady as he skates up next to me. He’s all business today, his usual playful energy locked behind a sharp focus.

Declan taps my shoulder as we circle. “Heads up, Adams. They’re coming in hard today. Watch Simmons—he’s been gunning for your spot.”

I nod, but my stomach twists. This could be the last time we play together. The thought hits like a slap.

I’ve been trying to shove it down all week, but now, out here under the lights, it’s loud in my head. The merger. The trades. Everything we’ve built could shatter after tonight.

I shake it off. One game at a time.

Coach gives his final pep talk, short and sharp. “Play your game. Hit them where it hurts. Let’s take this one home, boys.”

The whistle blows, and we’re off.

The first period is a war. Missouri’s team is scrappy, leaning hard into their checks, but we hold our ground.

Declan blocks a brutal slap shot, the puck bouncing off his shin guard with a crack that makes my teeth ache. He grins through the pain, skating it off like it’s nothing.

Jamie’s on fire, weaving through their defense like it’s a damn practice drill. He sets up Finn for a beautiful goal, the puck slicing through the goalie’s reach and slamming into the net. The crowd explodes, and I can’t help but grin.

“Hell yeah!” Jamie yells as we skate back to the bench.

By the second period, the score’s tied, and the tension is thick. Every hit, every pass, every shot feels heavier than usual, like there’s more at stake than just a win…because it’s the truth.

I glance up at the scoreboard as the clock ticks into the third period. Two-two. My legs burn, and sweat drips down my back under the pads. Missouri’s throwing everything they’ve got at us, and it’s working.

Finn slams into their winger, sending him sprawling, and I scoop up the loose puck. I’m halfway down the ice when I feel it—a shadow behind me. Simmons.

“Not today,” I mutter, cutting left hard. He’s right on my tail, his stick jabbing at mine. But I see the opening. Jamie’s on the right, open for a pass.

“Collins!” I shout, snapping the puck across.

Jamie catches it, his movements smooth and fast. One fake, two, and then he fires. The puck sails past Missouri’s goalie and into the net.

The crowd loses it.

We mob Jamie in celebration, slapping his helmet and shoulders.

The final minutes are chaos. Missouri’s desperate, their moves getting sloppier as the clock winds down. But we hold them off. Declan makes a crucial block, and Finn clears the puck down the ice.

The buzzer sounds.

We’ve won.

Relief floods me as I skate to the bench, my chest heaving. The guys are celebrating, Jamie leading the charge as always, but I hang back for a second, letting it all sink in. The win feels good, yeah. But the thought’s still there, gnawing at the edges of my mind.

What if this is it?

I glance at the guys—Jamie laughing with Finn, Declan grinning like a kid. We’re a team. A family. And I can’t imagine doing this without them.

Jamie skates up, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “You good, Adams?”

I force a smile. “Yeah. Just soaking it in.”

He nods, his grin fading just a little. Like he knows what I’m thinking.

“Let’s enjoy it while we can,” he says quietly.

“Yeah,” I agree, my throat tight.

The crowd’s still cheering as we make our way off the ice, but my mind’s already spinning. One game down. A win. But the future? That’s a whole other fight.

The locker room feels heavy, even though we just won. Guys are celebrating, laughing, throwing gear into their bags, but there’s an edge to it. We all know what’s coming, even if no one’s saying it outright.

Coach Nate stands near the door, his clipboard tucked under one arm, his face unreadable. He claps his hands once, drawing everyone’s attention. “All right, listen up,” he says, his voice cutting through the chatter.

We all turn to him, quieting down. Even Jamie, who’s usually the loudest, leans back against the bench, his grin fading.

“You’ve got a break before the next game,” Coach starts, his eyes sweeping over us. “Rest up. Take care of yourselves. But more importantly, take a moment to think about what we’ve done here.”

His voice wavers just slightly, and that’s when it hits me. This isn’t just about the next game. This is about the end.

“It’s been an honor,” he continues, his voice steadying. “To lead this team, to watch you grow, to fight alongside you. No matter what happens next, remember what it means to wear that jersey. To be a Breaker.”

“Chicago Icebreakers,” Finn says, his voice strong, and the rest of us echo it.

For what might be the last time.

***

Walking out of the rink feels surreal. Jamie falls into step beside me, his hands shoved into his pockets. “You think Jared already knows about our decision?” he asks quietly.

“Most probably,” I reply. “He’s always a step ahead.”

Jamie nods, kicking at a stray pebble. “Maybe we can all talk about it when we’re finally on this vacation.”

I glance at him. “You really think this trip’s gonna fix everything?”

Jamie grins, but there’s a seriousness in his eyes. “I chose the perfect spot. I think everyone will be happy.”

I can’t help but smile back. “Guess we’ll see.”

The VIP suite is quiet when we get there. Savannah’s sitting on one of the plush couches, cradling Noah against her belly. Her hair’s pulled back, a few loose strands framing her face, and she’s wearing one of my old hoodies over her leggings. She looks...

Beautiful.

It’s the first time I’ve seen her since she went to Millie’s, and it hits me all at once.

She looks up as we walk in, her face lighting up. “Hey, guys,” she says softly.

I walk straight to her, unable to stop myself. I lean down and kiss her cheek, inhaling her familiar scent. “God, I missed you,” I murmur.

She smiles, tilting her head up. “C’mon, Troy,” she whispers, and that’s all the encouragement I need.

I cup her face, kissing her deeply, feeling the warmth of her lips against mine. She sighs into the kiss, her free hand resting on my chest.

“All right, lovebirds,” Jamie teases, stepping forward and gently taking Noah from her arms. “Give the kid a break from the PDA.”

Savannah laughs softly, pulling back, her cheeks flushed.

The door opens, and Jared strides in, his suit immaculate as always. He takes one look at us and smirks. “What a show,” he says, dropping his bag onto the counter.

“The game or the girl?” Jamie asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Both,” Jared replies smoothly, his eyes sparkling.

I step back, letting Jared and Jamie take over. Jared leans down, brushing a kiss over Savannah’s lips, while Jamie presses a kiss to her forehead.

“How’re you feeling?” Jared asks softly, his hand resting on her belly.

She smiles up at him. “Better now that you’re all here.”

Jamie shifts Noah to his other arm. “You ready to head out?” he asks her.

Savannah looks at each of us, her eyes lingering. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

As we walk out, I can’t help but feel a pang of unease. When we come back, everything could be different. But for now, I’m holding onto this—our team, our girl, our family.