Page 57 of Unmasking Love (D.C. Renegades #1)

Aiden

Always a Renegade

It could all end tonight.

We're up in the finals against Chicago, three games to two. If we win tonight, we win the cup. If we lose, we go home for game seven.

The cup is in the building.

I've never been in the same room as the Stanley Cup before.

I've also never played this late into June before. I'm fucking beat.

"Gentlemen," Coach Bradford says. "We know what it takes to beat them. Be quick. Protect the puck. Physicality. Let's win this fucking thing on their ice!"

That fires up the room and even with my effort to keep my temper even I feel the fire flick through my veins.

Over the years I've been back in Chicago to play regular season games. Or ride the bench for regular season games. When I was on the team they didn't make the playoffs so I haven't gotten to see this city in play off mode before.

There were flags decorating the street lights as we drove to the arena from the hotel. We knew we'd be playing a fifth game when we lost the first game of the finals at home. I had a shutout for game two at home, and Gavin only let in one for a game three win on the road.

We lost game four in Chicago and that flight home was the quietest I've ever heard a plane before.

Three nights ago we won at home and Harper was in the family suite again. Talking with her about the game, about Chicago's offense, and my concerns about being in net tonight helped me process being in the Stanley Cup Finals as a co-starting goalie.

This is the first time in my career I am focused on the game in front of me, not the trade rumors.

I could still get traded. Harper and I would have to figure that out over the summer. But one way or another, the season will be over in two weeks and in three we're headed to Europe.

So, this year if I get traded I'll have Harper with me.

One thing at a time.

I'm pulled back to the present when Felix starts playing Cotton Eyed Joe and guys start throwing rolls of tape and towels at him.

"Dude, you know I love this song," Bryson says. "But read the room, we're too nervous tonight."

"Which is exactly why we need it! If you want to get any ice time tonight you'll dance."

I watch as the room slowly shuffles to life. When Duncan and Emmett swing each other by the elbows the team becomes more animated and loose.

"You too, Young Gun!" Felix calls as he shimmies in my direction.

"No way man," I laugh.

"You're already breaking your mental prep routine by laughing at us, c'mon, one hip shake."

With a reluctant smile on my face I stand and the group cheers. Fancy footwork is difficult since I'm already in my pads but I am able to rock side to side. The team cheers and I feel some of the tension leave my shoulders as I laugh too.

The song wraps up and Felix waves everyone into the center of the room.

"Let's fucking destro y them." he says, quietly. It's a little disturbing.

The team grunts out a collective "Yeah" and break the huddle.

I finish getting into my gear before taking the ice for warmups.

The United Center feels smaller tonight.

As I skate around the away team's zone I remember what it felt like to take this ice for the first time. It was my first NHL experience and I spent the entire game half focused on my heart beat.

I knew what a big deal this was and I didn't want to blow it, but I was also waiting for it to get ripped away from me, again.

The team won that game and I remember settling into games more easily with each one I played.

After being traded the first time I had to reframe my mental state again and that too got easier over time.

Mostly because I isolated myself.

D.C. has been different. And I'll be devastated if I can't play for this team again next year.

My brain stays clouded with memories and worries for the future as I take a few shots. More make it past me than normal and I see Crosby give me a questioning look.

"You good man?" he asks as I skate out to stretch.

"Yeah, just in my head a little bit."

"What'll get you out of your head?" He asks.

Harper.

I don't say it out loud so Crosby continues, "Well, whatever it is, make it happen so we can win this fucking thing."

I nod and take a lap around the boards and slow down behind my net. There are fans banging the glass and yelling behind me but I'm not in the mood.

Harper is here, she and Caroline flew out together last night. She's up in the family suite but I miss her being behind me.

I take one last cente ring breath behind the net and then when I turn to skate away I catch a fling of long dark hair.

"I'm behind you babe!" Harper yells and warmth floods my body. "Let's go Renegades!"

The boys skate around and I get back in net one last time. I block the shots that come my way, the boys focusing on my weaker side this time. This feels good. Energizing.

Because Harper is here.

I told her months ago I wanted to impress her when she was behind me. And that's still true. I have her, we belong to each other, but I still want to fluster her with my hockey skills.

***

A scoreless first.

A scoreless second.

Our defense has been strong, breaking up plays before they can form.

But their defense has been the same.

Chicago has to win this game if they want a chance.

We could lose it and then play to win the cup at home.

But fuck I want to end this.

Coach told us to keep playing our game. To not get nervous. When we get nervous we make mistakes.

It turns out they got nervous first and got called for a tripping penalty. Our power play team is giving it everything they can but nothing is getting through.

Seconds tick away.

I make an easy glove save and pass it off to Felix before they can whistle the play dead. Chicago ices the puck and we get a TV timeout.

The team gathers at t he bench and Coach draws up a few plays and also runs through defensive strategy if they pull their goalie.

If it goes to OT it's sudden death. First goal wins.

With a stalemate on an opponent’s ice the odds are not in our favor to win in overtime. Coach wants us to throw everything at the net and just get the fucking dirty goal to end it.

The boys line up for the face off in the far zone and I watch the puck get kicked to the corner where Bryson scrambles after it.

Chicago gets possession and brings it forward, we change a forward for an extra defenseman while they keep control of the puck in my zone.

"Skater!" I hear Emmett yell. Meaning they've pulled their goalie. The boys move into position to cut off passing lanes and try to force a turnover.

Left to right, down the boards behind the net, back in front; the puck is constantly moving.

But I'm tracking it.

"Four!" I hear from the bench. Four minutes left in the period.

It was risky for them to pull the goalie so early but they're desperate.

Crosby intercepts a pass but doesn't get a clean chance to clear it so Chicago keeps it in the zone.

Shouts of "shoot it" and "go" fill my ears.

I block a shot that makes it through and Duncan pulls the rebound out wide. He gets jammed into the boards and the puck slides free.

When we got the rebound most of the players started to move back to defend their goal. But one went for a change which is why the puck is sitting open in no man's land to my left.

I skate up and flick the puck towards the empty net on the other side of the ice.

I move back to my goal expecting icing to be called when I see the Chicago player at center ice tries to bat it out of the air but misses.

It bounces down on th e other side of the blue line and twenty thousand pairs of eyes watch the puck slide through the crease and into the back of the net.

The boys crash into me and we end up in a pile on the ice.

"FUCKING YOUNG GUN!"

"Yeah baby!"

"Let's fucking go!"

We get to our feet because there are still three minutes left in the game but I lead the parade of fist bumps along the bench.

I get a good head bump from Felix and a pad smack from Emmett as I skate back into my goal. When I reach my net, I shake off my glove to pick up my water bottle and catch Harper wiping a tear from her eye.

She's beaming and I'm sure they're happy tears but it still causes my hackles to rise. Then she laughs and mouths I love you with her hands forming a heart and I give her a smile back.

The final two minutes of the game tick away in slow motion as Chicago tries everything to score and force overtime.

The puck gets tied up in the corner and I can see our bench standing and leaning forward on the boards.

I keep my focus on the corner as Johnny and Duncan keep it trapped along the wall.

Their star forward is tapping his stick like crazy at the top of my crease, begging for a pass. I nudge him out of the way and he leans into me.

I'm about to throw my shoulder into him when Felix comes up and shoves him away. I can see this kid wanting to get into it but before he has a chance the buzzer sounds and the game is over.

We won.

We won the fucking championship.

The bench clears and we gather in the corner with ecstatic cheers and collective relief.

I feel like I could l ift a car and also lay down right here on the ice for several days.

We line up for handshakes. I exchange a few extra words of encouragement with my former teammates. They start to roll out the carpet for the trophy presentation and I trade my mask for a champions hat.

"Young Gun, you won that game man! I'm passing the cup to you first!

" Felix yells as he skates up to accept the cup from the commissioner.

He skates around the rink with the cup over his head and after a full lap stops in front of me.

I take the Stanley Cup from his hands but he doesn't let go right away.

"Whatever happens, you're a member of this team. Your name will be on this trophy with ours, forever."

I nod, it's the biggest response I can muster through the symphony of feelings in my chest.

I lift 35 pounds of silver over my head and skate away.

After being traded seven times in as many years I never expected to have this opportunity. And, I don't think it would have been remotely possible with any other group. I turn back towards my team and their smiles greet me.

I pass it to Bryson who takes his lap and I circle through the group giving hugs and high fives.

Then the door in the corner opens and our family members walk onto the ice. I see Harper in the crowd and skate to her.

"Aiden! Oh my god! I'm so proud of you!" She squeals as I pull her up off her feet. I spin us around and she giggles.

We both feel like we're flying.

"Thank you for being here," I tell her as I kiss her neck. "God, it all feels so good."

"I know, I know babe. Holy shit. You won! And I mean like, you did. You scored the winning goal!"

I slowly lo wer her to the ice, "I got lucky."

"Maybe, but you worked for that luck."

"I don't just mean the goal." I lean my forehead against hers. I cannot wait to settle in with her. To spend every day with her for the next month before pre-season conditioning starts again. I feel so lucky to have Harper in my life.

"Luckily we worked for this, too." She says with a smile.

I hold her to me and kiss her. She smiles against my lips and I smile back and suddenly we're both laughing.

A year ago I was lost. I was alone. I came to D.C. ready for another year of heartbreak. And while the last twelve months haven't been easy, they've turned half a lifetime of turmoil into triumph.

The most precious reward in my arms right now.