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“More than. I think with the right training and teams, she could play for the US Women’s team someday.”

Her eyes rounded. “Holy shit.”

“Holy shit,” I agreed.

After the kids and their parents left, Thierry took my hand on the way out to his truck. “Interesting afternoon you had.”

“He said she was his Boom. ” Pope looked at me. “Guess you guys really know, huh?”

Thierry grinned. “Told you.”

I shook his head. “If I can get them to work together so they understand the fundamentals, it’ll be so much easier when divisions come looking for kids, especially travel teams. Like we had.”

“She’s good. You were right to tell Lily-Mae that. Her and Rick will correct course for her as will Jagger’s dad. The first step to fixing issues is to always face them head on. Might as well rip the bandage off now.”

“Like you did with me?” I teased.

He laughed, rolling his eyes. “Oh yeah, like I did with you.”

“Well, then, husband,” I murmured. “Take me home and feed me. I’ve had a helluva day.”

“As you wish, husband.”

Pope

Twelve years later...

I stared at the Women’s National Hockey Team posed to enter their first Olympic games as a squad.

Dahlia stood to my right with a look of determination on her face.

I took her as far as I could go, then handed her off to the professionals.

Who knew eight years later we’d meet back up again under auspicious circumstances.

This wasn’t the plan for me. Thierry was the hockey person of our family.

Me, I wanted to tattoo everyone, famous and not.

I’d done so too, until about five years ago when I was approached at a junior league game.

From there, everything took off. I sold the shop to Clancy and his brother while Simone continued to work for them.

For me, I took the job offered while Thierry was promoted to the NHL.

Standing there, with these amazing young women, we only had five minutes left in the last period of the game against Finland.

If we won, us and Finland would advance our respective teams to fight each other another day.

If we lost? Lithuania and Finland would move on, and we’d have to wait four more years.

“I know you’re tired,” I said. “You guys have made me so proud out there. But give me five more minutes of the best damn game you can play. Show the world you’re meant for greatness.

I leaned forward with the tablets we’d been given, between us.

“I need to show you this. See that hole. I need my wingers there. I flicked to the next photo where the player from Finland scored on Dahlia, I need my defenders to plug this hole too. I know we’re splitting duties, but it allows for you to have the upper hand on breakaways.

Trust me. Trust yourselves and above all trust your goalie to see you through. Hands in.”

When the buzzer sounded, they were back on the ice.

I glanced up in the stands. What a hell of a place to hold a tournament for the Olympics, Park City, Utah.

Some of the guys from the Mountaineers joined Thierry along with Jagger, Lily-Mae, and Rick.

We needed one point to end the game, breaking the tie.

I didn’t want them to go into overtime. They were already gassed.

Overtime also had the habit of not going the way we wanted it to.

The puck dropped and the crowd got to their feet.

The cheers for both teams echoed around the box.

If I had to make substitutions, I’d have to get close to the girls.

Real close. Dahlia looked strong in the box.

Her stick at the ready, her eyes trained on her opponents.

They raced up and down the ice as the clock wound down.

The girls checked their opponents and passed the puck until their moment came to fruition, and Gee put herself into position as Dahlia stopped the puck then shot it up ice toward Gee.

She was ready too. The second the puck smacked her stick; she skated straight for the goal.

Everything slowed as she reared back, and I knew.

It's that feeling I used to get in the middle of my chest whenever Thierry went for the goal. I held my breath. Her stick struck true and the puck shot across the ice. The world disappeared around me as I stood there waiting, watching the play. Eight seconds wound down on the clock.

This was it.

When the buzzer went off, the puck slid back out onto the ice, and everything exploded around us with wild excitement.

The screams from the crowd mixed with hands banging against the plexiglass.

The girls on the ice celebrated before heading back to the bench to high-five their teammates.

The timer stopped at point-three seconds.

Enough time to drop the puck one last time. Excitement bubbled within me.

This was their chance.

“Alright team,” I yelled. “One more time. You’ve got this. I’m so proud of you. Win this!”

They settled at center ice, the music stopped.

The ref stepped between the players with the puck.

The cheers continued to inundate the ice.

With the drop of the puck, the game was back on until the final buzzer sounded, and the match was over.

The girls rushed out onto the ice to congratulate their teammates.

I glanced up in the stands and found Thierry right there, front and center banging the heck out of the plexiglass with the others.

Holy shit. We were going to the Olympics.

Later that night, after all the parties and celebrations, I stepped out of the bathroom of our hotel suite to find Thierry In bed, naked, waiting for me.

The sight of him still got my blood pumping.

He was gorgeous. Fit. It took a few years after his last surgery with Dr. Jay, but Thierry got back on the ice.

He didn’t move like he used to, but watching him even when he led his team’s practice, made me smile.

“Hey, good looking,” I said. “You sure you’re in the right room? My husband should be here soon. Wouldn’t want you to get in trouble.”

He smirked. “Your husband is a lucky man.”

“You have no idea how lucky I am,” I said, crossing to him.

“Why don’t you come show me.” Thierry grinned. “Olympic Hockey Coach.”

Fuck that sounded good too.

The next morning, we went to breakfast with the team.

Standing there with them, I got to thinking about my life and Thierry’s life.

We started out where they had. Grew up and unfortunately our paths diverted before coming back together.

Had I never returned home, I’d have never been this proud or this lucky.

“Five years ago,” I said, “when I got the call asking if I’d come for an interview for the position, I almost turned it down.

I loved the team I worked for. I loved watching all of you grow into amazing players.

So, it took a little convincing from Thierry before I packed a bag, boarded that plane and took a chance.

Today, standing here with you, I couldn’t be more fulfilled.

More honored, and more appreciative of the opportunity I’ve been given.

For the next three months we’re going to work our butts off.

We’ll be on the World’s stage ladies. We have to bring our A games and show everyone what we’re made of.

I promise, if you stick with me, I’ll make you champions. ”

That was the truth.

Simply put, once I learned to block out the noise of the world, I found myself.

Over the years, I’d put the lessons I learned along the way into their practices.

This right here, with these people, and this team proved I’d always been worthy.

I’d always been meant for something more.

All I needed was a guiding hand and encouragement.

I almost lost that guidance when I couldn’t see past myself and my loathing.

As I sat there, holding Thierry’s hand, listening to the girls give their thanks for the season and for their place on the team, I felt like I was a kid again, winning our first tournament. The only thing missing was a blanket fort and scary movies.

Everything else had been by my side, forever.

THE END