Page 13 of Puck Shy

The air feels thick as I breathe it in, and the crowd is tense, screaming out for me to score and win this game. I feel the presence of my wingers alongside me, keeping the other team at bay.

The net is getting closer now, and my teammates create chaos in front of the goalie, their bodies positioned strategically to obscure his vision. The crease becomes a sea of sticks and bodies, but I see my way in.

Just as I send the puck flying toward the top shelf of the net, my feet are taken out from under me, and I fall back. It doesn’t matter, though, because red lights start flashing, and the horn blares.

We fucking won.

Next thing I know, my teammates are piling on me, yelling their excitement at finally winning a game. Johnny is in my ear cackling like a kid on too much sugar.

“You did it, man! I told you. I fucking told you that you needed to get laid!”

I try not to roll my eyes, but at the same time, he’s right. Though a lot more than just getting laid happened last night—not that I’d ever divulge that to him.

Once we’re up from the ground, my team and I take a small victory lap around our zone with our sticks held over our helmets. Our fans yell and scream for us, excited that we were able to pull off the win against Vancouver.

More of my teammates slap me on the back as I turn my gaze to the glass, knowing who I’ll find there. To keep my focus, I haven’t looked their way all night. But now I skate to where my identical twin, Leo, is banging his fists against the boards in excited celebration.

“That was a great game!” he yells.

I use the heel of my hand to fist-bump him through the glass and turn my eyes to the strawberry blonde next to him. When Riley’s eyes meet mine, I’m once again reminded of the forest-green ones of Cherry, looking up at me through her red mask. My heart stops beating for a second at how similar in color they are. She waves at me and smiles.

“That was amazing!” she cheers. “Too bad Stevie couldn’t be here; she would have died.”

I smile at her while unbuckling the strap of my helmet. I haven’t met her sister yet, but I’ve heard she’s my biggest fan. Jace taps on the glass, and I look at his smirking face. He hasn’t been to one of my games in a while, so it’s nice to see him. He does the same as Leo did, fist-bumping me through the glass.

“Hell of a play there,” he calls.

It’s hard to hear them over the noise, so I yell, “Thanks, man! Meet you all at the bar on Third when I’m done?”

Leo nods, putting his hands in the pockets of whatever designer pants he’s got on. He looks like he’s dressed for a dinner party rather than a hockey game—but that’s my brother for you, always put together. When he texted that business brought him into town at the last minute, I did the brotherly thing and told him to come to the game with Riley and Jace. For a split second, I worried that their presence would throw me off, but after last night, I’m on a high I can’t come down from. The win has only made me feel invincible.

I tap the glass again and skate off to greet Coach Kellen and my team.

“Nice to have you back, McKnight,” Coach says, slapping me on the shoulder.

“Nice to be back.”

“You’ve got a few quick interviews after you clean up,” Coach adds.

My great mood sours a bit. I was hoping to avoid that tonight. “Alright.”

“We’ve told them your personal life is off-limits. Game only; don’t worry.”

I nod at him gratefully as I stand and make my way to the locker room. As soon as I’m inside, I’m attacked again by my boisterous team. I laugh as I push my way through them.

“Yeah, yeah, calm down, you assholes.” I smirk.

“I told you boys he was going to kill it!” Johnny chuckles. “There was no way he wouldn’t after last night!”

“What was last night?” one of our wingers, Colt, asks.

“Rookie!” I yell, making the throat-slitting motion to Johnny as I start to pull my jersey over my head and remove my shoulder pads. “Nothing was last night.”

Johnny comes up and throws a punch to my shoulder. “Our Cap experienced a ‘Slump Buster.’ Or should I say two—”

“Johnny,” I warn, not wanting my entire team to know their captain participated in a scene with multiple women while a group of strangers watched on.

Colt salutes me, “Thank you for your service, Captain.”

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