Page 143 of Released from the Sin Bin

“Carter, thank god.” Willa gasps as I swing the door open. She jumps up from her seat and wraps her arms around my neck.

“I’m sorry I ran out, but I had to finish this.” I squeeze her tight before letting go.

Her hands caress my jaw as she lifts to her toes and presses a sweet kiss on my lips.

Coach Renan clears his throat to get our attention and break up the moment. “Want to tell me why you’re barging into my office and not getting dressed?”

“I know I missed practice, and I can’t play today.” I rush into my spiel. “I’m sorry I screwed up, but I’d like to be on the bench or…” I stop to realize what he said. “You want me to get dressed?”

“Family emergencies happen.” He shrugs.

Willa smiles up at me from her spot back on the chair.

“But if you don’t get out of here to warm up, I will bench you.” Coach points out toward the locker room. “As long as you keep your attitude in check and aren’t a complete goon, you can still start.”

“Thank you.” I stumble out the door. “You won’t regret it,” I shout over my shoulder and rush to the locker room. I stand in front of my locker cubby without thinking of the gear and clothes I left in my room, but it’s all here.

“Willa brought it all in.” Gentry slaps my shoulder. “Are you ready for this?”

“More than I’ve ever been.”

The tension and pain I carried on my chest has been lifted. All the memories are still there, but I can move on. Knowing that gives me the feeling that I can do anything.

Willa checks in on me while we come out for warmups. She found Braydon and my mom at Creed’s cabin. They had filled her in on what I found out.

Warming up, I take a few shots and work on passes with guys and then stretch out any tight muscles to get ready. Bray kneels down to stretch next to me.

“Cameras?” I question him. I had no idea he had set up tiny cameras around the house. He was secretly planning for something to happen.

“I did it for mom, not you.” Right, because once I left, it would be just him and her. Bray was protecting mom. We both were in our own way. “Are you going to screw up this game for us?”

“I guess we’ll find out.” I nudge his face with my glove as I switch legs.

“Fucker,” he grumbles as he picks himself back up, biting his lip to try not to smile.

He feels it too. We’re both free.

The game starts and I’m eager to get out there.

“C’mon boys,” I shout to encourage the team, leaning on the wall when the puck drops.

We get control on the onset, but the Sharks are a tough team and take it back. Play moves from one zone to the other with several blocked shots and stolen passes.

Coach is putting off letting me in and I don’t blame him. The guys are playing great, keeping the puck out from in front of the net and taking as many shots as they can.

“Carter, you’re in.” Willa slaps my shoulder when Coach signals to her.

We have two minutes left in the second period, and I jump the wall as soon as I see the puck coming by.

Pumping my legs, I ram into our opponent. Checking him down and freeing the puck for Alex to take.

Alex flies down with two men at his heels. He winds back, shoots, and bounces off the goalie’s pad. I come up from behind him, bumping my shoulder into our opponent who taps the puck. Reaching out my stick, I get under it and tip it up and over into the back of the net. It wasn’t pretty, but it’s a goal.

The guys crowd around, and Willa cheers me on from the bench. Our celebration doesn’t last long when the Sharks score on the next play to end the period in a tie.

The locker room is quiet as we all relax and prepare for the next period. The coaches come to collect us when it’s time to go back out, giving us words of encouragement. I hang back. Willa stands at the end, patting the guys’ shoulders as they pass.

With my gloves off, I grab her up into my arms and mold my lips onto hers.

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