Page 23 of The Goalie

“If he’s as crazy about you as you described, then he’ll be thrilled to see you.”

I think about it for a while. It would be pretty amazing to see Nolan in New York. I know this amazing French restaurant I’d love to take him to.

“You can have my ticket,” Mom says. “It’s a front-row seat.”

“You’d miss the game?”

“For you? Absolutely.” I smile and sink against her as she kisses my forehead. She’s the best mom in the world. “And it’s not like I can see anything anyway. With my luck lately, I’d probably get a puck in the forehead.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I say as I hug her arm.

“No problem, sweetie. And you leave your dad to me. I’ll soften him up to the idea.”

“That’s going to take a lot of work,” I say with a sad laugh.

She grins. “Don’t you ever underestimate my ability to nag. I’m world-class at it.”

I shake my head and smile, hoping she’s right.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Nolan

I’m crouched down in front of the net and stopping puck after puck after puck. They’re coming from everywhere. About two dozen of my teammates are launching pucks at me in the pre-game warmup.

I skate over to the boards and do the splits, stretching my inner thighs as the boys shoot on the open net.

We’re in Madison Square Garden tonight for the first playoff game against the New York Ogres. I’m trying to dial in, but I have Grace on my mind. It’s been three days since I’ve seen her and it’s making me mad. I’ve barely slept. My appetite is gone. All I can think about are those soft lips and that beautiful smile. I can’t believe I forgot to get her damn phone number, what was I thinking?

I wasn’t thinking anything. I was living in the moment, completely transfixed by that beautiful girl.

Yesterday, I was in it so bad, I almost stole the coach’s phone out of his office to look up her number. I talked some sense into myself after the assistant coach caught me with a paperclip in the lock.

Sebastian skates over and starts stretching out his triceps. “You ready for Nikolai?”

Nikolai Kuznetsov. After our own Sebastian Kemp, he’s the league’s top scorer. And he’s currently warming up on the other side of the ice.

“I’m ready,” I say, feeling anything but. This girl has got me thrown off my game. Right now, it feels like Nikolai is going to pick me apart.

“He’s been on fire lately,” Sebastian says as we watch him bounce a puck on his stick like a hacky sack. “He likes the top shelf. Especially on the power play.”

I remember. Last time I played against him, he scored a hat trick on me. That was in my rookie season though. I’ve learned some things since then.

“Watch his wrist,” Sebastian says. “He likes to flick it right before he rips one. He telegraphs it just a bit. And I noticed he tends to overhandle the puck when he's going for that top corner."

“I’ll be ready,” I say as I stretch my leg out. “I’ve been watching his tape.”

I had to do something while I stayed awake all night trying to get my mind off Grace.

“Pressure him into second-guessing himself,” Sebastian says. “Make him think he has to be perfect to beat you. The more he overthinks it, the better.”

I take a deep breath and nod. “Got it.”

“I’ll be covering you,” Sebastian adds, “but it’s you and him out there. He knows who’s in nets and that’ll be in his head. Just trust your instincts.”

He holds out his fist and I bump it with mine. “Let’s put on a show.”

Sebastian grins. “Let’s make it a game they’ll never forget.”

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