Page 118 of Pucking Amazing

I’m definitely not mentally prepared to face DJ and Tyler so soon.

“I can’t do this,” I protest. “Not after my resignation, the way I left things with the guys...”

“Yes you can,” Selena insists, bodily pushing me out of the car. “It’ll be good for you! Look, Emma and everyone is here for you!”

My mind still reeling, I glance over to see Emma waving excitedly, flanked by my former coworkers decked out in team jerseys. Their joyful smiles make my heart swell.

Maybe I can do this. For them.

“We’re going,” Selena states, tugging me toward the entrance. “Those boys need to see the confident, sexy Sydney I know is in there.” She winks. Well, that explains the shopping spree…

I take a deep breath, squaring my shoulders. I guess I can’t avoid DJ and Tyler forever. And seeing my friends’ support…

I feel a flicker of my old fearless self coming back.

“Fine, let’s go,” I declare, allowing Selena to lead me inside.

The Blizzards hit the ice with explosive energy, skating and passing with lightning speed. I rise to my feet along with the rest of the roaring crowd as the puck drops. Slade snags it and takes off down the rink like a shot, weaving between defenders with fluid grace.

My eyes dart to the bench, searching for DJ’s familiar smirk and swagger, but his spot is glaringly empty.

An uneasy feeling twists in my stomach.

For DJ to miss a critical playoff game, something must be seriously wrong. Is his knee acting up again? Did he injure himself worse?

I chew my lip anxiously as my gaze returns to the frenetic action on the ice. The Blizzards are playing like men possessed, forechecking aggressively and peppering the opposing team’s goalie with blistering slapshots.

The arena buzzes with energy—the fans can sense that this team is on a mission tonight.

Slade fires a shot that pings off the crossbar. The crowd groans in unison. I’m only half-watching the game, my mind churning with concern for DJ.

I sigh and turn my attention back to the ice, trying to lose myself in the drama of the game, rejoicing every time Tyler gets another amazing block in.

As the second period winds down, the Blizzards are clinging to a precarious 2-1 lead. The intermission buzzer sounds and I slump back in my seat, exhaling deeply.

“You okay, Syd?” Selena asks, her brow furrowed with concern. “You seem distracted.”

I force a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just...wondering where DJ is, I guess.”

Selena nods knowingly. “I’m sure your boy will make a dramatic entrance any minute now. He always did have a flair for theatrics.”

I roll my eyes but can’t help the small grin tugging at my lips. She has DJ read. Suddenly, the arena lights dim and a hush falls over the crowd. I sit up straighter, craning my neck to see what’s happening.

The Blizzards are skating back out onto the ice, but instead of taking their positions, they start gliding into some kind of...formation? Murmurs of confusion ripple through the stands.

I squint, trying to make out what they’re doing.

Then the jumbotron flickers to life and a collective gasp echoes around me. The camera pans out to an aerial view and my jaw drops. The players have arranged their bodies to spell out three letters:

SYD

My name, splashed across the ice in human form. Heat rushes to my cheeks and I bury my flaming face in my hands, unable to process what I’m seeing.

This can’t be real.

“Sydney, look!” Selena grabs my arm, yanking my hands away. She points to the jumbotron, where a new message is flashing:

“WE LOVE YOU SYDNEY!”

---