Page 42 of Shot to the Hart

“Wanna move out the way, sweetheart?” An older man who reeks of beer says from behind me.

“I’m good, but thanks. I’ll be done here in just a moment. You can clearly see my hands are full,” I throw back at him. Taking my time, wrapping the pretzel carefully in some napkins and sticking it in the smaller empty pocket of the backpack and finally being able to hold Bella and the fries, I walk away then smile at the same old man who I now see is wearing a North Carolina jersey, “Can’t wait to watch my friends kick your ass.”

Following the signs to our section, I make sure to make note of the bathroom and take my time down the steps so I don’t end up falling down them. I flash my tickets at the same young man from earlier and give him a smile.

Stepping into our row, I realize how close we will be to the action of the game. My heart is racing and my palms are sweaty in anticipation of my first live game. I wonder if Maverick is a brute on the ice, he’s such a gentle giant outside of here. I also realize that if we look to our right, the guys will pass right by us to enter the ice.

“Want to sit in your seat and have your fries?”

Bella nods against my neck, but as I go to set her down, I hear, ”Darlin’!”

Looking towards what I’ve learned is the tunnel, I see Maverick in his gear, wet hair, and a huge smile on his face. Holy cow, if the gray sweatpants were hot, his hockey gear issmoldering. The pads adding to his muscular frame, his skates making him three inches taller, his wet hair dripping down his face once again. My spine is tingly and the sweaty palms and racing heart have kicked up a notch.

“Come here. Let me get a picture with my girls wearing my jersey.” My. Girls. Oh my God. That was surely an accident, I’m sure he just meant my girl.

Stumbling over my feet, I make my way to the barrier that sits just above my waistline, handing Arabella over to Maverick so he can hold her for the picture. When I go to walk away, he wraps his arm around my shoulder, pulling me back and closer, and smiling in the direction of Dom who somehow ended up with my phone. I don’t know when I handed that to him, but I did, I guess. Maverick whispers just for me, “You look great in my jersey.”

I bet my cheeks are going to be bright red in these photos.

“Thanks.” I smile, taking Bella back.

“One question,” he asks. This little thing just between us sends butterflies rampant every time.

“One answer.” I grin back at him.

“You’re only going to cheer for me tonight, right?”

Smacking his chest playfully I say, “For you. . .and your team.”

“Fine. That’s acceptable. You guys comfortable in your seats? No one is bothering you right?”

At this moment, Nik appears in the tunnel entrance. “Hart, get your ass in here. We’ve got a game to win.”

“We’ll see you after the game. Good luck!” I rush him off.

“Thanks Kodi!”

“I’ll score a goal for you, pretty girl!” Dom screams at me, making me laugh. Maverick on the other hand, if looks could kill, well. . .Dom would be dead.

We get settled and I get Bella’s headphones on as the music begins to ramp up, letting us know the players are about to skate out. When they do head out, Mav makes one lap, stopping in front of Bella and I, pointing his stick at us. No not us, at her with a hand on his chest. I can’t help but smile back at him.

The arena lights are back to full brightness as Mav and the North Carolina center step up to the line. The ref drops the puck and they spring into action. North Carolina gets possession, but the puck is swiftly stolen by Collins who attempts a pass to the left-winger, but it gets intercepted by number sixty-two on Carolina’s side. The fans wait in anticipation to see if it will get past Dom and the other defenseman. Number eighty-three on Carolina shoves into Dom, knocking him backwards as he attempts to shoot a goal and misses. The Carolina fans boo and the Tampa fans scream at the ref to ‘get his eyes checked’ and to ‘call a penalty’ for allowing the shoving, but the ref ignores the screaming, letting the game continue as it was.

Throughout the next two periods, Collins and Mav pass the puck back and forth with elegance. At one point, Dom ended up in the penalty box for intentionally shoving number eighty-three; the coaches and rest of the team, along with a few fans, began losing their minds over this call after he let eighty-three get away with shoving. During this time, I couldn’t keep my eyes off of Maverick as he carried the puck for a goal, barely relying on the left-winger. Nik has been defending the net with all he’s got. Only letting two pucks past him the whole game, one of those times being when Dom was in the box.

Bella is having the time of her life, squealing and cheering anytime one of her uncles or her Daddy skate by or are on the bench making silly faces at her. I can’t help but join her. The energy is electric in this arena.

Standing with Bella on my hip, I watch in anticipation as, in the last minute of the game, Mav and Collins make theirway down the ice passing the puck back and forth avoiding the Carolina team trying to block their flow with ease. Collins finds a pocket, quickly pushing the puck towards Mav who has an opening on the right side of the net. The timer counts down quickly and in the last five seconds, the puck reaches Mav and he slaps it into the net, bringing home the win. The arena erupts in cheers and boos, and Bella snuggles into me covering her headphones over her ears as the guys huddle around Mav and Collins bumping shoulders and whooping.

25

MAVERICK

MY GIRL

“Huddle up guys!” Nik booms over the noise in the locker room, and we all come together. “Listen, we did great tonight. We need to keep this energy up if we want to make it to the playoffs and the championship. Keep up the good work. Go have fun tonight, but don’t be stupid. I’ll see some of you tonight and some of you back in Florida. Go get showered up fuckers, you stink.”

We break and I rush to get clean and changed. “Someone’s in a hurry.” Nik sits beside me pulling his shoes on.

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