Page 31 of They All Puck Me

Chapter 13- Rodeo

13

LIAM

Two minutes left in the last period . The scoreboard blinks, mocking us with its tie. This game rides on a promising position in the playoffs, and there's no way in hell I’m letting the team down.

“Noah!” I bark, eyes scanning the ice. He’s fast, but their defense is on him like white on rice. I see an opening and take it.

The opposing forward barely registers my presence before I slam him into the boards. The crunch of impact reverberates through my bones, but I barely feel it. The puck wobbles free, spinning like a top on the ice.

“Got it!” Noah shouts, his voice cutting through the chaos.

I send the puck flying in his direction with a sharp flick of my stick. It skims across the ice, smooth as butter, landing right at Noah’s skates.

He doesn’t waste a second. Noah’s always been lightning fast; he snatches the puck and charges down the rink. Their goalie braces himself, eyes wide behind his mask.

“Take the shot!” I roar, adrenaline coursing through me like fire.

Noah doesn’t hesitate. He winds up and unleashes a blistering slap shot that sails past the goalie’s outstretched glove and hits the back of the net with a satisfying clang.

The crowd erupts in a deafening roar. I can feel the vibrations from their cheers as I skate over to Noah, slapping him on the back. “Hell yeah! That’s how you do it!”

Noah grins, breathless but elated. “Thanks man. That pass was perfect.”

“Don’t sell yourself short,” I reply, shaking my head. “That shot was pure magic.”

We skate back to our bench amidst a sea of high-fives and shoulder pats from our teammates. Coach Bergman’s face is a mix of relief and pride as he claps us both on the shoulders.

“You two saved our asses out there,” he says gruffly. “Let’s finish this strong.”

The final seconds tick down agonizingly slow as we defend our lead with every ounce of energy we have left. When the buzzer finally sounds, signaling our victory, it feels like a weight lifting off my shoulders.

“Playoffs, baby!” Noah shouts, throwing his arms around me in a bear hug.

I laugh, shoving him playfully away. “Damn right! We did it!”

As we celebrate on the ice, my eyes scan the stands for Olivia. She’s there, notebook clutched to her chest, her face lit up with excitement. Our gazes lock for a brief moment before she starts scribbling furiously again.

I look to my right, and Noah stands just as tall, eyes towards the prize. The prize being Olivia Lutz.

The locker room buzzes with post-victory energy. High-fives, slaps on the ass, and shouts of “Hell yeah!” fill the air. The guys are on a high, and so am I. But duty calls.

“Liam, press conference in five,” Coach Bergman says, clapping me on the shoulder.

I nod, making my way through the throng of jubilant teammates. The adrenaline is still pumping through my veins as I step into the press room. Flashbulbs pop and journalists murmur amongst themselves, waiting for their chance to pounce.

The questions come fast and hard. “Liam, how do you feel about tonight’s win?”

“Feels damn good,” I say with a grin. “The team played their hearts out.”

“What was going through your mind during those last two minutes?”

“Win at all costs,” I reply, leaning into the mic. “Noah’s goal was a game-changer.”

A few more questions about strategy and future games fly my way. I answer them all, keeping my responses short and to the point. My eyes scan the room until they land on Olivia. She’s at the back, notebook ready, her green eyes locked on me.

When the press conference wraps up, I make a beeline for her. “Olivia,” I say, sidling up next to her as she packs up her things.

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