Page 76 of They All Puck Me

The horn blares and we swarm together in celebration as fans scream themselves hoarse above us.

The game clock ticks down to the final seconds, the score tied 3-3. Sweat trickles down my face, but I barely notice. My entire focus is on the puck sliding under my stick, the thundering roar of the crowd fading into background noise.

I weave through defenders with practiced agility, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline as I move. One of their defensemen lunges at me, but I sidestep him easily.

The puck sails across the ice, and Ethan winds up for a slapshot that looks like it might tear the net apart. Less than a second on the clock, everything hinges on this.

"Ethan, now!" I yell, my voice barely cutting through the chaos.

He unleashes the shot, his stick slicing through the air with a blistering crack. The arena falls silent, the puck soaring in slow motion. My heart stops. Everyone's eyes are glued to that small black disk.

The puck hits the back of the net just as the buzzer sounds. The silence shatters into deafening cheers. We’ve done it. We’ve fucking done it.

"Yeah!" Liam roars, pumping his fist in the air.

I skate over to Ethan, grinning like an idiot. "Hell of a shot, Reynolds!"

He nods, still catching his breath but smirking back. "Couldn't have done it without you two."

We pull Liam into our huddle, helmets knocking together as we celebrate like maniacs. The crowd’s roar is a wall of sound that vibrates through my bones. I glance up at the stands and spot Olivia, her face glowing with excitement and pride. Our eyes meet for a split second before she’s swept up in the euphoria around her.

The crowd’s roar vibrates through my bones as we untangle ourselves from the celebratory mob. Ethan's eyes flicker towards the stands where Olivia is cheering like she’s one of us. She catches our gaze and gives a small, proud nod.

Liam catches my eye again, smirking. "You see her, she's fucking glowing."

"Yeah, as she should be" I respond, feeling a strange mix of pride and longing.

In that moment of unspoken understanding among us all—amidst the noise and chaos of victory—I realize this is just another beginning.

30

ETHAN

Itighten my laces, each tug grounding me. The locker room buzzes with a mix of nerves and anticipation, the air thick with the scent of sweat and determination. I glance around at my teammates, each one lost in their own pre-game rituals. Liam’s voice cuts through the din, steady and commanding.

“Alright, boys, listen up!” Liam stands in the center, eyes sharp as ever. “This is it. Last game of the Stanley Cup Finals. We’ve worked our asses off to get here. Let’s not screw it up now.”

Noah chuckles from his spot on the bench, tapping his stick against his shin guards. “Yeah, Ethan, try not to get another penalty in the first five minutes.”

I smirk, adjusting my helmet. “Don’t worry about me, kid. Just make sure you’re in position when I pass you the puck.”

Noah grins back. “Deal.”

Liam nods approvingly, a rare smile tugging at his lips. “That’s what I like to hear. Focused and ready.”

We're just about to head out to the ice to warm up when the locker room door swings open. Olivia steps in, her presence like a breath of fresh air cutting through the thick tension. Her eyes find mine first, and a jolt of something warm and fierce hits me straight in the chest.

“Hey, guys,” she says, her voice a mix of nerves and excitement. “Just wanted to wish you all luck tonight.”

Noah is the first to respond, flashing that boyish grin of his. “Thanks, Liv. We’ll need it if Ethan doesn’t start another fight in the first period.”

I roll my eyes but can’t help smirking. “Keep talking, Kane. Maybe I’ll aim for you instead.”

Olivia laughs, the sound light and genuine. She walks over to Liam next, who’s standing by his locker with that intense look he always has before a game.

“You’ve got this, Liam,” she says softly, touching his arm. “Lead them to victory.”

Liam nods, his blue eyes locking onto hers for a moment longer than necessary. “Thanks, Olivia. We’ll make it happen.”

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