Page 48 of Power Play

That first goal has led to way too many penalties that Utah has pulled on us.

When we get another power play, with Kravtsov heading to the box for slashing Drake, I keep my gaze trained on Colt. His anger simmers off of him, with Roman stewing by his side. I know by their body language that they’re going to try to score.

Roman sends the cleared puck up the blue line for Crawford, who pushes off a pass to Colton as he crosses into the Utah zone.It fails; our opponent’s defensemen play great, sending the puck flying to the boards. Fuck. I grip the board harder, pulling my eyebrows together. I hate not being able to do anything to help my team.

When it’s time for our first line to get back on the ice, I stay still, my bottom lip pulled between my teeth. Coach said I should just observe. It’s only preseason, and if everything goes right, I will start just as often as Dale does. I’m counting on it, actually.

I want to play…No, Ineedto play. Hockey is like breathing for me. It’s impossible to imagine my life without it.

Colt skates fast past the boards, his full attention focused ahead of him. I squint, trying to figure out what he has in mind. And then I see it—there’s an open slot in a lane to Crawford. Colt offloads an elevated pass to his right. The puck sears through the air as Crawford drops to one knee and places the puck right behind Utah’s goalie with a precise snap shot.

We’re leading two to zero as the second period ends.

There aretwo minutes left in the third. At the start, right after the teams returned to the ice, Utah was able to pierce our defense and score their first goal. Though it wasn’t two minutes later when Drake, with a powerful slap shot, sent the puck flying across the ice and into Utah’s net, making the score three to one.

That pissed Utah off, and they turned up their five-on-five pressure, forcing us into a turnover, making for some longer shifts and pretty great shots on the net. They are good, I can’t deny that, but, fortunately for my team, our opponent isn’t successful.

The final score stays three to one, and I can’t contain my smug smile for the life of me. We won. My team fucking won.The euphoria of this win is nothing compared to the pure happiness I feel when I think about what this win means.

She’s going on a date with me. A friendly date, if she wants to call it that, but a date nonetheless.

Layla:

Where do you want to go?

Layla:

This little lady is curious

She attachesa photo of her and Maya on the couch.

Me:

It’s a surprise

I pull into my driveway, still thinking about the texts I found on my phone the second I took it out of my locker after the game. A silly smile is on my lips and has been for the whole flight home. Her texts and that cute picture of her and Maya are inked into my brain and stored in a box marked “The most precious memory of my life.”

Now I need to figure out where to take them. Asking Ava for advice seems more than appropriate because she definitely knows the best places in Santa Clara for kids.

Getting out of my car, I hear a door closing and look around. Dylan is coming down the stairs of her house, dressed in a pair of tiny jean shorts and a white crop top. She notices me and waves. “Hey, neighbor!”

“Hey. How are you?” I ask her, taking my bag and stick from the back seat.

“I’m good.” She smiles, coming closer and stopping beside her car. Her blond hair is pulled into a neat bun on top of her head, and there’s zero makeup on her face. “I heard you won. Congratulations.”

“Thanks,” I tell her, grinning. My hand wraps tighter around the strap of my sports bag. “Where are you headed?”

“You’re going to laugh at me.” Dylan pouts. She crosses her legs at her ankles, propping her hip against her car.

“I promise I won’t.”

She flashes me a big, radiant smile, visibly happy with my answer. “Okay, I’ll tell you.” She takes a deep breath. “I’m a terrible friend. I forgot that tomorrow is my friend’s birthday. I’ve been meaning to order her a bouquet for days, and then it slipped my mind. Now I need to figure out where I can buy her something. It obviously won’t be a bouquet, but that’s on me for forgetting to order one in time.”

I watch her in silence. The wheels in my head are slowly turning. If I bring Layla a new client, it sure will make her happy. And happy Layla is exactly what I want.

“You know, Dylan, it’s your lucky day. Or more like a lucky evening.”

“Why?” She arches one eyebrow at me.

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