Page 64 of The Game

My eyes are tracking every single play, even as we have this conversation. I gasp when our defense drops the ball and Chicago gets a solid shot in. The breath of relief I take when JJ stops it is echoes down the bench and throughout the stands.

“I carried my entire team last year. I have no problem doing it again.”

Maybe that’s the root of the problem. He was allowed to dominate, and he learned to do it. He’s not used to playing on a team or trusting the other guys. Fuck. Who am I to be giving this fucker advice? I’ve been doing the same thing since I joined the team. Maybe not trying to snag the glory for myself, but definitely light on the trust.

“Maybe so, but that will not cut it if you want to go pro. I know you can do it. You’ve got the eye and the passing skills. Just please try. We need this.”

He sighs, smacking his thigh. “Fine.”

Thank fuck. Not sure if he’ll actually take that agreement out onto the ice, but I can dream.

When we get called back out, I glance over at my new good luck charm one more time. I’ve always played for myself. Maybe for my team too in the before times, but I’ve never played for someone else. Now seeing Jazz sitting there waving at me with a huge smile on her gorgeous face, I find I want to play for her. Look at all the epic shit she’s doing for her charity event. If she can do that, then I have no excuse for not playing my best. After all, this is the thing I live for. The thing I’ve was born for. The thing that ignites that same passion under my skin that I see when she talks about her business plans.

I put every ounce of my speed into my blades, pushing off to clear the pack and give myself an opening. Hail races toward me with the puck and I can see the indecision on his face. He really wants to take the shot, but he’s got two D-men on him.Don’t fucking do it. I try to send the message through my glare.

I slam my stick into the ice as another player races toward me. Every second counts in this game and if he doesn’t send it my way, I’m going to lose my clear shot.

I shake my head at him, but he comes through, sending the puck my way. Goalie is better on his glove side, so I go stick side skating the edge between sneaking it into the net and slamming it off the bar. My gamble pays off as it slips past him, lighting up the net and the arena.

Everyone is on their feet, screaming my name. My teammates pile onto me and even Hail looks grudgingly happy. When it comes right down to it, all we want is to win. All of us. It doesn’t matter who scores the goal and who gets the assist.

I pump my fist in the air and search for my girl again, pointing my stick at her to let her know that one was for her and her alone.

“Good job.” Beau claps me on the back, and the game starts up again because it’s not over until the bitter end. Anything could happen and we can’t let one goal make us cocky.

My goal boosted our morale and possibly it’s shaken our opponents as well. Grant snags another goal within the next few minutes and then there’s a bitter fight to keep the game in our favor.

Chicago fights hard, but with only thirty seconds left on the clock, Hail gets his chance for glory, skating behind the net and leaving himself nice and open for a rebound shot. Grant sendsit pinging off the bar and Hail snags it, shooting it back in for our fourth goal of the game and a resounding win.

This is what I’m talking about.

The crowd absolutely loses it, thumping and chanting for their home team. We pile on for a congratulatory hug before skating off to celebrate the turning point in our season.

Everyone has already cleared out of the dressing room, and I’m anxious as fuck to take off. I want to see if Jazz is waiting out there for me. It feels like too much to ask for, but since we are still maintaining this fake relationship thing, I figure she might show up for me. But Beau asked me to hang back a bit, so here I am sitting on the bench, knee bouncing as Dev takes his sweet ass time leaving.

I spring up as soon as the door swings shut behind him.

“What’s up, Captain?” His hand falls on my shoulder as I stride off to wear down the floor.

“I just wanted to tell you that you’re doing a great job with Hail. I’m not sure what you’ve been up to, but it looks like it’s working.”

While I appreciate the compliment, I feel like it’s not deserved. “He definitely wasn’t hitting it during the first two periods. I can’t say anything I’m doing is working on that guy.”

He pulls on my shoulder to turn me toward him. “Don’t dismiss your progress. I heard you talking to him during second period, and it definitely woke him up. You were both playing better by the end of the game, and did you see the effect it had on the rest of the guys? The entire team played better when you guys were working together.”

He has a point. My jitters ease as I look him in the eyes. He still seems a little on edge. There’s some tension creating lines beside his mouth, but I’m glad I could do my part and take a little of the weight off his shoulders. I nod. “I’ve been trying. I’m glad we pulled it off. It feels good to be on a functional team again.” I pause, weighing my words. This shit is hard to talk about. “I don’t think I realized how disconnected I was last year.”

White teeth flash through his movie star smile. “About fucking time, man. I knew you had it in you.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“You’ve been doing much better since you got with Jazz. I think she might be a keeper.”

I glance around, even though everyone else filed out ages ago. “Well, I’m not so sure anything’s going to come of that.”

“What are you talking about? Are you fucking around on her?” The captain looks perturbed by the idea. Not sure what he’s so pissed at. I’ve never seen him with a girl more than a few times.

“No. It’s just…” I can’t help searching the corners of the locker room again. “It’s not real.”

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