Page 16 of Playoff

She was the perfect girl for me.

And I’d thrown it—and her—away.

Then I’d gone on to college and fucked around way too much.

I won’t do that again.

I may have blown my shot with Rowan, but I’ll be damned if I fuck up a chance like this with the Phantoms.

I turn back to Rowan, but she’s gone, sitting with Bristol, her back to me.

It’s probably for the best.

I have to get my head in the game, and thinking about her is a distraction I don’t need.

FIVE

Rowan

The Phantoms haven’t madethe playoffs since I’ve worked for the team, and I’ve only been an assistant trainer up until now.

Tonight, I’m in charge.

Of the players’ health, safety, and any injuries that crop up during the game. We have an intern back in L.A., but she doesn’t travel with the team, and I probably should have asked for her to be flown out. It’s too late now since the guys just got on the ice, but I make a mental note to talk to Harper about it after the game.

The guys look good out there, though, and I watch the game progressing with interest. Coach Vanek put Blake on the third line with Burke Marcetti and Austin Gerard. Warren took Ivan’s place on the first line and Dylan is on the fourth line, so they’ve rounded out the team nicely.

It’s not the same, though.

The dynamic is slightly different without guys like Marty and Ivan, who are leaders on the ice, if not the locker room. AndJensen is the team captain, so his loss is bigger than just his massive body knocking people around out there.

The crowd is subdued as they take a moment to wish the players who were hurt in the accident well, and then they’re off and running. Alaska’s a good team, obviously, or they wouldn’t be here, but tonight they’re on fire. Gabe is the main reason we’re still in it and there’s no doubt Coach Vanek is irritated when the Blizzard scores their second goal in less than five minutes.

Normally, I stay focused on what the players need, but everything is different for this game. Partially because Blake is here—and I’m hyperaware of his presence—but also because of the change in personnel and the fact that I’m in charge tonight. Just me.

I take a moment to watch Blake fly down the ice.

He’s fast, and tonight he’s not holding back. I don’t know what coaches and scouts see, but I see a guy who works hard and is playing the game of his life. He doesn’t always look like this. I’ve watched enough of his games to know he gets lazy and sluggish sometimes. But not tonight.

No, the Blake out there tonight came to prove himself.

And despite how much he hurt me, I’m happy for him.

This is what he always dreamed of way back in high school. This is what he talked about when we would lie on the ground and count stars in the sky. When we were young and in love and finding ourselves. We had so many dreams then.

Why am I thinking about ancient history?

I turn my focus back to the game, putting Blake out of my mind.

Except he’s on the ice again, skating like someone’s chasing him. It’s truly a beautiful sight. Watching him play is what made me fall in love with hockey. I’d almost forgotten how much I enjoyed seeing him on the ice.

Suddenly there’s a collision and I nearly gasp as I watch the blade from the Blizzard’s defenseman slice across Blake’s cheek.

He bends over, holding his face, and the play is stopped.

“He’s bleeding,” Coach Vanek says under his breath unnecessarily.

Shit.

---