Page 53 of Netting the Goalie

“No problem.”Stanton turned back to his locker and began pulling on his pads.“When you get back, tell Coach Scott I said hello.”

That’s right.Stanton had been the Redtails top goalie before being called up to the Colonials two years ago.

“I will.”

“Good.”A voice came from the door.“You’re here early.You and me are gonna spend a little time together this morning.I caught up on your tapes last night.Got a few things to go over.Get dressed and I’ll see you on the ice.”

I turned to see goalie coach Gary Ellis.The five-foot-eight bulldog had produced some of the best net minders in the league.A former goalie, he had a Stanley Cup ring and a reputation for being gruff, uncompromising and arguably the best ever.

Then he disappeared back into the hall.

And I took a deep breath.And another.

Then I started to shed my clothes so I could get ready for my first practice in the NHL.

Bliss

“Lissy,hurry up, the game’s starting!”

“I’m coming, Mike.And my apartment’s not that big.You don’t have to yell.Besides, the game doesn’t start for another half hour.”

“Yeah, but they’re talking about the players and they might say something about Shane.”

My heart fluttered at the thought.I was so damn excited for him.

And so damn sorry for myself.Something I would never admit to anyone else.

As I sat next to my brother on the couch in front of the TV, listening to Mike’s almost breathless chatter about everything from how the Redtails’ uniforms used the same colors as the Colonials to the way the announcers were dressed.

“And with Gragnani out, backing up Stanton tonight will be Shane Conrad, brought up this morning from the AHL Reading Redtails.”

As Mike let out a whoop, I turned up the volume to make sure we didn’t miss anything.

“Conrad’s been having a great year but I doubt we’ll get to see him at all tonight as Stanton will be in net…”

And that was all they heard about Shane.But I couldn’t help the tears that pooled in my eyes hearing his name.I actually had to take a deep breath and hoped like hell that Mike wouldn’t look over and see me trying to brush the tears away.

Damn it.I’d broken my own damn rule.

That whole not-getting-involved thing?Hadn’t really worked, had it?

Now I had no one to blame but myself.

And what if he’s the one?

I slid a glance at Mike.What happened if Shane and I actually did try to make a relationship work?His career might take him anywhere in North America.What happened to me when he got called up?If they traded him to Winnipeg or Los Angeles or Dallas?

Did I give up my apartment, my job, my life and follow him?

And aren’t you jumping ahead of yourself?The guy hasn’t even asked you move in with him, much less spend the rest of your life with him?

And was that part of the problem?Is that what I expected him to do?Is it what I wanted?

Maybe I needed to figure that out for myself first.

Bliss

“Hey,Bliss.I’ll be home tonight.I missed you.What are you doing for dinner?I’d really like to see you.”

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