Page 68 of Netting the Goalie

Faith smiled.“Glad to hear it.But are you?”

I didn’t even have to think about it.“No.I think I screwed up.”

“Yeah,” Faith nodded.“I’m pretty sure you did.But I don’t think it’s unfixable.”

“We still have the same problem, though.He’s eventually going to leave.”

“And you’ll go with him.And when he’s done playing hockey in ten or fifteen years and you want to come back, then you do.But if you love the guy, and you must because you don’t get this upset over someone you don’t love, then you’ve got to make a choice.”

Faith made it sound so easy.I knew it wasn’t.

I only knew I didn’t want to be on the outside again.

Shane

After spendingtime in the dark room to assess for a concussion, I was pronounced okay to play by the doctor.

Damn right.I’d started this.I was finishing it.

“Guess you really are made of brick.”Jake bumped my shoulder as we lined up for the start of the third period.“You okay?”

“I’m good.Ready to get this done.”

Behind me, the rest of the team shuffled on their skates, sticks tapping.

“She’s here.”Jake leaned in to speak directly into my ear.“In case you wanted to know.”

The music queued up, the fans began to scream and my adrenaline began to pump.I could’ve said it wasn’t because she was watching.I would’ve been lying.

So I turned to Jake and smiled.

“Yes, now that is the face we need.”Jake nodded.“And so we go.”

I shook my helmet into place and led my team out.

I’d win the game and then I’d get the girl.

Seemed like a plan.

Bliss

I gavemy name to the guard at the stairs and practically held my breath.But he didn’t even need to check his list.He just waved me through.

So I could have a momentary panic attack as I walked down the stairs.

What if Jake was wrong?What if Shane didn’t want to see me?

Then why was he sending you the tickets?

Letting him go the first time had been heart-wrenching.If I was wrong about this now, my heart might just break.

Faith had assured me she’d be fine taking a taxi home.So here I stood, smiling at the small talk between the wives and girlfriends but not saying much.I knew most of them by name now and, for the most part, they were sweethearts.

They didn’t say anything about the fact that I hadn’t been here for the past couple of games.They just welcomed me back with smiles and continued on as if nothing had happened.

Which left me alone to gnaw over every little worry.

My head popped up when I heard Chrissy squeak as her boyfriend, forward Colin Johnson, snuck up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

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