Page 69 of Power Forward

Kendrick is the first to skate over and uses his stick to push Blaine. Then, once he’s spinning around in a circle on the ice, he does the same to Elliot.

“Sometimes I wonder if I run a daycare,” Coach grumbles under his breath.

I look at Peyton. “You wanna join in, don’t you?”

“I really do,” he laughs. “It sucks being the responsible adult—” I choke a laugh. “Hey! I am!”

“If you say so, bud.”

But before Peyton can skate over, Coach blows his whistle again. “Hit the showers. Don’t forget, we’re heading out on the toy drive this afternoon. So be out by the bus in thirty minutes.” He taps his stick on the ice before leaving the ice.

I head into the locker room to shower and get dressed in jeans and a team-branded hoodie. The Chicago Thunder Foundation does a toy drive every year where we buy gifts for children in the Chicagoland area who are spending the holidays in the hospital. We’re split into groups and given a list and an age range, and then we have to fill our carts with gifts that fit the demographic.

It’s one of my favorite things to do. Knowing we can puta smile on kids’ faces. I always donate outside of the foundation too, but I do that away from the team.

Forty minutes later, we’re wearing fresh jerseys, and I’m paired up with Zach. We have our list, and we’re buying for ages five to seven.

“I didn’t realize there were so many Barbies,” Zach announces, gaping at the entire aisle filled with Barbies.

“Oh yeah. I’m pretty sure Isabela has more than this. She likes to leave them on the stairs sometimes.”

He laughs. “And I bet you find them early in the morning when you’re half-asleep and bare-footed?”

“You got it.”

We take a side each and pick out the listed amount of Barbies and place them in the cart.

“What are your plans for the holidays? Are you able to see Carter?” I ask.

“Yeah, he’s flying in on the twenty-third. He has a game the night before, then he needs to be back on the twenty-sixth, but I’ll take any time I can get with him.” He shoves his hands into his pockets. “How about you? What have you got planned?”

We’re less than two weeks away from Christmas, and I haven’t done any shopping. My mom has picked up some gifts for me, but I haven’t had the chance to go anywhere. Or even buy a tree.

Jesus. I’m really slacking this year.

I want to ask Hayden to stay for Christmas. We can put up the tree together with the kids. Maybe decorate a gingerbread house together. We can head downtown and go gift shopping, as long as he isn’t in too much pain. Then, we canwrap them up in front of the fire with a glass of wine. Maybe the wrapping turns into kissing.

An image of Hayden’s face appears in my mind, lit up by the soft glow of the tree lights, making his gray eyes sparkle. My heart does a flip in my chest. Fuck, I love him so much. If there was a Santa in here, I’d ask if I could sit on his knee, and my one wish would be,Can I keep Hayden?

But there is no Santa. Just my teammate watching me with a perplexed expression, waiting for me to reply.

“I, uh, haven’t figured it out,” I say, running a hand through my hair. “Haven’t really had a chance to think about it with hockey and sorting Isabela’s support groups out.”

We chat as we make our way around the store, stopping to pose for photos and film clips for the team’s social media. Then we round the next aisle and almost collide with the twins. Elliot’s sitting in the cart, toys piled on top of him.

“I fuckin’ love doing this!” He beams, then holds up aStar WarsDarth Vader mask. “Hey, Zach, look!” He holds it up to his face and quotes the iconic Darth Vader“I am your father”line.

“I’m terrified,” Zach deadpans, but his lips twitch with a smile.

“I know, right!” Elliot grins. “I love shopping for gifts.”

“It’s true,” Blaine chimes in, passing a few more things to Elliot to put inside the cart. “If you ever need someone to get you a gift, ask this guy.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I chuckle.

“You guys almost done?”

“Yeah, just a few more things to get.” Zach waves the laminated sheet we were given.

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