Page 1 of The Love Trick

Chapter One

Blaze

GameSeven.Thisisit.

I tug at my laces, tightening them for the umpteenth time in anticipation. The atmosphere in the locker room is electric as we prepare to take the ice for the most important game of our lives.

I steal a glance at Cam, his jaw set in determination as he nods at me. “You ready, Blaze?”

I smirk. “Born ready.”

The Stanley Cup gleams in the distance, a tantalizing reminder of what we’ve been fighting for all season. And now it all comes down to this final showdown.

It’s our turn to raise the Cup.

“You guysbetterbe ready,” Kade adds, closing his locker. “We didn’t claw our way back from 3-0 for nothing. Let’s finish this thing.”

“Oh, we’re finishing it alright,” Dylan interjects before looking toward Cam with a smirk. “Just try not to punch anyfansin the face this time.”

The tension in the room eases as we share a collective laugh.

“Hey, that guy had it coming,” Cam retorts. “And I still don’t regret it.”

The memory of Cam jumping to my defense last season after a fan insulted me floods back into my mind. The guydidhave it coming. And it really should’ve beenmewho decked him in the face.

But Cam got there first.

The repercussions were harsh. Cam faced criticism, fines, and backlash from the media. But to me, it only solidified what I already knew: he’s more than a teammate; he’s family.

All these guys are.

“Alright, boys. This is your moment.” Coach Wilson’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “Tonight, we make history. Let’s go!”

The roar of the crowd vibrates through the arena as we step onto the ice. The stadium is packed to the brim, every seat filled with eager fans waving banners and wearing team colors.

I scan the crowd, looking for my best friend who, outside of my teammates, is the only family I have. And sure enough, there she is, sitting in the stands, her platinum blonde hair shining under the stadium lights. She’s looking beautiful as ever, wearing my jersey and a proud smile on her face. When our eyes meet, she holds up a homemade sign that reads, “Go, Blaze! Bring it home!”

My heart swells with gratitude. Addy’s been my rock throughout my entire hockey career—she’s never missed a home game in all the years I’ve played for the Atlanta Glaciers.

With her unwavering support and love, I feel invincible.

And tonight is just as much for her as it is for me.

When the puck finally drops, the crisp sound echoes off the ice as we explode into action.

The game is fast-paced and intense, and we fight relentlessly for every inch of ice. Midway through the second period, Cam steals the puck and speeds toward the goal. He dekes past the defense and sends a rocket of a shot flying straight into the top corner of the net.

Yes! Let’s gooooo!

The arena erupts into chaos, the crowd on their feet screaming and cheering as the scoreboard lights up 1-0, marking the first goal of the game.

Our opponents do not back down.

The rest of the period and into the third is a grueling battle that pushes us to our limits. Every second feels like an eternity as we defend our slim lead.

Lucky for us, Kade is a wall of steel in front of the net, making impressive save after save and keeping our hope alive.

As the clock ticks down to the final seconds, everyone is on their feet, holding their breath in anticipation.

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