Page 127 of My Pucked Up Enemy

Just before bed, I send Alex a text.

Let’s win it all.

About thirty seconds later he replies.

Together.

Chapter thirty-four

Alex

“Tonight’sthenightwecan make history, boys.”

James is already pacing in front of the whiteboard, stick in hand like it’s a mic. “You know what this smells like?”

“Victory?” Mikey offers, mouth full of protein bar.

James grins. “Smells like champagne, baby.”

Ethan leans over, whispering to his stick. “Don’t worry. You do your job, I’ll do mine.”

Connor glances over at Mikey and grins. "Hey, your socks match your underwear today?"

Mikey smirks without missing a beat. "You know it. Full set. Performance gear, baby. Can’t lose when everything's coordinated."

Parker’s calm, lacing up his skates methodically. “Let him chirp. You all know the drill. Keep it clean, sharp, and relentless.”

Coach Derek steps into the room. Instantly, the banter dies. He doesn’t have to yell. He never does.

“This isn’t just about lifting a trophy,” he says, eyes scanning each one of us. “It’s about every hour we’ve bled for this moment. Don’t play safe. Play real.”

There’s a pulse in the air. Something electric. I feel it running through my veins as I pull on my mask. I close my eyes for half a second.

Control what you can. Let go of what you can’t.

Nina’s voice is steady in my head.

I nod once, to no one, and stand. It’s Go Time.

***

The arena is thunderous. Full sellout. Fans shaking the glass. Drums pounding. Horns blaring. If the world ends tonight, it’ll sound like this.

Puck drops. Game 6. Stanley Cup Finals. Acers vs. Edmonton. Acers are up 3-2 in the series. If we win tonight, it's all over.

Connor wins the faceoff clean. James grabs it, bolts down the wing. He dekes the defenseman out of his skates, cuts in, fires…

GOAL.

Top shelf.

“Let’s fucking go!” James yells, gliding past our bench with both fists raised.

The crowd detonates. The horn blasts like a cannon. 1–0 Acers.

But the lead doesn’t last.

Oilers answer with a breakaway. Their center finds a seam, breaks through untouched. I square up, drop low, but he lifts it just over my blocker.

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