Page 24 of Stick By Me

ARCHER

Aweek of practices, studying and texting Leo had gone by, and we were in Fairbanks, Alaska, with a second win against the Nanooks in our sights. As I sat on the bench, waiting for another turn on the ice, I focused on the puck, on Hopkins running it down the ice and into the Nanook defensive zone. Hopkins passed the puck to Jonah, and he shot.

The goalie dropped, catching the puck with his shin pad. “You need to do better than that.” With a quick laugh, he passed it to his left winger.

The winger flung the puck down the ice, missing his center, the puck heading all the way into our defensive zone and the ref blew a whistle for icing.

“Go on.” Coach Hammett touched my shoulder, and I high tailed it off the bench, jumping over the boards, my skates hitting hard, then took off toward the Nanook defensive zone and the impending faceoff.

Barrett skated past me, the guy I replaced. “Just own the puck and play out the clock.”

I nodded at him. I knew that, but whatever.

We prepared for the faceoff, everyone taking positions in case Hopkins got the puck.

Hopkins placed his stick on the ice, facing the other center, bending down low.

Dropping the puck, the ref skated back and out of the way.

The scratch of blades on ice filled my senses and Hopkins pulled out, looked straight at me, and flicked his stick. We’d practiced this a million times. Sending it to a D-man wouldn’t necessarily be expected.

I grabbed the puck, skated it closer to the net, then my gaze caught Jonah in perfect position. I shot the puck his way.

As the puck ricocheted off Jonah’s stick, the goalie reacted, throwing his body every which way.

The puck slid in, just under the goalie’s ass and the buzzer went off, the red light flashing above the net.

“Holy fuck! Nice one, Carlson!” Hopkins barreled into me and wrapped me up in a hug. “That’s how it’s done.” He freed me.

I flashed a glance at Coach Hammett, the hint of a smile on his lips.

Taking up my position in the defensive zone, my heart warmed. Dad was wrong, I might play in the NHL someday after all. I could hope. I glanced at a camera sitting on top of the glass. Was Leo watching the Livestream of the game? He’d watched last night’s game, so maybe. I hoped he’d seen that shot. Now I had someone to play for.

After winningthe game two to one, showering, eating with the team, and making our way to our hotel room, I collapsed onto my back on one bed with Jonah sitting on the other. I’d had a few text messages from Leo, but wanted to wait to read through them until I got to the room. I wanted to savor them. Crawling to my headboard, I leaned my back against it and opened my screen.

Leo

You guys are playing great tonight. I’m watching with Remy.

Leo

Oh my God, great assist! It doesn’t get any better than that.

Leo

Miss you. I hope you’re enjoying your wins. Ended up going to a Knot Me show last night. It would have been better with you.

Miss you. God damn, I missed him, too. I missed the way his mouth felt on mine, the give of his lips. I tilted the phone, re-reading all the messages. Was it too late there to call him? It was Saturday night, so fuck no.

I scrolled up on my phone, rereading all the other messages we’d sent each other over the past week.

Leo

How was your day? Did you get your studying done?

Archer

It was great and yes. How was yours?

---