Page 60 of Cross Checks

Chapter18

Hank

The crowd in the arena buzzed with anticipation. My breath kept catching in my throat. It was the night of Chase’s last Cold Pines Cougars hockey game before leaving for Florida. The home fans came out in force to bid their hero farewell. As a minor league town, they’d seen many players pass through on their way to the NHL, but it was always hard to see them go.

I thought back to earlier in the day. We spent most of the morning packing in Chase’s apartment.

We found ourselves surrounded by so many different pieces of his life, each item representing a story or memory.

I picked up a framed photo from the coffee table, one of Chase in his Cougars uniform, mid-game, intensity etched on his face.

"Remember this game?" I asked, holding the photo out to him.

Chase glanced over, and a soft smile appeared on his face. "How could I forget? That was the game where we clinched the playoffs last season. Felt like the whole town was cheering us on."

I placed the photo gently into a box labeled “Memories.” Nearby, a bunch of hockey memorabilia lay in a haphazard pile—pucks, jerseys, and various awards. Each item spoke of Chase's dedication and passion for the game.

"Hey, look at this," he said, pulling a puck from the pile. "My first goal with the Cougars." He turned it over in his hands, nostalgia flickering in his eyes. "Feels like a lifetime ago."

I watched him as a mix of emotions played across his face—pride, joy, and a little sadness. "You've come a long way since then," I said, moving closer to him.

He nodded, placing the puck into the box before picking up a jersey. "And this... this was from my first season. I was so green and thought I knew everything about hockey. When Coach Hoss joined the team, he set me straight.”

I chuckled, remembering the stories he had told me about those early days. "You were a bit of a hotshot."

"A bit?" Chase laughed, shaking his head. "I was a total hotshot. I thought everything centered on the game, but this team and this town taught me so much more. It’s also about community and being part of something bigger than myself."

I reached for another item, a photo of Chase with his teammates, arms slung around each other, wide grins on their faces. "You guys really are like a family, aren’t you?"

"The closest thing to it," he said. “I’m going to miss them, every single one of them."

“Hey, Hank,” Chase’s friend Eddie greeted me and pulled me back to the present. We’d met at lunch earlier in the day when he rolled into Cold Pines. Eddie had been called up to the NHL in the previous season, and he was still close friends with Chase. We managed to secure a ticket for him next to me.

“Can’t believe it’s his last game here,” Eddie gushed. “It was obviously only a matter of time when I left last year. I’m so happy for him that he’s got you to help ease into the new world in the NHL. I struggled at first. Those guys expect you to step up quickly.”

I sighed. “It feels like the end of an era even though Chase and I have known each other for less than six months.”

Eddie chuckled and clapped me on the shoulder. “C’mon, Hank, buck up. We’re here to celebrate, not mourn. We know Chase is gonna take the big league by storm.”

“I’m okay. It’s just a lot to live through.”

"Man, I remember when I first joined the team here in Cold Pines,” Eddie chuckled, shaking his head. “Chase was a little cocky then. He thought he was hot stuff. I guess we both did.”

"What happened?"

"Well, Coach Z decided to put me in the forward position and send Chase out to the wing,” Eddie said, his eyes sparkling. "It was quite the reality check for Mr. Taylor.”

"Chase? Knocked down a peg?" I asked, feigning disbelief. Secretly, I relished the idea of my confident boyfriend being forced to swallow his pride.

"Hard to believe, I know," Eddie laughed. “trust me; it happened."

The roar was deafening as Chase emerged from the locker room, his skates carving graceful arcs into the ice. His face lit up with the biggest smile I'd ever seen. He scanned the crowd, seeking familiar faces among the sea of adoring fans.

Then, he found Eddie and me. With a flourish, he blew a kiss in our direction, refusing to hide our love anymore. I caught it midair, pressing it to my lips like a precious gem.

From the first face-off, the fans cheered every move by Chase. Excitement crackled in the air.

“He looks pretty focused tonight,” Eddie observed. “That’s tough. It can be hard not to think about what’s coming next, carts before horses and all that.”

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