Page 150 of Unmasking Love
"Okay, okay," Danielle says with a deep breath, "That's one."
There are eight minutes left and across the ice Aiden is relaxed. He's leaning against the crossbar and standing tall in his net. The boys circle up in the center for the faceoff and Aiden takes an extra beat before dropping into position.
It is different being up in the family suite instead of behind his net. We agreed it made the most sense because we get access to security and can move around the arena more easily from the family suite but I miss being so close to him.
I can't see the look in his eyes.
I can't read his expression.
"The fuck?" Danielle yells and I snap back to the puck and Felix who is sliding on his stomach in the offensive zone. "Call that!"
"It's delayed, look" Caroline says as she points to the ref with his arm up.
Aiden skates to the bench and Ivan flies over the boards to join the play.
Six on five, the boys pass the puck around the perimeter, get it down low and a scrum occurs right in front of us. The battle for the puck draws two of their players in and that's when Bryson flicks the puck to Felix who is crashing the net and it slides in under the goalie's pads.
The arena erupts and I can feel it shaking under my feet.
"Yes!!" Caroline yells.
"Oh My God!" I add as Danielle wraps me in a hug.
"Okay, okay," Daneille takes a deep breath. "That's good. Really good. But we have to get one more to tie it, two to win."
"There's six minutes left,plentyof time." Caroline says. "Oh, Ivanna texted."
We all pull out our phones and read her message.
IVANNA:
I'm going to go into labor from the excitement!
"Is it bad I don't want her to go into labor so we can keep Vlad in the line up?" Danielle asks.
"No, but don't tell Ivanna," Caroline says as she types a reply.
CAROLINE:
I think Johnny's goal got me pregnant. See you in 9 months!
I laugh and she shrugs.
A whistle blows and we turn our attention to the ice again. Dallas wins the faceoff and skate into the zone in front of Aiden. He settles low and comes to the front of his crease, cutting off the angles with his broad frame. He nabs the puck out of the air with his mit and slides it across the ice to Bryson who speeds ahead.
"Damn, that was sexy." Caroline says.
She's not wrong, it was.
The family suite is tense as we check the clock and watch the play at the same time. This game isn't a must win but this surge is motivating and I think if the guys left the ice with a W after being down three goals late in the game they'd carry that energy forward.
I also don't know what I'd say to Aiden if they lost.
Just be there.I remind myself. That's all he's asked for, he just wants me to be there.
I glance his way andwatch him as he watches the play. Getting to know Aiden has been insightful in countless ways but understanding the way his mind works during a game is the most useful.
Right now he is wholly focused on the puck. He's watching for intercepted passes up high that lead to odd man rushes. He's checking for line changes. He's listening for his coach to call him off the ice for the extra skater.
