Page 152 of Unmasking Love
The players who were healthy scratches file out of the room and say hello to Danielle, myself and other family members waiting by the locker room. Coach steps out next, flanked by two assistant coaches, he barely looks up to see Danielle but when he does his face cracks into a grin. She gives my arm a little squeeze before running over to him. They exchange a quick kiss and he whispers in her ear.
I get hugs from the boys as they leave the locker room and everyone is in a happy mood. When Aiden walks out it's like he's moving in slow motion. Seeing him up close after staring at him from across a sheet of ice and several rows of stands is thrilling.
"Hey Harp," He pulls me against him for a hug and a deep kiss that has my knees quivering.
"Great game babe," I tell him. His eyes dart to the side, "Nope. Don't." I say as I grab his face to look at me.
"Don't what?"
"Tell me you had a bad game, or say they wouldn't have had to score four goals in twelve minutes if you hadn't let three by you in the first."
"Well," he starts.
"Nope. Not going to let you go there. The first goal was an odd man rush because your defensemen got caught in a bad change. They were slow getting back out on the ice and it left you outnumbered. They pulled you to the glove side, knowing stick side is weaker for you in that scenario and then they passed at the last moment and tipped it in.
"The second one was an own goal by Crosby. He isn't a defensemen and was out of position and it cost the team a goal.
"The third one was simply a good goal. But it followed two nasty ones which made it sting."
Aiden studies my face. He doesn't say anything.
"Then, you didn't let another goal get past you for the rest of the game. That was 43 minutes. Your team also stepped up and started playing offense. They did their job which allowed you to do yours."
"When did you become a sports psychologist?" He asks as his thumb traces my cheek.
"My boyfriend can get in his own head sometimes," I shrug and we share a chuckle.
"And now, your boyfriend wants to spend the night in you."
Chapter 46
Aiden
Always a Renegade
Itcouldallendtonight.
Felix is doing his best to keep the room relaxed but we all know what rides on the next 60 minutes of play.
We're up in the finals against Chicago, three games to two. If we win tonight, we win the cup. If we lose, we go home for game seven.
The cup is in the building.
I've never been in the same room as the Stanley Cup before.
I've also never played this late into June before. I'm fucking beat.
"Gentlemen," Coach Bradford says. "We know what it takes to beat them. Be quick. Protect the puck. Physicality. Let's win this fucking thing on their ice!"
That fires up the room and even with my effort to keep my temper even I feel the fire flick through my veins.
Over the years I've been back in Chicago to play regular season games. Or ride the bench for regular season games. When I was on the team they didn't make the playoffs so I haven't gotten to see this city in play off mode before.
There were flags decorating the street lights as we drove to the arena from the hotel. We knew we'd be playing a fifth game when we lost the first game of the finals at home. I had a shutout for game two at home, and Gavin only let in one for a game three win on the road.
We lost game four inChicago and that flight home was the quietest I've ever heard a plane before.
Three nights ago we won at home and Harper was in the family suite again. Talking with her about the game, about Chicago's offense, and my concerns about being in net tonight helped me process being in the Stanley Cup Finals as a co-starting goalie.
