Page 78 of Unmasking Love
"Go!" The team yells out with a clap.
"Dunc."
"Go!" Clap.
"E.T."
"Go!" Clap.
"Boder!"
"Go!" Clap.
"Pays!"
"Go!" Clap.
"And in net..." the team drums on their pants together while Vlad rolls out my name like it's a UFC fight. "Number two, Youuuunng Guuunnn!"
The room erupts into claps and cheers. I hear a few "Let's Fucking Go" rally cries and I can feel my brain and body settle into the task ahead of me.
Before I stand to walk down the tunnel to the ice I practice my deep breaths to center myself.
Breath in.
Focus.
Follow the puck.
Breathe out.
Focus.
Stop the puck.
The rink is dark as I skate out for the anthem so I can only see Harper shaded in the teal lights that illuminate the arena during the opening hype video. She looks beautiful as the roaming spotlights fracture across her face.
I tell myself that'll be the last time I look at her until the end of the game because I need to do my job.
I try not to immediately call myself a liar.
Theanthem plays. The boys line up. And with one final tap of the pipes on each side of me the puck drops and play begins.
We win the face off so I relax slightly as I watch our team settle into an early offensive zone attack.
There is a turnover in the corner and a line change as Denver brings the puck over the redline and drops it in. I skate out and catch it for Johnny who collects it but I hear Harper yelling, "What are you doing? Get back in the net!"
I smile to myself and stand with one arm on the crossbar as the boys carry it across the redline and into our zone again. I’m tempted to wink at her but decide to keep my eyes on the game.
The period ends with only three shots on goal and I easily blocked them all. Our strategy to focus on the left side attack is working and we've neutralized them almost every time.
I grab my water bottle and skate to the bench. I'll be across the ice for the next period and while I didn't find Harper too distracting, I never forgot she was there.
Chapter 22
Harper
Google is a Girl's Best Friend
