Page 83 of Tempting the Goalie
The crowd groans, but the energy’s electric. Izzy is somewhere up there in the stands. She texted me before warm-up.
Isabelle:You’ve got this. Love you.
I exhale behind my mask and settle into the crease.
Northeastern pushes back right away. Their winger slides into the slot and takes a shot low on my glove side. I drop and catch it easy and kick it out with my pad, tracking the rebound. No second chances.
Tyler clears it, and we reset. The rest of the period goes by in a blur. Sweat builds on my skin. This team is good. They are making me work for it. By second period one of their guys skates in front of the net and fires a low shot toward my glove. I drop down and scoop it up without a problem. One of their forwards skates right into the middle, not far from the net. He takes a quick shot, aiming low toward the side I catch with my glove. I see it coming the whole way. I drop into position and catch it, no problem. Easy save.
I get a breather when Brody takes the puck and flies over the blue line. He passes it into the corner, and Seth’s right there, fighting off their defense to grab it. The pressure in my chest loosens. Just for a second, I can take a slow breath.
They make it to the other end of the ice.
I lean on my stick and watch from my crease. Brody’s circling down low, and Seth’s waiting near the middle, looking for a pass. I take a deep breath through my mask. My heart’s not pounding so hard now. I’m still laser focused, but it’s not that full-on panic mode anymore. It’s just watching. Waiting. Calm.
Coach Heaton is yelling something from the bench, arms flying everywhere like he’s trying to land a plane. I spot Izzy in the stands, standing up and shouting, probably telling Brody to shoot. I grin a little behind my mask.
Seth shakes off a crosscheck and slides the puck back to the blue line. Tyler’s there, steady as ever, stopping it like it’s nothing. That’s when I snap back into position. One of their guys is creeping my way, ready to break out if we mess up.
I drop into my stance again. Part of being a goalie is always being prepared. Showing up for your team. The game is not over just because the puck is far from me. Things can change in a heartbeat. As the game moves on, I feel the rush of adrenaline in my body. People say you have to have a screw loose to be a goaliebut with time I’ve understood my purpose, and it’s an important one in the scheme of the game. We end up winning 3-2.
After the game, we all head to the locker room to shower. One of the reporters decides to interview me. It isn’t a shocker because this is what happens when you become a senior. Everyone wants to know your next move. Hell, I’d like to know my next move too. Izzy told me she was looking at different grad schools. She said she’d give me a list of three she’s going to apply to by the end of the week. There’s no way I want Christmas to roll around and not have a contract signed.
After the game the guys want to go out for beer. Most of them assume I’ll be joining them. Izzy has an early class tomorrow and she gave up time from doing homework to be here, so I tell the guys I’ll take a rain check. That buys me more comments about how I’ve changed. The thing is, I don’t think I’ve changed at all. I’ve just grown-up and it’s thanks to my brown-eyed girl.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Isabelle
The guys are all gone for an away game this weekend. I’m sitting on the couch scrolling through my options for a grad program when Ruby comes downstairs.
“I’m heading over to Briar’s to see their new apartment,” she says. Aaron and Briar recently moved out of here with their new baby. They are living in a grad building off campus. “Do you wanna come?”
I’ve only known Ruby for a few months but in that time we’ve become close, which I guess will happen when you live together. I’ve learned she is kind and sweet and a bit of a nerd like me.
“Thanks, but I need to finish these grad applications. I have a month to go until the deadlines come up. I haven’t finalized my decisions. I promised Luc I would figure things out while they were gone.”
“Okay, good luck. If you change your mind, I’ll text you her new address,” she says.
“Thanks, Ruby. Say hi to Briar and give Atlas a kiss from me,” I say to her.
"Will do," she says, pulling on her puffer jacket as she steps outside. The air is cooler now with winter creeping in a little more each day. “Bye.”
“Bye.”
With Ruby gone, the house is quiet. I read through some information on American programs and then switch to read through some Canadian ones. I lose my patience and decide I need the help of my friends. I text Priya and Yuna and ask if they want to come over.
They both answer me within minutes, saying they are on their way. My stomach growls and I make my way over to the fridge to see if I have any food to feed my guests but the fridge is empty. I decide to Uber Eats some Chinese food, knowing my friends they haven’t eaten either.
They arrive before the food. They don’t come here often since the house is usually very busy.
I open the door to both of them. “Thanks for coming,” I say, and I hug each of them as they come into the house.
“I still can’t believe you’re living here,” Priya says, looking around wide-eyed.
“I know,” I say to her. “If you would’ve told me a year ago I’d be living with Luc, I would’ve told you were batshit crazy.”
“But you seem so happy,” Yuna says with a wide smile.
