Page 66 of Two Guys One Puck
He chuckles in a great mood. It’s a stark difference.
We battle, but it’s not like the other times we’ve come up against each other. It’s brutal, but we aren’t trying to hurt each other, just trying to win. The energy has entirely shifted, and I’m enjoying the game more than just to win. I haven’t felt this way about hockey in a long time.
We come back in the third period, and I have the puck. Seaborn isn’t giving me an inch. He’s pressed up against my back, and I’m trying to get around him. I turn, and he blocks. I pass the puck out, trying to work it around and move the goalie. I spin in the other direction now that I don’t have the puck, trying to get a better position so I’m open for the pass.
He allows me to move since he doesn’t want to catch a penalty, but he’s still not giving me any room. “Like that, don’t you?”
“What?” I glance over my shoulder, trying to elbow him back a little.
“Your ass pressed into me. I’ll call it practice for later.” He doesn’t even have to finish before I’m picturing it.
I’m flushed and not from the exercise. I elbow him again, but my mouth is dry, and I can’t form a coherent sentence. It feeds him. He’s smug, and I use it, finding my opening to get around him.
He’s slow, and I get a piece of the puck, spinning to catch it and redirect it right towards the goal.
I hold my breath as the goalie moves to block it.
TWENTY-TWO
SEABORN
The goal lights up.
Ktytor scored.
Bringing the score up 3-3.
Mother fucker.
I got too cocky, and it bit me in the ass.
Ktytor makes a kissy face. “Not so sure of your win now, are you?”
“Lucky shot.”
“Hardly,” he replies and skates back to the line for the face off.
We’re taken out for a break, and Coach Hawke turns to speak to us while we chug some water.
“I want to win this, which means we need to keep Ktytor from scoring. I know you have it in you. What do you guys think?”
“Between me and Oxley, I think we can handle it,” Cox says, then pauses to look at Forest. “What about you? Can you two get along long enough to help me out?”
Oxley scowls but nods.
“Forest?” Hawke asks when he doesn’t answer.
“I can handle it,” Forest says after a long pause.
Cox and Hawke meet each other’s gaze, and half the time, it feels like because of their not-so-secret relationship, Cox is like our assistant coach. It makes me laugh.
Everyone turns on me.
“Fuck’s sake. No need to single me out,” I laugh because I’m in a great mood. I know we can win this. “I’m chill. I got Ktytor.”
“You sure?” Archangel mutters.
“Positive.” I give him a reassuring smile. He’s been a little off since he and Wolfe tried their little intervention, but we’ve both been busy and haven’t really talked, so I haven’t had a chance to ask him about it.
