Page 181 of Until We Burn
“We did that!” they shout. “We won the fucking Frozen Four!”
My breath catches.
We won the Frozen Four.
My shock cracks.
“We won the Frozen Four!”I scream out.
I wrestle Luke and Rowan into a hug. Our visors fog up with so much sweat and tears, we don’t notice the trophy until it’s pushed towards us.
We exchange looks.
I wipe the tears off my face. “One last time?”
Luke and Rowan grin back at me. Our helmets clash as we hug each other, our fists bumping.
“One last time.”
Together, we reach for the trophy and hoist it up. The gold panels catch the stadium lights and glow like the sun.
The crowd cheers.
Adrenaline races through my veins as I take it all in. Camera flashes go off around us. The Griffins staff hug each other with tears streaking down their faces. Simon glares at me on the other side of the ice before a Viper forces him back to the tunnels. Simon screams. He takes his stick and smashes it into the ice.
I laugh.
“I love you,mon cœur!”
The second I hand off the trophy and get off the ice, papa, mama and Uncle Manu tackle me into a hug. I crouch down, letting mama pepper kisses all over my face.
“I can’t believe you’re here!”
“I bought their tickets.” Uncle Manu grins. “Thought it’d be a nice surprise.”
Mama cups my face. “You’re our baby boy, Kainoa. We realized that we hardly see you except for summer break. The thought of you never coming back to see us because you don’t feel supported breaks my heart more than papau’s opinion.”
“Even though we think hockey is a very dangerous sport and we don’t want you getting hurt…” Papa sighs. His worry fades into admiration as he kisses my cheek. “This is what you want to do, and we are going to stand by your side.”
“Hey! Kai!”
I turn around and see Anthony coming towards me with a proud grin on his face.
“Good game, son.” He claps his hand with mine and draws me into a hug. He pulls away just far enough to whisper in my ear, “Mark my words, this won’t be the end for you.”
Anthony walks away before I can ask any more questions. I don’t care, though. Not right now, because we won.
The Griffins won the fucking Frozen Four.
“Kai!”
Cowbells ring out. Stella and Diana wave them wildly when they run onto the grass. My heart aches at how beautiful and alive she looks in her Griffins jersey.
I wrap her into my arms.
Diana drops the cowbell to kiss my cheek and my forehead. “Oh my god, honey! You did it!”
I lift her chin and run my fingers through her hair, searching for any scars and bruises. “Are you okay, though, princess? Did anyone come after you?”
