Page 47 of Puck Shots
The linesmen get between us and take him over to the side of the rink. I turn to Luka.
“Dude, what the fuck was that?”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Well something set him off.”
Luka smirks.
“What?” I ask, and he leans in close.
“He asked me if I liked the D, too, just like you. So I asked if he was hitting on me because he smelled delicious.”
I burst out laughing.
“You fucking didn’t?”
“What? He did. He hit me against the wall and I got a lung full.”
“Dude, you are so gay.”
“Straight guys can like smelling other guys.”
The speakers sound and call the penalty.
“Number twelve, red, five minutes for fighting and a game misconduct.”
Their supporters don’t like that, but what did they expect? The rules are pretty strict in the NCAA. No goons here. You throw a punch; you pay the price. I might have been quick to get between them but I wasn’t going to actually do anything except block. I can’t exactly impress the scouts from back in the locker room now, can I?
“Look at that. I scored us a power play.” Luka laughs.
“Now don’t waste it,” I reply, and we head into position for the face-off.
The second the puck drops, Rover sends it to Chang, who sends it back to Luka, then it’s over to me. I send it over to Rover again, then move across the ice, but when Rover tries to pass to Luka, their number seventeen collects it and makes a dash up the ice. I fly after him and am right there with him in what feels like two seconds. He looks for somewhere to send it, but my stick comes down, and with the steal, I spin and take off back up the ice. I could try for a slapshot, but Luka is moving up the left side with no one guarding him. I shoot off the puck to Luka, he flicks it into the back of the cage. The horn sounds, and I collide with him and Rover a second later.
“Wooo, nice shot, Luka,” Rover cheers.
“Thanks to Flash’s steal.”
“Group effort, guys,” I reply, scanning the crowd for Eli. He’s on his feet clapping with the other supporters, a huge proud smile on his face, and my chest swells at the sight of him. The coach calls out a fresh line, and I find I’m watching Eli more than the game as I catch my breath and wait for the next change up.
***
“You played so well,” Eli says when I find him after the game waiting outside the rink.
“Thanks,” I reply, wrapping my arms around his waist and kissing him. He’s still in my arms for a second but quickly relaxes and opens his mouth, welcoming my tongue.
A throat clears behind me, and I break the kiss but keep holding him close.
“I wanted to do that since I saw you in the stands.”
His cheeks are flushed, but it gains a smile in reply.
“So if you’re done making out, can we go eat? I’m starving,” Luka asks from behind me.
“Are you hungry?” I ask Eli, and he glances towards our groins, then back up, biting his lower lip.
“We’re not hungry,” I reply and release Eli only long enough to take his hand. “We’ll see you back at the house later.”
