Page 177 of Wrong Pucking Jersey

My reflexes are faster.

Before I can even register what’s been executed, my eyes are watching the puck hit the net and the world around me getting swarmed with cheers of success. The crowd is lost in screams of praise, and the sound is something I don’t think I can ever forget.

It’s one thing to be among the crowd and cheering on your favorite team in your favorite player’s jersey, but when you’re the player on the ice, reeling in your first official win, it’s a different type of feeling.

It’s exhilarating.

Life changing.

Pucking addicting.

My limbs get a few seconds to slump and relax before I’m tackled by Wolfgang, followed by Ace, Damien, and the rest of the team, who smother me on the ice.

I’m laughing and cheering with them, all of us going wild as the announcer repeats that we, the Strattonville Vipers, have won 3-2. The fact I managed to score all the goals is even more liberating. My guys lift my ass off the ice and carrying me like a damn king.

I view the standing crowd, amazed by how many people came to our first game. Even though it was last minute, the stadium is full of people.

It’s even crazier to see them wearing our team jerseys. They don’t have specific numbers yet, but I bet you after this game, people will be ordering to get their favorite player’s number on their custom jerseys.

My eyes land on my girl.

My Baby Girl who’s surprisingly wearing my jersey.

I was so into the game, I didn’t have a chance to get sight of her until now.

God, she’s so fucking beautiful.

The pure bliss of happiness in her expression as she jumps up and down in her bright blue scrubs pants and my jersey, which I can only assume is over her scrub top, is something I’m engraving in my memories forever.

Fuck, I’ll have to find the replay of this game and hope someone—anyone—zoomed in on her so I can frame it on the wall.

“WE WON!” Wolfgang screams.

“We actually did it!” Ace beams.

“Fuck, that was amazing,” Damien is breathless.

“Time to celebrate in the locker room,” Marcus encourages, and we all agree as we head over to get off the ice.

It’s been a long time since I’ve dealt with after-game interviews, but I’m soon swarmed by them as various news reporters fight to get a word from me about the game tonight.

I’d admit it’s exhausting, yet today, I don’t feel tired in the slightest. The adrenaline is still pumping through me on a high that makes me feel like an Energizer Bunny, leaving me to wonder how the hell I’ll sleep tonight.

Fuck sleep.

When I finally manage to get to the locker room, I’m drenched with ice water, but my body is on fire. We’re so fucking loud, I’m sure everyone can hear us in the halls and maybe even at the rink, but none of us gives a shit tonight.

Just for tonight, we’ll be loud and proud.

“Fuck, I gotta find Mkaykay,” I finally declare when I’ve had my bros’ fix.

Now I need my girl to hug me and hear her encouraging words.

“I think she’s in the hall,” Felix announces. “She’s with Dimitri.”

“See, this is why I need a girlfriend,” Marcus groans. “This energy is fucking crack! Crack, I say. You know how good it would be to fuck a girl right now?”

“Don’t remind us victors of how much we need relationships,” Knox complains.

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