Page 153 of The Home Game

“And do you think you will fall in love?” Charlie murmured.

“I think I might be headed that way already,” Antoni admitted, mouth suddenly dry. Was that possible? Was he really falling in love with Matty?

But before Antoni could dig too deep into his feelings, the referee skated to the red line and Antoni’s attention turned to the game.

He held his breath as the ref said, “Up further review, it was determined that there was goaltender interference and we have no goal.”

He flung his arms out to the sides and the noise of the crowd rose, booing his call and the sight of the score dropping from 4-3 to 3-3.

“That’s bull!” August shouted and Antoni grinned when Jonah’s grandmother said a few choice words as well.

God, this was a fun group. Now, if the Fisher Cats could just pull off a win tonight …

Antoni felt like he barely breathed in the last few minutes of the game as the teams battled over the puck. The air was loud with the clack of sticks and Antoni couldn’t deny the thrumming in his veins as they raced up and down the ice.

With two minutes to go, the Lynx nearly snuck a puck in behind the Fisher Cats goalie, Jesse Webber, and Elena cursed something in Russian.

Or at least, Antoni assumed it was a curse. He could speak a smattering of Italian but he wasn’t exactly fluent in Russian.

Ohh maybe he should learn so he could swear in front of the kids without them knowing. Then again, knowing Alexis and Eli, they’d pick it up really fast and get them all in trouble.

“Antosha wouldn’t have fumbled the puck that way,” Elena said with a scowl. “Webber is good but he’s not ready yet.”

Charlie gave her a sympathetic smile over his shoulder. “How soon until Anton’s back?”

“Hopefully November,” she said with a sigh. “If I have my way, sooner. That man is driving me crazy being at home so much. I don’t need more babies to take care of.”

Antoni and Charlie both laughed but as the play resumed, Antoni’s attention returned to the ice once again.

The clock ticked down and it wasn’t until they announced the final minute of the game that Nico smacked the puck toward the net.

It hit the post and Antoni blindly reached for Charlie’s hand, gripping it tightly as Matty threw himself on his stomach, poking at the puck until it went in behind their goaltender.

Antoni didn’t blink, didn’t move, barely even breathed as he waited for the whistle to blow and for there to be another goaltender interference call, but Matty quickly sprang to his feet, barreling toward Nico and scooping him up in a hug and shaking him.

Laughing, relieved, Antoni grinned at the SAPs and his family around him who were high-fiving and celebrating.

Antoni got pulled into hugs and even Reese seemed to feel the excitement, because his blue eyes were wide and he clapped his hands.

And then Charlie nudged him in the ribs. “Look at Matty!” he hissed.

Antoni glanced over to see Matty pointing at him. He froze, not sure how to respond, but Charlie whispered, “Blow him a kiss! That means he scored the goal for you.”

Still grinning, Antoni did it and he watched Matty roar and bang on the glass near him before he skated over to the bench.

The final few seconds of the game seemed painfully slow but Antoni’s heart was still pounding as it ended with the Fisher Cats winning 4-3.

His whole body felt like it was buzzing as he gathered their things, tossing a diaper bag over his shoulder and making sure no toys had gone astray.

“So, what do you think about hockey now?” his mom asked as they left their seats, following Charlie toward a secret door into the hallway that would take them to the family lounge and locker room area.

“Oh my God, I love it,” Antoni breathed.

Laughing, his dad slapped him on the back. “I knew I’d make a hockey fan of you yet.”

Eliza snorted. “Oh, Enzo, it wasn’t you. It was Matty.”

He shrugged. “Either way, my boy’s happy and we can watch hockey together. That’s all that matters.”

---