Page 44 of Fake Out Hearts

“Yeah, he’s been having a rough season, the poor guy,” Callie shouts over all the noise in the arena.

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know, he’s just been sort of…”

“Off his game,” Margo finishes for her. “Noah’s been worried about him. Not even he’s sure what’s going on with Theo, but he’s concerned.”

I don’t like the sound of that at all. From what I knew of Theo, he’s an incredible player with the reputation to match. So to hear he’s been struggling, especially without a clear reason, makes me worry. He’s seemed so upbeat and positive since I started spending more time with him, so I don’t think there’s anything major going on. But then again, I don’t exactly know him very well, so he could just as easily be hiding something from me too.

I really hope it doesn’t have anything to do with us. I dismiss the thought almost as soon as I hear it in my head, because I know it’s stupid. Callie just said that Theo has been having problems all season, so that predates him marrying me. Is that what he meant when he called me his good luck earlier?

Shouting from the fans on the other side of the arena jars me out of my thoughts, and I groan as I see that the Cobras have just scored a goal of their own.

“Maybe they’re not as sleepy as I thought,” I groan to Margo, and she nods.

“Yeah, it took them a bit to warm up, but they’re a good team. They won’t make a win easy for our guys, but god, do we need it.”

I completely forgot in the whirlwind that has been the last week, but Margo’s words remind me that the Aces lost their lastgame against the Prowlers. Losing to anyone sucks, but losing to your biggest rival is probably one of the most morale-sinking things that could happen to a professional team.

The Cobras and Aces take turns scoring on each other until the game stands tied three to three in the third period. Both teams aren’t skating as fast or as strong as they started, but that’s probably because they’re getting exhausted. But there’s only a about a minute left on the clock, and overtime would be a disaster at this point, so the Aces really need to sink one last goal to end this.

Like he’s reading my mind, Theo lunges at the next puck drop and takes it, then blurs down the ice. It reminds me of the way he played against the Prowlers before, the shot he could’ve made if he’d passed to Noah before Shawn back-checked him.

I’m on my feet without realizing, screaming his name and watching with rising anxiety as he barrels toward the Cobras’ goalie. I’m starting to worry he’s going to blow right past the net when, at the very last second, he pivots and passes to Maxim, who fires as soon as the puck touches his stick.

He sinks it, and the crowd leaps to their feet, roaring their approval.

The Aces are up four to three with less than thirty seconds on the clock.

Theo might not have scored the goal himself, but there’s no denying he probably just won the game for the Aces, so if that doesn’t make him feel better, I don’t know what will. The fans on our side of the arena are losing their minds, jumping up and down and singing, and I can’t help joining them.

This is why I got into hockey in the first place. It’s been so long since I felt this way at a game that I completely forgot how much I love it—and how much I’ve missed it.

Theo immediately finds me in the stands and holds his stick up at me in triumph. He’s smiling so widely that his mouthguardis falling out. The crowd camera locks on me again, and even though there are many more eyes on me this time, I care even less. Let them talk.

The remainder of the game passes in a blur, but it doesn’t matter. It was over as soon as the Aces scored their last goal, but when the buzzer sounds announcing the end of the game, our side of the arena erupts anyway. Callie, Margo, and I take turns hugging each other, and it strikes me that I can’t remember sharing genuine joy after winning a game like this.

“Come on, let’s get back to the family and friends lounge,” Margo shouts over the noise.

I follow her and Callie outside and through the maze of halls that they seem to know like the backs of their hands to the lounge. There are a few other women who I assume are the wives or girlfriends of the rest of the Aces already there, but they’re talking to each other, so we leave them be.

“What a game!” Margo says now that I can actually hear her again. “I really hope they got that winning goal on camera. We’re going to loop that shot all over our social media.”

“Oh, I’m sure the official feed got it, but even if they didn’t, you can take it to the bank that one of the fans in the stands got a clip we can use,” Callie says, and Margo nods.

“And what an amazing first game for you to be here, Becca,” she adds, smiling at me. “What did you think?”

“I’m speechless, honestly. That was electric. I’ve always loved hockey, but there’s nothing better than a tight game like that to get your blood pumping.”

“Right? Our guys played so well tonight. I wonder if this is the start of Theo’s turn around? I really hope so.”

“Me too,” I say, thinking about the rough season they said he’s had. If anything would help him course correct, it’s a night like this. Who wouldn’t feel on top of their game after scoring a winning pass and shot like that?

“Do you want a snack or a drink or anything? It’s probably going to be a while before the guys get here, so you’re welcome to anything in here,” Margo says, pointing at the wall of catered food and drinks beyond us.

“I’m okay for now,” I say, keeping my eye on the door.

I can’t wait to see Theo, to hear all about that pass he made—and what he thinks of how things went for our grand debut tonight. But I don’t have to wait much longer, because Theo appears just a few minutes later, still wearing his jersey.

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