Page 62 of The Breakaway

It only took three minutes before Axel took the shot, and the puck sailed past the Coyotes’ goalie's outstretched glove. The Outlaw bench exploded in cheers as the goal horn blared. Crystal cheered, doing a victory shimmy.

A few minutes later, Tim made an acrobatic save to keep the Coyotes off the scoreboard. By the end of the first period, we were up two nil and flying high. The rest of the game was more of the same. The Coyotes fought hard, but they were outmatched. Our offense was relentless, even without Logan, and our defense was unbreakable. The final score was five to one, Outlaws.

We spilled out of the stands and into the hall to congratulate the team as they came out of the locker room. Eventually. No secret stairwell today.

After grabbing hot dogs in the square, we went back to the rink for the big welcome celebration. Each team made a grandentrance, skating out in full uniform with their school colors and banners held high. I wasn’t sure why they had games before the official reception, but if the Olympics could get away with it, I figured Douglas was in good company.

The Outlaws looked dashing in their maroon and gold, Douglas University's crest emblazoned on their chests. They hammed it up for the cheering crowd, playing to the hometown audience.

My eyes locked onto Rob, his dark hair mussed from the air whipping around his face as he circled the ice. He was smiling, and the sight of it was a gut punch. I couldn’t remember him smiling since we had dinner together at the house. It felt like a lifetime ago.

Seeing it now blew oxygen over the coals that had been simmering in my chest since that phone conversation on Saturday night. Why did he get to decide if we were friends or not? Rob wasn’t in charge of my friendships. He didn’t get to just flick his asshole switch on and off. We’d proven we could get along just fine, so why would he go and ruin that?

Boos and cheers erupted for the Timber Valley University Grizzlies in forest green and gold, roaring fiercely. They were followed by the Silver Ridge Sentinels in navy and white. Lastly, the Clearwater University Wolves bounded out in green and white, their wolf mascot loping alongside them and howling.

"Is it wrong that I find that costume kind of adorable?" Maddie stage-whispered.

Crystal’s eyes widened. “Babe, go for it.”

After the last team circled the ice, we followed the throngs through the square and made our way to Ranchmans where the tables were almost all full. But being the home team did have its advantages. We took up residence at the Outlaws reserved table and ordered as fast as we could so we could vacate our seats when the rest of the team arrived.

By seven o’clock it was standing room only, which was perfect timing because now that it was dark, we were on track for my favourite tradition of the weekend. It was the only reason all of us had worn snow boots to the games earlier.

We left Ranchmans in small groups to avoid being completely obvious, then snuck to the back door of the cafeteria, keeping to the shadows. It was completely unnecessary. We did this every single year, and it wasn't like the administration was oblivious. How could they be when they found a stack of waterlogged trays in the kitchen the next morning?

“Shit, you almost knocked me over!” Axel laughed, and Rob shushed him.

Effing Rob. He looked like he was having a grand old time. Celebrating at Ranchmans, laughing with his friends. It made me want to punch him in the face.

Rory ran forward, pulling on the door handle. It was open as expected. He, Rob, and Axel ran in, and a few moments later, trays started appearing through the gap in the door.

We each grabbed one, waiting for them to reemerge. My toes still felt like icicles in my boots, but all it would take was one hike up that hill for my blood to get pumping.

The guys tumbled out of the cafeteria, and we slipped and slid our way across the icy square. The sun was out all day melting some of the snow we got last weekend when the boys got snowed in. Thankfully, there was still plenty on the hill.

Crystal grabbed onto my arm. “He’s up there!” she hissed.

“Who?”

She pointed, and Maddie and I peered forward, trying to see who she was pointing at.

“Number twelve?” she said slowly, as if we were not only visually impaired.

I grinned. “Ride with him. You have to.”

Our group doubled by the time we reached Pratt Hill behind the arts centre. We climbed the side of the hill, leaving the middle as pristine as it could be. There had already been sledders on it, but that would only pack down the snow and make some of the tracks more insane.

"Yo, Thommo!" Axel launched a snowball at Rob's head. "Fifty bucks says I smoke your ass!"

Rob easily dodged the icy projectile and smirked. "Make it a hundred and you're on."

I huffed as we crested the top of the hill and paused to take in the view of the snow-covered campus. The moon was nearly full. No clouds in the sky.

Logan would’ve loved this.

My chest tightened at the thought of him, hundreds of miles away. But not for the right reasons. As I looked out on my hockey family, the thought that made a lump form in my throat wasn’t missing him. It was wondering what all of this would look like without him.

We’d built a life together over the past year. Our friends, our social calendar. All of it revolved around him. What he wanted. Who he wanted to spend time with.

---