Page 150 of Slap Shot

The Longhorns have the first shot, and the enthusiasm in the arena deflates when their player scores on Liam with a hit that’s just out of his reach.

Maverick lines up for the Stars’ first shot. He’s like a bullet flying across the ice. I blink, and he’s pulling his stick back. He’s hitting the puck into the top corner of the net and sending the crowd into an absolute tizzy.

The Longhorns player misses on the second attempt, but so does Ethan. The internet told me if the teams are still tied after the three attempts, they’ll keep doing rounds until someone scores.

The third Longhorns guy whacks the puck with a shot that looks like it’s headed straight between Liam’s legs, but he dives for it at the last second. He stops it with his big glove and holds it in the air.

He got it!Lucy jumps up and down as the crowd screams around us.They can win!

I’m so nervous, I can barely watch Hudson skate twice around the puck before lining up with the goal. He scans the crowd. I swear he looks our way and gives us the quick flash of a smile before he taps the puck with his stick and glides over the ice.

“Come on,” I whisper. Lucy clutches my side. It’s so quiet in here, you could hear a pin drop. “You can do it.”

With footwork far more advanced than anything he displayed at Friends and Family night, Hudson maneuvers across the line at the center of the ice. He keeps his eyes up, his attention trained on the goalie, and I know firsthand how distracting that attention can be.

The Longhorns’ goalie tracks his motions. He shifts left then right, and I have no clue what Hudson has planned. I’m not sure I’m breathing, and when he pulls his stick to his waist and launches the puck forward, I use everything in my power to will it into the goal.

Time stands still. I swear someone hits pause on the next four seconds, but when the puck soars into the bottom right corner of the net, just past the goalie’s pad, everything speeds up.

Confetti falls from the rafters. Pandemonium ensues as the entire team piles on Hudson. After they’ve smothered him in congratulations, they line up to shake the Longhorns’ hands before celebrating again.

That was amazing!Lucy claps enthusiastically.I want to play hockey just like Hudson.

It was such a good play, wasn’t it?

It’s going to be hell to get her to bed and up for school in the morning, but the joy on her face is infectious. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her this happy, and I’m not going to be the one to dampen her glee.

I take Lucy’s hand, but before we can walk down the steps that lead to the exit, Hudson is skating up to the glass in front of our seats. He’s ditched his gloves and his stick, and I watch while he scribbles something on a whiteboard he’s found. When he holds it up, it’s impossible to fight back a grin.

COME TO THE TUNNEL, it says.Hudson points to his right and I nod, way too excited to leave without saying goodbye. He erases the words with his sleeve, writing again. MEET U IN 20.MEDIA, SHWR, THEN I’M URS.

I’m yours.

That sounds unbelievably nice.

Lucy practically pulls me down the stairs again, and by the time we fight through the fans leaving the arena and make it to the much quieter hallway away from the music blaring over the speakers, Piper is waiting for us.

I’m so glad you got to see that.She squeals, hugging Lucy tight.Wasn’t that fun?

I’m going to learn to score like that too!Lucy tells her proudly.

I can’t wait to see, Piper signs. “Hudson said something about giving her a quick arena tour. I think he wants to see you. He should be out in a minute.”

“Sure. Text me if you need me?” I say, and she nods.

“We’ll be back soon!” Piper holds out her hand and Lucy takes it, and they disappear around a corner.

I wait patiently, smiling at some of the staff who pass me with stacks of papers in their hands. I try my best to stay out of the way, and when a door to my left opens, I jump.

“Hey,” Hudson says, and I spin to find him grinning at me with wet hair.

“Hi,” I answer, my breath catching when I get a good look at him.

The suit he’s wearing must be made of sinful thoughts, because I’m imagining unknotting his tie. Letting him wrap the silk around my wrists to keep me from moving and maybe adding a second and third to my ankles so he can tie them to the bed posts.

“Sorry it took me so long. I know it’s past Lucy’s bedtime, and I hate to keep you waiting.” He steps toward me, his hand finding my waist instinctively. “I wanted to see you before I got on the plane for Toronto.”

“That’s okay. Piper is giving her that tour of the arena you suggested. I’m sure she’s going to ask when she can apply for a job with the Stars.” I smile and look him up and down. I make a show of it, admiring the cut of his jacket and how his pants fit him in a way that shows off the toned muscles of his thighs. “You know, Hayes, the social media comments got it right. You really are a bombshell.”

---