Page 202 of Slap Shot

“Nerves.” I laugh. “And not wanting to be complacent. We have pressure on us because we want to repeat last year’s result, but we can’t get cocky. We have twenty minutes left, and that’s it. We need to focus.”

“Speaking of focusing, what are some areas you all are going to work on as we head into the third period?”

“Teamwork and not being selfish. When we get excited, we all want to take a shot, even if it’s not the best available shot. We need to look for the open man.”

“Thanks, Hudson. Enjoy the rest of the game.”

“Great job, Little P,” I tell her, joining my teammates back on the ice.

We fight like hell for the first eighteen minutes. Los Angeles is brutalizing us, and how we’ve kept this game tied is beyond me. They’re more aggressive, winning each face off and shooting down the ice like a bullet.

We’ve had some shots on goal, but we can’t get anything in the net. On our end, Liam’s been unstoppable, sacrificing his body to dive after dive to keep us alive. If we pull this win off, I’m buying him a really nice fucking gift.

With sixty seconds to go, the Bulls work their way down the ice. My chest is heaving, and I motion for Riley to track the player on his left side. I extend my stick, reaching for the puck but coming up an inch short. I curse, taking off after my opponent as he charges for our goal.

The defender pulls back, but before he can get a shot off, I steal the puck from between his skates, passing it off to Maverick to the delight of the crowd.

I know I shouldn’t, but I turn my attention away from the ice for half a second. I look to the row of seats where Madeline and Lucy are. Her parents are next to her, with Duke on the other side.

She’s watching me, her hands on her chest and sitting on the edge of her seat. I see her whispering something to herself, and when she notices me watching her, she breaks out into a wide grin. She stands and turns around, showing off her sparkly jersey with my name across her shoulders.

That lights a fire in me. Gritting my teeth, I move down the ice. I accept a pass from Riley before dropping the puck back to Maverick and applying pressure to the defense. There’s twenty seconds left on the clock now, time ticking down when Maverick passes it back to me. Dumping it back to Ethan will give LosAngeles a chance at a breakaway with no one back to help protect Liam, and I can’t chance it.

I exhale, gripping my stick and guiding the puck to my right. I look up at the rafters, a beam of light guiding me, and I smile.

“For you, Mama,” I whisper.

I pull my stick back to my waist. I hit the puck as hard as I can, getting it off just before the defender can steal it from me. It hits the left side of the goal, a bounce off the post before crossing the goal line under the goalie’s knees as the buzzer sounds, ending the game.

“LET’S FUCKING GO,” Maverick screams, jumping on me.

I tumble to the ice, laughing as my body is nearly crushed under the rest of my teammates.

“BACK TO BACK, BABY,” Grant yells, and there’s a stick pressing into my ass.

“CHAMPIONS,” Ethan bellows, and confetti falls in my eyes.

It takes me five minutes to get back on my feet. The second I’m upright, I’m charging for Madeline. I’m banging on the glass and motioning for her to walk to me.

“You did it,” she yells when she makes it to the boards. She puts her hand on the barrier between us, and I see tears in her eyes. “Holy shit, Hudson. You are the Comeback Kid.”

“Get Lucy and walk to the tunnel. I want to bring y’all out here,” I yell back.

“What?” She laughs, head shaking. “No way.”

“Get your ass over here, Galloway, so I can celebrate with my girls.”

She buries her face in her hands for half a second before she sprints up the stairs, picking up Lucy and hustling through the masses of people celebrating our win. I met her at the tunnel, watching her flash her VIP badge, and grab a stick off the ice.

“Hold onto this,” I sign, and they grab it. I guide them to the center of the rink where my teammates are. Riley scoops up Lucyand puts her on his shoulders, and Madeline gives me a tight hug.

“I’m so proud of you,” she whispers. “And your mom is so proud of you.”

“That goal was for her. Felt like the perfect way to end the best year of my life.” I take off my helmet and throw it on the ice. I cup Madeline’s cheeks and kiss her forehead. “God. I love you, Maddie.”

“I love you too, Hudson, but you should be with your teammates. You all have worked so hard this season. I’m in the way.”

“No.” I grin at her, on top of the fucking world. “You’re exactly where you should be.”

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