Page 54 of Blocked Score

This is Scarlett’s first game, and she’s sitting with Summer, Olivia, and Maddie. The other girls are wearing their guys’ jerseys, but Scarlett’s in a normal hoodie. I feel a tiny twang of disappointment, wishing that she’d complete the picture by wearing mine.

It’s stupid. I know it. I couldn’t possibly keep track of how many times I’ve told myself I need to abstain from thoughts like that, but no matter what, they keep wiggling back into my brain.

If Scarlett knew the things I thought about her, and how often … not just the sexual thoughts, but the sappy shit about wishing we could go on dates, or spend the whole day together in one of our rooms talking, or that I could come up behind her and surprise her by wrapping my arms around her waist and pressing my lips to the top of her head when I see her on campus … fuck, she’d probably be on Craigslist every day looking for a new place to move to.

She made it clear she had enough of all that eighteen months ago, and since seeing her again here at Brumehill, she hasn’t given any indication of having changed her mind.

My attention gets pulled back to the game when a collective groan from the crowd rattles through the arena. A split-second later, the sound is covered up by the louder shrill of the goal buzzer.

I look to the ice to see Fraiser U guys celebrating by our goal, and Hudson clearly frustrated at having let one pass.

Coach calls for a shift change in response, and I leap over the barricade and join the rest of my first line teammates on the ice.

We play hard even though we still have a two-score cushion. It’s my first home game back on the ice—the first home gameof the Black Bears’ season where we’re at full strength—and a regular win isn’t enough.

I want to make a statement. I know the rest of the guys feel the same. And the home crowd damn sure wants to see a statement.

I manage to snag the puck from a charging Fraiser U forward as the time clock bleeds to zero. I deke past another, and my peripheral vision finds Sebastian up the ice, open for a pass.

But my vision also finds something else. Their right side of the ice, the side ahead of me, is weaker.

I’d like to say my decision is purely strategic. But it isn’t.

I know Scarlett’s eyes are on me, and damn it, I want to score a goal in front of her.

It’s stupid. I’m a D Man. Not only that, I’m a captain. It’s not my job to grab glory for myself.

But I want it so damn bad I can’t resist.

I pump my legs and propel myself across the ice, an unexpected move as the Fraiser U defense were arranging themselves to deal with the pass to Sebastian that they anticipated.

They scramble to adjust, but I’m faster than usual, because I want this goal more than usual. For a split second, there’s a perfect open slice of air between Fraiser U players and an empty square above the goalie’s right shoulder.

It’s not an easy shot, but I take it.

The puck arcs off the ice and through the air. Their goalie lurches.

But he’s too late.

Pandemonium erupts in the arena. The crowd jumps to their feet and cheers so loudly they almost drown out the goal buzzer.

My teammates crowd me to celebrate, and my gaze searches out Scarlett. She’s jumping up and down, her mouth open and her voice joining the collective roar.

Pride beats a steady thrum in my chest. Scoring a defensive goal always feels good. But this feels really good.

My vision sweeps through the rest of the crowd, taking the moment in. I do a double take when I spot, of all people, Kazu and Cindy in the crowd. Kazu, the ramen shop owner, and Cindy, the owner of an awesome bookshop-slash-café in Cedar Shade, are a new official couple after spending most of last year dancing around each other.

Cindy, I’m not surprised to see here. Nor am I surprised to see the vivacious woman jumping up and down and waving her arms in all kinds of contortions that make me chuckle.

But Kazu? Yeah, he stands out. And he’s actually on his feet. Not just that, but he’s politely clapping, too.

There’s still a minute of defense to play, but Fraiser U can’t get anything going, and the game ends with a decisive 5-2 win.

Last year, the Frozen Four championship was snatched right out of our hands in the most painful way possible. Especially for me.

But right now?

Sheer conviction laces through me. In my last year as a Black Bear, we’re bringing it home.

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