Page 112 of The Golden Goalie

“I’m staying until somebody comes here to relieve me.”

Because I really don’t want to be alone, I reach out and hold her hand. “Thank you.”

When it’s confirmed that I’m actually in labor, I pull out my phone and begin the calls. The only problem is it’s almost midnight, and everybody must have their phones on silent for the night. My mom and Rico’s mom don’t answer. I try Bri, but she doesn’t answer either. She probably put it on silent to go to sleep after the game finished. Speaking of the game, I wait until I thought Rico should be done with the post-game stuff; and then I make the call.

“Hey Love, congrats on the win. You played amazing. So, um, I just wanted you to know that I’m in the hospital. Nothing to panic about yet. The doctor said I’m probably several hours away yet from giving birth, but my water broke and I’m having contractions. Um, yeah, so I just wanted you to know. I love you. Maybe call when you get this message because I really just need to hear your voice. I mean, whenever is fine. I’m totally fine. I just wanted to see maybe how far away you were, but I’m fine. Anyway, love you. Call me.”

Chapter 43

Rico

I follow my teammates back to our locker room where we continue the celebration. After we finish with Coach, I grab my phone. I want to call Bri and try to catch her before she falls asleep for the night. When I see I have a voicemail and a missed call from here, I realize she probably went to bed. I’m disappointed, but I’ll call her first thing in the morning. I can’t believe how much I miss my girl! I put my phone up to my ear to listen to her message, grinning at the dance moves Dylan is trying and failing to pull off.

“Hey Love, congrats on the win. You played amazing. So, um, I just wanted you to know that I’m at the hospital. Nothing to panic about yet. The doctor said I’m probably several hours away yet from giving birth, but my water broke and I’m having contractions. Um, yeah, so I just wanted you to know. I love you. Maybe call when you get this message because I really just need to hear your voice. I mean, whenever is fine. I’m totally fine. I just wanted to see maybe how far away you were, but I’m totally fine. Anyway, love you. Call me.”

I stare down at my phone as panic grips me. “No. No. No.” It gets quiet in the room, but I don’t even notice.

“Garcia,” Gunner says from across the room. ”What’s wrong?”

I play Amber’s message to the silent room. “Well, at least she’sfine,”Sebastian says with a grimace.

I start grabbing my stuff and shoving it in my bag. “What’s the plan?” Gunner asks quietly.

“I’m going home.”

Sebastian nods. “Good plan. First, though, you might want to change out of your hockey uniform. Second, how are you getting home exactly? Our flight isn’t until tomorrow afternoon.”

I’m already stripping out of my hockey gear and uniform. Gunner and Sebastian are both on their phones, but I don’t pay attention. My mind is solidly fixed on figuring out a way to get to the hospital in time for this baby. I grab my phone. We’re currently in stinking Lansing, Michigan. It's almost a six-hour drive back to Green Bay. I don’t have that kind of time. I start looking at flights.

“What’s going on?” A freshly-showered Aiden asks.

“Amber’s in labor.”

His eyes widen, and he curses softly under his breath. He turns away and I go back to my phone. “Okay,” Gunner says a minute later. “Coach knows what’s going on. We're good to go.”

I shake my head. “There are no flights until mid-morning; that will be too late.”

“That’s why we’re not taking a flight,” Sebastian says, waving his phone. “I got us an Uber.”

“Who’s willing to drive six hours away?” Aiden asks.

“I made it very worth his time. Let’s go.”

“Wait. We’re taking an Uber for a six-hour drive?” I ask, unable to wrap my mind around everything.

“You got a better plan?” Seb asks.

“No, I—”

“Then let’s go.”

I follow them out of the locker-room and through the back of the arena. When we get to the parking lot, I stop. “It’s a mini-van.”

“How else were we all going to fit? There’s no way the three of us are fitting in the back of some three-seater. This was the onlything big enough for us available tonight,” Seb as he opens the trunk.

“Wait, you guys are going with?” I ask in confusion.

“It’s my sister-in-law,” Aiden says before he climbs inside.

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