Page 60 of The Golden Goalie

I grin. “I bought a number eighty-two jersey.” After a pause, I add, “That’s Rico’s number.”

“I know what his number is,” she snaps at me.

“You do?” I ask, surprised.

“Of course, I do. I know all those boys’ numbers; I’ve been watching them for years.”

“Wow, color me surprised.”

“Why? Because I’m old?”

I hold back my smile. “Nope. You just never mentioned that you watched them play.”

“Like I said, I’ve been watching them for years. Of course, I’ve taken a liking to a certain one of them recently,” she says, her voice heavy with implication.

“Aiden Brooks?” I ask.

“Nope. The goalie.” I smile and turn away. “So why did you get the goalie’s jersey?” she pushes. “You gonna do something about that boy? Finally put him out of his misery?” I turn to look at her. “Oh, don’t look at me like that. That boy is very into you, and you know it.” She pauses. “If you don’t know that, you're not as bright as I thought you were.”

“Hey,” I protest. She waits for me. “Okay, fine. Yes, I got his jersey so I can wear it to his game. It may mean something,” I admit.

“Of course it means something,” she snaps. “That boy sees you with a baby in your belly and his name on your back, and he’s going to be putting a ring on your finger as soon as he can.”

My mouth dries, and no words form.

Chapter 24

Rico

I turn my music up and do my best to ignore my teammates as I focus on my pregame ritual. In just a few minutes, we’ll take the ice. My stomach knots like it’s my first game, but the nerves are not for hockey. Not tonight. Tonight is about so much more than hockey; it’s about the rest of my life. I mentally berate myself.Dramatic much?Still, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this game for the last two weeks. I haven’t seen Amber since we talked, and it’s killing me. But I promised I’d give her time to think about it—about us. I only hope that by giving her time, I didn’t give her what she needed to talk herselfoutof us. I’m convinced there’s a future for us; I just have to get her on board.

Somebody elbows me hard. “Yo!”

I pull off my headphones, realizing I was missing Coach’s speech. Seb gives me a look that I ignore. Minutes later, we’re hyped and ready to head out. My heart starts racing like it usually does before a game, only this time it’s much worse. I skate out onto the ice for warm-up. I don’t look at the stands; I can’t afford to. I need to focus on this game. Yeah, that only lasts a few minutes before my traitorous eyes are scanning the crowd. I find Stephanie and Brielle, only because I know where they usually sit. My heart twists when I don’t see Amber with them. I didn’t tell either of them that Chloe got Amber a ticket next to them. I didn’t want either of them to pressure Amber into coming. If she comes tonight, it’s because she is choosing me. Choosing us.

Our warm-up concludes, and we head back. I cast one last glance at the seats. No Amber.She’s got time,I remind myself. The next time we skate out onto the ice, it’s with lights flashing, music thumping, and thunderous applause rocking the stadium. I wave to the crowd and head to my spot. I go through my pre-game ritual. Only when I’m settled do I chance a glance. It hits like a fist to my gut.She’s not here.I remind myself that she just might not be here yet.

“Hey!” Sebastian shouts, stopping on a dime in front of me and spraying me with ice. “You good?”

I nod behind my helmet. “I’m locked in; let’s go.” He fist bumps me and skates away. Aiden heads to the center, and I settle into that place I go when it’s game time. Total and complete focus on the puck. This right now is what matters; I’ll deal with my personal life later. Right now, my teammates need me.

The buzzer sounds for the end of the first period. We kept them to one goal, and we scored one as well. I’m kicking myself, though, because I should have had that one. I push my helmet back and chug a bunch of water. Only then do I let my gaze travel to the seats. I see Bri and Stephanie but no Amber. I still let myself hold onto the hope that she might still be coming. I follow my teammates off the ice.

Sebastian meets me at the door. “What’s up with you tonight?”

“Nothing.” I keep my face perfectly blank as I pass him to go into our locker room. Coach talks through the next period, and then we’re back on the ice. I tell myself not to look, but it’s a losing battle.She’s not coming.I skate over to the net and settle. One period and two scores later, I head back to the locker-room. It’s three to two, their lead. I shove past Sebastian when he tries to talk to me in the hall. I’m not in the mood. Coach does his thing, yelling at us and then trying to pump us up. Then it’s backout onto the ice. Usually, the third period is when I feel the most alive. The nerves from the beginning of the game have long-since dissipated, and now it’s just grit and determination. Tonight, I need extra grit and extra determination.

The buzzer sounds. I look up at the final score. Five to six, our loss. I swear to myself. I haven’t let a team score six goals on me since I was a rookie. Feeling more angry than I have in a long time, I wait a few minutes before heading back, ignoring the booing and name calling coming from our fans. I deserve it, all of it. It was a terrible game, the worst I’ve played in a long time. I finally head back to the locker room.

“Good of you to join us, Garcia.”

I stalk over to the bench and drop as Coach reams every single one of us out. “And Garcia, did you forget how to defend the goal? You do realize your job is to keep the puck out of the net, right? Play like that again, and Jerguson will take your place.” I don’t lift my head, and I definitely don’t look at the hothead who’s been waiting for a chance to take my place. I scoff.Like I'd ever let him take my place.Coach goes on forever before he finally leaves us. I stand up and strip off all my pads. I throw off my shirt and turn around to head to the showers. Gunner stops my progress. I move to step around him, but he moves with me. “I’m heading to the showers. Move.”

“No, you’re not. Sit down.” Aiden comes over and joins him.

“Really? I played terrible. I get it. I want to hit the showers and head home.”

“Head home or go see Amber?” Sebastian asks, joining in.

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