Page 119 of The Closed Off Captain

“You’ve got this, Big C. Play your game, and you guys will walk away with The Cup tonight.”

He pulled me in tightly and kissed me thoroughly. “I love you.”

“I love you too. I’ll see you after the game.”

He kissed me one more time and was gone. I haven’t seen him since then; but I wasn’t expecting to. Luckily, I’ll be going home with him tonight; so I’ll be able to spend some time with him then. I was back to living at Gunner’s for a little bit. They were working on the main sewer line beneath the road in front of my house for the last few days, and I’m without power. So, it was back to Gunner’s for a few days. I didn’t mind, really. I missed being at his house, but it’s been good to have my own place again. My agent was able to sell my house quickly, and I’d found another house to rent that wasn’t far from Gunner’s. Thankfully, we’d moved past all the craziness with Jenny. She’d met with both of us and apologized so many times for everything she’d put us through. She was pressing charges against her boyfriend for a litany of things that would keep him in prison a long time. Because of that, Gunner and I decided not to press charges. It kept me out of the courtroom and able to move on with my life.

I’d been living in my new house since February. I knew it was for the best, even though I much preferred to stay at Gunner’s. We didn’t need to spend that much time together, or things would escalate faster than we wanted. We both knew we loved each other and were taking our time dating and getting to know each other even better. During hockey season, it was hard to do much more than that anyway as we were both so busy.

As great as this season has been, I’m ready for it to come to an end. After getting my blood work back in January, I met with one of the team doctors. Nothing was wrong with my blood work, which was good news. I could tell Gunner was relieved. But the doctor talked to me about the stress in my life and how I needed to make some changes. I wasn’t ready to hear it at first, but the more I thought about it and processed it with Gunner, Irealized he was right. The stress of my job had made me really unhealthy, and that stress was manifesting itself in food allergies and stomach problems. I came to the conclusion that I needed to make some big changes. I’m actually really excited about the changes and this next stage of life. I’ve started transitioning from PR agent to an actual sports’ agent. I’ve been taking classes on the side and have been loving them. I will be taking classes full time once hockey season ends. In the meantime, I’ve been training a girl that will be my replacement. In some ways, I’m kind of sad, but I’m really excited at the opportunity that has presented itself. The woman that several of the guys on the team use as their agent is looking to retire. When she approached me and told me she thought I should be the one to take her place, I was floored. I’d never really considered it. But after a lot of talking to her and Gunner and research, I decided it may not be as hard as I thought it would be. And Gunner, Aiden, Rico, Sebastian, and Zac have all already told me they will take me on as their agent. It’s too good an opportunity to pass up.

I focus back on the ice as the guys prepare for the puck to drop. I swear it goes almost quiet for just a moment, and then the puck drops, and the arena explodes with sound again. “Here we go,” I mutter to myself. I quickly find Jason Knight and make sure to keep him in my line of sight. Gunner knows to keep his distance from him tonight, but I hope he’ll be able to. Those two have tangled this entire series, and I’d like to see it end tonight. It’s probably a foolish thing to hope for, especially when Jason hits Zac hard less than a minute into the game. I shake my head; it’s going to be a rough game.

The first period passes without either team scoring. I shake out my hands that are cramped from clasping them together so tightly. Amber blows out a long breath next to me. “You okay?” I ask.

“Yeah.” Her answer is less than enthusiastic. She always gets so tense during these games, feeling the same pressure that Rico does. Of course, it’s not on him alone whether we win or lose; but it’s hard for him to accept that. I know tonight will be no different.

“He’s kept them out so far,” I remind her.

Amber nods. “Yeah.” That’s all she says, and I let her get back to her worrying. I’m pretty sure we all do. Bri and Stephanie look just about as sick as I feel, and Stephanie rubs her belly nervously.

The second period starts, and I don’t sit once. They keep us on the edge of our toes the entire time. The second period ends in a draw. “I can’t believe nobody’s scored,” Bri says loudly.

“I can’t wait any longer,” Stephanie gasps. “I have to go to the bathroom.”

“I’ll go with you,” Bri says, and the two of them start down the row.

Needing to do something to keep myself busy so I don’t lose my mind, I post some videos and pictures from tonight. I can feel the crowd getting antsy. The first two periods have been a disappointment. Not only have there been no scores, but it’s been a pretty tame game. I have a feeling both sides have been warned to focus on scoring and not fighting. I watch our guys and wonder how they’re feeling. I’m hoping they’ll let loose this period; they have to. I’m more nervous for the third period than I was for the start of the game. I watch as Gunner sits on the bench staring at an iPad, looking at game footage. I wait a beat and then push past Amber. “I’ll be right back.” She doesn’t question me, and I quickly start making my way down to the ice, hoping I can get there in time. As much access as I have, I can come and go; but I’ve never approached the team during a game, except for the time I got Aiden for the baby.Guess I’m going to destroy that tonight. At least, I can’t get fired for it; I’m alreadyleaving that position behind. I get close to the glass and knock on it hard. Zac sees me and I point to Gunner. He grabs Gunner’s jersey and points to me when Gunner turns to him with a scowl on his face. Gunner turns to me, and instant concern fills his face as he stands and walks to me.

I stare up at him and regret telling him over and over again to not fight tonight. I take a deep breath, knowing I only have seconds. “Are you okay?” he mouths over the noise.

This guy.He’s in the biggest game of his life, and he’s worried about me. I lock my eyes on his. “Stop playing careful.” I mouth the words, so he can easily read them. He frowns. “I’m sorry. Ignore what I said before the game. Play your game. Go after Jason.” He studies my face a moment and then nods. “Win this thing.” He doesn’t respond in any way, and I don’t expect him to. I turn to walk up the stairs, but I only make it a few steps when a fan stops me and points behind me. I turn back to Gunner, who’s standing right where I left him.

I love you,he mouths to me.

I can’t stop my grin.I love you too.I blow him a kiss and wave. He turns away and strides back to the bench. By the time I get back to my seat, it’s time to start. The puck drops before I even get to my seat. There’s an audible gasp, and then the crowd goes wild. I spin around, trying to see what I missed. My eyes shoot to the jumbotron, and I watch the replay of Gunner shoving Jason into the boards and skating off with the puck. I can’t help my grin. I turn and make my way back to my seat as quickly as possible. I move past a wide-eyed Amber and stand next to her in time to see Zac shoot the puck to Aiden. Aiden and Seb both fly towards the net. Aiden shoots, and their goalie deflects it. But Gunner comes around the back of the net and fights it in. The horn blares, and the flames fire up.Score! All five sticks raise in the air, and they huddle up. I take a deep breath.That’s one.

Amber turns to me, wide-eyed. “What’d you say to him?”

“I told him to stop playing careful.”

Amber nods slowly and then grins. “I approve.” Then she whistles loudly, and I cheer with her. Not even a minute later, Rico comes up with an absolutely spectacular save. Amber’s jumping up and down, grabbing my arm.

I scream with the rest of the fans as it’s replayed over and over again on the jumbotron. He basically did the splits and caught the puck with his glove in a full body extension. How he can contort his body that way, I have no idea; but the fans approve. One of their guys gets Zac cornered at the wall, but Aiden’s there in a flash. Together they get the puck out of there and past center ice where Dylan takes it and sends it to Seb. Gunner and Sebastian fail to get it in, and the other team send it back up the ice. Rico keeps it out with Aiden’s help. And then Aiden, Sebastian, and Gunner are all skating for the goal. Zac and Dylan join them as they brutally fight it out at the net. I think it’s Zac that gets it in. The horn goes off, and the fans erupt.

When Sebastian scores off an assist from Gunner a few minutes later, I can’t keep the smile off my face. And when Aiden brings it home and scores not long after that, I know it’s over. The game is ours. It doesn’t matter that there’s two minutes left. And when the buzzer goes off, signaling the end of the game, the arena loses its mind. The guys throw their helmets in the air, and the entire team joins them on the ice. The girls and I are a mix of screaming and tears. In the midst of it all, I try to keep my mind and keep taking photos and video. “I have to get down there to take video,” I shout over the crowd. Amber backs out of the way, wiping her eyes, and I slide past her and make my way down to the ice. I take as many photos as I can and then start the journey to get to where I can go out through the hallway. I’ll need to be out on the ice for pictures and video when they do the awards ceremony, which is why I brought my boots with a rubber sole.Thankfully, the other team is gone by the time I get to the ice. The celebration is in full swing, and I can’t keep the smile off my face as I walk out onto the ice. Stan sees me and comes over and hugs me tightly. “Congratulations,” I tell him, beaming. He beams at me and then goes over to join the other staff. I stand out of the way, busy taking pictures and video of the guys while they get everything set for the awards ceremony.

Teddy keeps the crowd pumped up while they’re waiting. “And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is time for the entrance of The Cup.” The crowd cheers as two men in suits and white gloves carry the huge cup out onto the ice and over to the table that’s been set up.

Stan takes the microphone, and the crowd quiets. “What a night!” The crowd goes wild again, and he just smiles. “It’s a great night to be a Green Thunder fan, isn’t it?” He talks a little about the year the Thunder has had and thanks the coaching staff. “And now, it’s time for what you’ve been waiting for.” I can’t help but turn to look at my guys. There’s nothing but smiles coming from that end of the ice. I take a few quick pictures and turn back to Stan. “Gunner Coftman, Captain,” he says turning to the team. “You have the honor of hoisting The Cup.” I feel my eyes tear up as I watch Gunner skate over to Stan. They lift it together, and I move to get a good photo. And then Stan releases it, and Gunner hoists it over his head and takes a lap; and the crowd goes absolutely wild. The lights fly across the ice, and the crowd cheers. Gunner skates over to Aiden and passes it off, and the crowd cheers as Aiden holds it above his head and skates. And then Sebastian has it and is definitely more demonstrative than the first two, earning a laugh from me. Sebastian skates it over to Rico. Rico smiles and lifts it above his head, turning around in a circle as the crowd cheers. The cup passes to each player, and I get photos of each of them. And then there’s a hand on my back. I grin wildly as I spin around and throw myself intoGunner’s arms. His arms wrap around me and pull me against his sweaty chest.

“I’m so proud of you,” I shout to him above the noise.

He grins down at me and kisses me wildly. Then he pulls back and stares into my eyes, going serious on me. “I want to ask you something.”

I stare at him in confusion until he drops to one knee. My eyes widen in shock, and the rest of the world fades away. He pulls out a small black box and flips it open and holds it up to me. “I was wondering if maybe you’d consider spending the rest of your life with me.”

I cover my mouth with my hand, in absolute shock. “Are you serious?” I shout to him above the noise.

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