Page 33 of The Closed Off Captain

“That’s right!” Sebastian shouts, pumping his fist in the air.

I put my fist in. “Green Thunder on three. One, two, three.”

“Green Thunder!”

“Let’s go deliver a slapping they won’t forget,” Zac shouts. And then we head out, ready to take the ice.

We skate out, amidst the booing. It doesn’t shake me in the least; I’m used to it. We stand off to the side as the home team gets their time. I get into that place where nothing can touch me, and where I am one hundred percent focused. We take our places as soon as it’s time, and I’m ready to get this game going. Aiden takes his place in the center for puck drop. He wins it, and we’re off. They come after us, aggressive and fast, which was what we were planning on. We’re ready for them.

The first period is an intense back and forth with neither of us scoring. I keep an eye on number sixty-seven. He’s been causing problems all night. Aiden’s checked him in warning several times, but I have a feeling he’s going to become more of an issue. When we step back out onto the ice for the second period, I skate next to Aiden. “Watch your back with sixty-seven.” He nods, confirming he heard me. We take our places, and the puck drops. They get this one and they’re off.

Rico keeps them out, and Zac gets it and sends it to the center where Aiden’s waiting. He sends it to Sebastian, and I race to catch up. Sebastian fires, but it’s deflected. Aiden gets it to me, and I fight to get it in. But their goalie clears it and sends it down the ice. Dylan gets it back and sends it to Aiden. And that hit that I was warning him about comes. Number sixty-seven gets Aiden at the boards. I’m already almost there, and I get him off Aiden and scramble for the puck. I get it out of there and to Sebastian. I keep sixty-seven in my view as we continue to play.

They manage to score, and I feel the score deep inside. We gather up. “Next one is ours,” I tell them. “We’ve got this. Watch your backs for number sixty-seven. Aiden, you good from that hit?” He nods, and I trust him to know his body. He’s used to taking brutal hits; we all are. But that one he took was especially brutal. I glance at the clock. “We’ve got four minutes. Let’s make it count.”

And then we’re right back at it. The time ticks away, and we get several looks at the goal but can’t get it in. We're trying to dig the puck out of the wall, when another fight breaks out. There’s been multiple tonight. Most of them they’ve started, but Aiden’s been at the middle of almost every one of them. When sixty-seven gets Rico, though, it’s me that slams him into the wall. He swings around, ready to fight; but the refs call it and he heads to the penalty box.

“You good?” I ask Rico as I skate past him. He nods.

“Let’s make this count,” he tells me.

I nod. We’re in a power play, and we’re going to use it. “Let’s do this!” I shout to my teammates. Adien’s got the puck and we crowd the goal. It’s a fight, but we’re not giving up until we score. I get the puck and fake left and fade right and shoot.Score! Sebastian slams into me first and then the rest of my teammates. We celebrate for a moment. It feels good, but we’re not done here. We need another score; we need to win.

We head back to the center for the beginning of the third period, energized from our goal. We’re ready to do this. We win the puck drop, and Aiden sends it to Sebastian, and he’s off. I’m across the ice from him and take it when Sebastian sends it to me. I advance on the goal and shoot, but their goalie keeps it out. Aiden digs it out from the wall and sends it, but they intercept it. I skate hard and fast. Suddenly, the world flips upside down, and white hot pain shoots through my shoulder.

Chapter 16

Chloe

A scream rises in my throat as number sixty-seven comes under Gunner and flips him. Gunner’s body twists in the air, and he hits the ice, shoulder first. I'm on my feet in an instant, terrified when Gunner doesn’t get back up. Aiden gets there first and slams sixty-seven into the wall; Sebastian and Zac get there a second later. Dylan joins them, and it’s an all-out brawl. But I can’t take my eyes off Gunner. He’s on his knees now, but he hasn’t gotten up. The refs manage to break up the fight, and Gunner gets to his feet. I watch as he skates over to the bench, but his left arm hangs, and he cradles it. My stomach recoils. I’ve been a hockey fan long enough to know a season-ending injury when I see it, and that cheap shot was delivered in a way to take Gunner out. I’m moving through my row before I even think about it. My mind is already racing with what this could mean for Gunner, for the team. I’m also thinking of the seventy ways I can destroy number sixty-seven's future. I’m very good at my job, and if Gunner’s season is done or his future ruined, I will take it on myself personally to destroy number sixty-seven's career.

When I get a clear look at the ice again, Gunner is gone. Play has started once again, and Scott is playing Gunner’s position. My stomach clenches again, and I quickly make my way towards the exit. I hold up the badge attached to the lanyard hanging around my neck when I get close to security. They let me right through, and I begin making my way through the maze of hallways that will lead me to the medic area our team is using.My phone rings, and I’m ready to silence it until I see who it is. “Grandma May, are you okay?” I ask quickly.

“AmIokay? Is Big C okay? Did you see that hit?”

I breathe a sigh of relief, but it doesn’t last long as worry returns quickly for Gunner. “I saw it.”

“He wasn’t moving that arm.”

“I know. I’m heading there to check on him now.”

“It’s the kind of injury that takes a man out of the season.”

It’s silent as we both share a quiet moment. I square my shoulders. “I know.”

“You gonna do something about that slimeball that hit him.”

“Yes.”

“Good. Let me know what you find out with our boy.”

I don’t correct her. “I will.” Nobody stops me as I stride inside; the medical staff and I work together often. I will be the one that has to get a report to the media, if possible, before the end of the game. Fans will want to know what’s going to happen to their beloved captain. I see Gunner before he sees me. He’s sitting on the medic table with his shirt off and already arguing with the medical staff, even though it’s obvious he’s in a ton of pain.

“Coftman, are you causing problems in here?” I ask, stepping right up to the table. His eyes shoot to mine. His jaw tightens when they work on manipulating his shoulder; that’s the only sign that he’s in pain. “What’s the diagnosis?” I ask, getting right to business.

He doesn’t answer, not that I expected him to. “We think separated shoulder,” Trent, one of the team’s physicians says. “He’ll need x-rays to determine the extent of his injury. We’ll also be checking to see if he has a torn labrum.”

My eyes meet Gunner’s and hold for just a moment. Neither of us say anything, and yet we connect during that moment. We both know the severity of what they’re saying, and we both knowthe possibility of what it could mean. It could mean surgery, recovery, and maybe even missing the rest of the season. I’ve been in this position several times over the years, but I don’t think I’ve ever felt it quite so personal. I swallow and nod, taking in Trent’s words. I even write them down on my phone, so I get it right when I share it with the team and staff.

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