Page 94 of Hockey 101

We’re nervous going into the third. Emily crosses her fingers on both hands. I really hope they can score first this period.

But there isn’t any scoring at all in the first fifteen minutes of the period. Both teams get chances, but nobody finishes.

Pretty sure that’s a cross-check, I mutter as a Hunter player whacks his stick into Jack’s back.

Open your eyes, ref! Emily yells for me. Her sweet personality transforms when she walks into an arena.

Astonishingly, her taunt works. When a Hunter player hooks his stick around Jack’s waist to prevent him from skating away with the puck, there’s a whistle and a penalty call.

Power play, Emily cheers.

And when Jack lines up for the face-off, I squeeze her arm. Jack’s on the top power play unit! That’s never happened before. He’s out there with all the Mustangs’ best players.

She nods, with her eyes glued to the ice. And he’s only a freshman. Andy, that’s amazing.

I have to remind myself to breathe as the Mustangs whip the puck around with full control.

Clink. We groan at the sound of the puck hitting the goal post.

So close, Emily laments. But the Mustangs still have the puck, and Big Z sends it back to the point. Jack takes a hard slapshot and the puck sails towards the net. I jump out of my seat, but I lose sight of the puck in the mass of bodies battling in front of the Hunter goalie.

I see the red light flash behind the net, and Emily shrieks, Goal!

We jump up and down and cheer.

It was Jack! Jack scored! she screeches into my ear.

I nod excitedly. I hope it was Jack, but there were too many players around to be sure. Jacob can show me a replay later. And, best of all, Jack can tell me how it feels to score such a big goal.

Unfortunately, having the lead makes the game even more stressful as the Mustangs try to hold on as Hunter pushes hard. They pull their goalie, so that the last two minutes are spent battling and shooting in our zone. I think Jack blocks as many shots as the goalie. But by the time the final buzzer sounds, Monarch has won: 3-2. And our voices are almost gone.

Jack played insanely well tonight, Emily croaks. I bet it’s because you guys got back together. Or because you’re wearing his jersey?

Or because he’s just that good? I croak back.

She puts her arm through mine as we make our way out of the stands. You’re a romantic, just like me, she says.

Maybe I am. But right now, I still have work to do. Emily tags along as Jacob and I figure out how to handle the story logistics.

As I’m finishing up with Jacob, strong arms wrap around my waist and someone kisses my ear. I turn and see Jack’s movie-star smile. Then he spins me around and holds me at arm’s length.

Hey, beautiful, he says.

Hey to you too, Mr. Game Winning Goal. I can’t help grinning too.

Jacob mutters something about nauseating young love and leaves. Emily steps back, both to give us privacy and to admire the hockey team as they exit the dressing room.

Fuck. It’s so good to hold you again. And your voice is kinda sexy, he murmurs into my ear.

That’s your fault. Too much cheering, I reply.

I’m really glad you were here to see that goal. Wish it was prettier though, I think it went in off the Hunter defenceman’s butt.

There’s beauty in chaos, I reassure him, and he gives me a genuine smile. I got to see the replay, and it ricocheted off multiple players. It’s lucky that the puck went in at all.

Jack has only a few minutes before his bus heads back to Monarch, so we discuss how we can meet later.

The team will stop to eat on the way home, so I won’t be home before midnight. Is that too late? he asks.

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