Page 88 of Penalty Zone

My gloves are off, and I’m punching. “You did that on purpose. I saw you.” I’m not in control of myself, seeing only Leo’s lifeless body on the ice.

“You know I didn’t mean to do that.” Mason blocks my blows.

“You hurt him. I saw the look in your eyes, asshole.” He’s not hitting me back.

“Fuck you,” he spits.

“Break it up.” Ace pulls us apart.

My first NHL fist fight is with my former best friend.

Ace holds Mason, and Liska gets me in his iron grip. I’m breathing heavily through my nose and sound deranged.

“You’re on the same team. You got aggression? Take it out on Cincinnati. You good?” Fury rolls off Ace.

“Fine.” Mason shrugs out of Ace’s hold and fixes his jersey.

Liska doesn’t let go of me, and we skate to the goal he was warming up in. “He vants you to play. You play. Mason can vait.”

My jaw ticks, reminding me of Leo’s crooked bones, and tears come to my eyes.

“He’ll be fine. You play, he gets better, you kiss and make up.”

I stare at Liska, and he laughs, knocking me with a meaty shoulder.

“Vhen you came here, you followed me around and vanted to know everything.” He grins wider when I agree. “I know vhat your professional interest face looks like. And now I see hearts in your eyes. And his.”

My head spins, and it’s worse because Leo and I aren’t…but maybe we are.

“Play for Leo.” Liska taps me on the head and dismisses me.

I handled this entire situation wrong, acting as if my love for Leo is shameful. It’s not. I’m lucky to have a man like Leo love me, and I should shout it from the rooftops instead of hiding like a scared coward. Mason was right about that. I will never make Leo choose between us. Leo either loves me enough to make this work or not.

He suggested we tell Mason, and he told Ari Dimon. Leo isn’t afraid of what happens if people know. The worst part of my revelations is that my mother is right. Fuck. That’s annoying, but I won’t leave Leo again. If he ends our relationship, I’ll handle it, but I am never letting go if he doesn’t.

Liska plays the first period, giving me time to center myself, do some chanting, and block out the negative energy. I feel a swell of white light within me and know without a doubt it’s my mother at work. Sometimes her abilities astound me.

Both Coach and Liska check on me, and I won’t let them down. Cincinnati isn’t having a good season, and we’re up by two goals, so I’m confident.

Taking my place in the net, my pipes talk to me and are ready to assist.

Cincy’s aggressive and strips the puck from Lucky and makes quick passes to set themselves up. I hear Leo’s voice in my head quoting the stats of shots their right winger takes, and I listen, saving the high right when I would’ve fallen for the fake out.

I feed the puck to Ace, who also seems to have extra aggression.

Mason scores on his first shift in the second period, making the score three to one in our favor.

Cincinnati is relentless. I make three more saves, and another one is deflected off the pipes. I thank my pipe after we clear the puck.

Lucky and Drake battle two Cincy players against the boards. The puck flies free, and their center takes it around the back of the goal. Our defender cuts off the shooting angle, and we regain control.

We lose the puck on a shift change, and Mason covers a winger. Cincy sets up in a formation we’ve reviewed on tape a hundred times. I expect Mason to cut off his shooting angle as we practiced, and I ready myself for the shot after the pass. But Mason slows and doesn’t cut off either angle. I’m so stunned I’m a second too late to stop the puck, and the lamp lights up.

King gets in his face and mirrors my fury. King is one of the most levelheaded guys on our team, so his temper brings a shade of shame to Mason’s face.

We hit the locker room with a score of four to two, and I sit back and listen to Coach rip into Mason. I’m next and I deserve it. If I hadn’t been so sure of Mason’s play, I would’ve been ready.

“Won’t happen again, Coach.”

---