Page 42 of One Shot

It’s a longer shower than I had planned to take.

I’m still on a high a few days later. It’s been busy as hell getting ready for our first game of the season. I’ve only seen Lauren in passing. I was worried she was avoiding me, but then I realized I’d barely seen Bren either, which means Liam has barely seen her since I’ve been with himmost of the time. Coach is pushing us harder than ever before for this first game. I’m pushing the team too. This is our season—I can feel it.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had first-game-of-the-season nerves. I’ve always chalked it up to excitement and an adrenaline rush, which both happen every game. It’s more than the typical jittery nerves. This will also be the first game that Laur has ever seen me play—at least since we’ve met.

It’s also the first Wyverns game she is watching without Nick on the team. I wish there was something I could do for her.

Chapter twenty-one

Lauren

Mom let me skip a day of high school for Nick’s first game as a Wyvern his freshmen year. I drove up by myself to get there early. I wanted extra time on campus, plus Bren was already part of the Wyverns’ student marketing program. She promised to try to save me a seat by her and to sneak me into the arena early before the general public.

Bren, of course, succeeded with both. I instantly spotted Nick on the ice. I had never seen Nick so giddy. He was clearly in his element. He didn’t seem nervous at all—he never did.

“Come on,” Bren said. “I’m going to interview Nick before the game. You can sit in. I already cleared it with Coach.” Now I was giddy! But for some reason, I was nervous for Nick. He had been waiting to play for this team his whole life, just like Dad did.

Bren asked Nick how he was feeling before his first college game especially as the son of the legendary Nico Bellinger.

“My dad instilled a passion for hockey in me as soon as I could walk, but my love, dedication, and drive are all from wanting to be right here after years of playing hockey. I’ve been dreaming of this day for a very long time. I’ve never been more ready to take that one shot at my dreams. I know it’s just the beginning.”

I snapped over a thousand photos of Nick during that game. It was an intense game against the East Michigan Eagles. The teams seemed to go shot for shot. The Wyverns were three to three with the Eagles with two minutes left of the game when the Wyverns stole possession of the puck. Nick was at the front of the net, waiting for a pass. Hescored the game-winning goal. The crowd roared for him, louder than I had ever heard a crowd cheer. At that moment, it was crystal clear that Nick was going to be a Wyverns legend.

Walking into the arena today for the first game of the season wasn’t going to be easy. But just like Nick said in his first game interview, my love, dedication, and drive all stem from wanting to be exactly where I am right now. Bouncing around my room to get ready, I realize I can’t stop moving. The first game has me so antsy—I’m not sure if it’s nerves or if it’s excitement. I mentally go through the list of everything I need to bring with me. I pick up my planner and see Nick’s little black book under it. I can’t believe I forgot about it. I throw it in my bag to look through later. Maybe it will give me inspiration for some writing or insights into the other team.

Earlier this week, our hockey girl gang released articles about the season on the Wyverns’ website and social media. There’s a piece about the team and seven articles about each of the Sexy Seven players. I wrote the two that feature Tyler and Lucas. Those two articles are the first official Wyverns work I put out into the world. Every single photo in the articles is one I’ve taken. I can’t believe I have my name as the photographer on all of them.

The photos from the shoot turned out incredible. The calendar is laid out and in production now. December is easily my favorite month, featuring the last photo I took of Lucas on the ice. Anyone who purchased the calendar was going to wish December was even longer so they can keep ogling over the sexy captain. Liam’s shots turned out even better. All the work that went into dropping the pucks paid off. Bren may or may not have swiped an unedited digital photo or two.She wasn’t kidding about making wallet sizes of Liam’s photos just for herself.

Campus is buzzing. People are talking about the pieces we released online and showing excitement about the calendar! We’ve been teasing a lot of calendar content on social media and starting our pre-sale orders at today’s game. I’ve scheduled social media posts to go out an hour before the game starts, at game start, and two throughout the game to drive even more awareness of the calendar and hopefully get more presales. We also shared a mockup of the special edition Nick Bellinger designed jersey! Today is a big day all around.

When I get to the rink, I feel a sense of calm. This is exactly where I am meant to be. I take out Nick’s notebook and flip through the pages until I find a page for the Comets—the team we are up against today. In Nick’s chicken scratch handwriting, I read:

So-so opponents, historically have a similar record to us

Wyverns won 10 out of 12 games last four years

#12 Donovan—don’t let anyone get in a fight with him

#72 Gabriel—weaker on left, avoid right side around glass, hard checks, put someone in hospital last year

I do a quick search on my phone to reveal the record is now twelve out of fourteen games in the last five years. Donovan has since graduated and plays for the San Jose Sharks. Gabriel is a senior. I’d like to avoid anyone on the team going to the hospital. I should tell Lucas what Nick wrote.

I walk into the arena and immediately find Bren. She informs me that I’m interviewing Lucas during the second intermission. I fidget with the hem of my shirt as unease fills my stomach. I had no idea I was going to interview him. She conveniently didn’t tell me, but despite my nerves I’m overjoyed at the opportunity. I will have exactly five minutes for the interview. There will be a camera person recordingwhile Libby takes a video from her phone for my reference later and for social media.

I nod with genuine enthusiasm. I’m following my dreams of being a part of the Wyverns’ Marketing team. It’s the first step towards my future career working for an NHL team. In the words of my brother, I’ve never been more ready to take that one shot at my dreams. I know it’s just the beginning.

I don’t have a chance to find Lucas before the game to tell him what I found in Nick’s notebook, but I have one of the towel boys put a note in his locker about the interview.

Chapter twenty-two

Lucas

Is there a different kind of energy in the arena than there has been in past seasons? Or is it just me being more conscious of my surroundings since Laur is here? I chalk it up to being a mixture of both. The locker room is buzzing with exhilaration; it seems like the other guys can feel it too.

I get my gear on and find a note in my locker. It reads, “Your good luck charm is interviewing you.” I know it’s only the start of the season, but I can’t imagine how it would feel without her here. I’m purposely the last one in the locker room. Liam yells at me from the door to hurry up. I walk over to Nick’s locker and tap the number 88.

“She’s here because of you, Bellinger. I will spend every second on the ice this season thanking you for that.”

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