Page 85 of One Shot

A tap on my shoulder some time later spooks me. Whirling around, I almost punch Tyler. Tyler and Connor are standing before me. I didn’t expect anyone here.

“Dude, I would have punched you.”

“Doubtful,” Tyler teases walking over to his locker. “Why are you here so early?”

“I’m assuming the same reason you two are. I didn’t want to get kicked out of the game by killing Kovek before it started.”

A long, weary breath escapes me.

“I’ve never seen you this worked up before,” Connor states, “but it makes sense. I wish we could just kick the guy out.”

“Me too,” Tyler and I both exclaim.

“How am I supposed to make it through this game without punching the guy?” I ask my friends.

“You think about her any time you want to,” Connor replies.

“He’s not worth it,” Tyler pauses, unpacking his gear to look me square in the face. “Luc, Laur, and your future in hockey aren’t worth losing,”

“He will get what’s coming to him eventually,” Connor says, reassuringly patting me on the shoulder. “Is she coming to the game?”

“I’m not sure. I want her to do whatever is best for her, and that’s exactly what I told her.”

They both nod and silently continue to unpack their bags into their lockers. We don’t say much else until the full team is here.

“That scout for Nashville is here,” Jamison Clarke says to no one in particular.

Great, now I really can’t fuck up with Kovek or my future will be on the line. I haven’t told anyone yet, but right now Nashville would be my number two choice if I could pick from all the NHL teams. Chicago is my number one. My dad would probably have a heart attack if I signed with the Blackhawks. I feel a pang of guilt knowing Liam was very interested in talking with Nashville scout. I wonder how badly four games on the bench is going to impact his career opportunities.

It’s time to go out on the ice. I avoid any glances toward the opposing team’s bench and side of the ice as we warm up. I don’t even remember what Nathan Kovek looks like, but I know he’s number twenty-two. I see the number on the back of his jersey out of the corner of my eye. I am filled with an overwhelming dark anger. If I’m not careful, it’s going to consume me during this game.

The National Anthem starts, and I take a few deep breaths, trying to focus on the game, making Laur proud, and thinking about how he is sitting right where I made my beautiful girlfriend come in ecstasy.

“You good?” Connor asks, noticing the smirk that slid across my face while thinking about what Laur and I were up to on the opposing team’s bench.

“As good as I can be,” I respond through clenched teeth.

“Well, we all knew he wasn’t good enough to make first shift this year,” Tyler jokes, attempting to ease some tension.

I laugh, noticing that Kovek is on the bench. He was second or third shift I think earlier this year, looks like he’s not improving his game. Meanwhile, I’ve been vigorously improving mine.

I manage to go eighteen minutes of the first period without encountering Kovek on the ice. Now, he’s suddenly behind me as I bring the puck up the ice. I pass it off to Tyler. He shoots, but his shot’s blocked. Fuck.

Kovek has control of the puck now. I feel the unhinged rage filling every inch of my body. This pathetic excuse for a human bruised my girlfriend. He broke her inside and out. Without hesitation, I check him hard against the boards, throwing my entire weight into it and tripping him in the process. The whistle blows.

“What the fuck, Donato,” Kovek says to me.

“You ever speak to me again Kovek and I swear to God—” Tyler is at my side before I go at him. I have never started any fights my entire life of playing hockey. I have tried my best to stay out of it.

“Shake it off in the box,” Connor says.

Fuck. I couldn’t tell you the last time I even got a penalty I deserved.

“You got this; we got this,” Tyler says, skating by me.

I skate to the penalty box only wishing I hit Kovek harder. There’s less than a minute left of the period, so my penalty will go into the second period. The score is still 0-0 at least.

I know I am going to get a talking to from Coach in the locker room, so I go to him first.

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