Page 134 of Moms of Mayhem
Ty gave me a long-suffering look, then went back to the game.
The rest of the period was a war. One shot after another, bodies crashing into the boards, sticks clattering on the ice. Miles made a series of saves that had the Kodiaks’ fans groaning in disbelief.
At the horn, it was still 1-1, and every single player on our bench looked hungry.
Ty clapped a hand on my shoulder. “You good?”
I gave a slow nod, heart thudding, eyes still on the ice.
“I’ve never been this proud of anything in my life.”
The locker room was buzzing when we stepped inside—sweaty, hyped, half-shouting over one another as skates squeaked against rubber floors and sticks clattered into racks. The scoreboard read 1-1, but the energy in the room felt like we were already winning.
I waited a beat before stepping in front of the whiteboard, letting them burn off that adrenaline.
Ty followed me in, already unzipping his jacket, eyes sweeping the room like he was cataloging every bounce of the knee and crack of knuckles.
“Alright,” I said, loud enough to cut through the chaos. “Kodiaks are big, but they’re tired. Watch their line changes—second line’s gassed and late getting back. If we can catch ‘em on transition, they’ll fold.”
Heads nodded. Molly wiped sweat from her forehead, looking anything but tired.
“Delgado, keep doing what you’re doing on the blue line. Miles, you’re dialed in. Keep your glove hot.”
He gave a sharp nod from his stool, sipping water like it was rocket fuel.
“And Jace,” I said, catching his eye. “Their left defenseman’s falling for your outside move every time. Next shift, fake wide, cut inside, and take it to the net.”
Jace smirked. “You got it, Coach.”
Ty stepped up beside me, arms folded. “Stay smart. Stay aggressive. You’ve earned this. Go take it.”
As the team started to rise and regroup, I caught Jace’s shoulder and pulled him aside. His cheeks were flushed, hair slicked back, eyes still burning from the second period.
“Hey,” I said quietly, hand still on his shoulder. “No matter what the scoreboard says when this is over, I am so damn proud of you. Not because you scored. Not because you’re flying out there.”
His brows lifted, waiting.
“You’re playing with control. With purpose. You’ve earned every second you play out there by being the biggest hustler on the ice. I’m so fucking proud.”
His mouth twitched like he wanted to crack a joke but didn’t quite get there.
“I’m lucky to know you,” I finished, voice rough. “Lucky as hell to be part of this.”
Jace looked down, then back up with a grin I’d know anywhere.
“Cool.” He dropped his helmet down over his head andbuckled the chin strap. “But if number 6 takes a cheap shot at Molly one more time, my gloves are coming off.”
I huffed out a laugh and slapped his helmet. “Just don’t get thrown out of the damn game in the third period.”
He walked out with the rest of the team, fire in his veins.
I stayed back for one extra second, just breathing it in.
This team.
This moment.
This kid.
