Page 63 of Barn Burner
Hat trick.
He scores a fucking hat trick.
I’m unable to stop my eyes from filling with tears as his teammates swarm around him. Fans throw their hats onto the ice, and if it was possible, the energy in the building increases even more.
The camera pans to where he’s sitting on the bench, his eyes wide in a trance as he stares at something and chews on the corner of his mouthguard. My knee doesn’t stop moving, hands twisting in my lap as he takes the ice for his final shift, but the other team seems to have given up. Players sit on the bench with their heads in their hands. There’s no way they can claw back four goals in the final minute. They played hard, but it wasn’t enough to beat the Bobcats.
The clock dwindles down. Fans are on their feet, waving their rally towels in the air. The atmosphere is electric, and when there are five seconds left, the Bobcats’ bench clears. Helmets, gloves, and sticks are thrown in the air as they swarm the ice and head to their goalie.
With emotion lodged thick in my throat, I can’t stop the tears from falling down my face.
He did it. He fucking did it.
A year ago, he was being torn apart when he was at his lowest. He doubted his worth, his value. But then he came back stronger than ever, and he brought the Cup back to Calgary for the first time since the year I was born.
He proved everyone wrong, but not me.
I knew he could do this. I knew he was capable. And I’m so fucking proud of him.
Brayden’s face appears on the jumbotron screen. His eyes are red and glassy. His beautiful smile is so wide you could probably see it from the moon.
“Come! Let’s go see them!” Greta says, tugging on my arm.
I shake my head. “I can’t. They’ll see us.” I motion to the fans and the cameras. We’ve been conscious of keeping our relationship private, and I don’t want to risk ruining all that. No matter how much I want to run down and take him in my arms right now.
“Pfft,” she says, blowing a raspberry. “Trust me, he’ll want to see you.”
Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I think it over for a moment before nodding. “Okay, but my brothers can come, too, right?”
She nods and throws her arms up in the air. “Of course!”
We make our way down to the ice level, flashing our passes at security, and watch from the sidelines as the Stanley Cup is carried out, and the league commissioner goes through thepresentations. The Bobcats captain, Henrik Hallström, is the first to lift the Cup, and then he passes it on to the alternate captains. When it’s Brayden’s turn, I take my phone out and film him with a wide grin. He brings it to his lips, kissing the trophy before holding it over his head.
Once the presentation and photos are done, they allow us to step onto the ice. The guys head straight for their significant others, and I catch the moment Brayden looks around, as if he’s searching for me. When his eyes land on me, his face lights up, and he skates over to me. I hold out my arms, and he launches himself at me. I catch him in my arms as he wraps his around my neck. His skates make him the same height as me, but he still hides his face in my neck and sobs happily.
“I’m so fucking proud of you, baby,” I say, kissing his neck. “So fucking proud. There’s no one on Earth who deserves this more than you do.”
I tighten my hold on him as his body shakes and continue telling him how much I love him and how proud I am of him.
He lifts his head, eyes red and wet. I wipe my thumbs over his flushed cheeks before cupping his face and smiling.
“You’re a champion, baby.”
He lets out a choked laugh. “Fuck. I can’t believe it.”
“I can,” I say. “People might not always see it, but I do. You’re the brightest star in the night sky, Brayden, and nobody can ever dull your shine.”
“I want to kiss you so bad.”
“So do it.”
With my brothers shielding us, I reach up and take my hat off. I hold it by our faces, blocking out the nearby cameras. He grins widely. Taking my face between both hands, he slams his lips on mine.
I’m aware of another blast of confetti falling around us, but right here in this moment, all that matters is Brayden.
And he will continue to be all that matters for the rest of my life.
Epilogue
