Page 73 of Say It Isn't Snow
I’m fired up to get out there and play with the teammates who have become like brothers to me over the last several months.
The Mayfield Mavericks team launch made a big splash across sports media outlets. This time, the PR frenzy didn’t send me into hiding.
The place is packed when I walk by the tunnel with Theo on our way to the locker room after warming up our muscles. He pauses, tapping my shoulder with his knuckles.
“Damn, sounds like the entirety of Mayfield showed up to watch us play.”
“Yeah. We better give them something to cheer about.”
He eyes me with a smirk, giving me a light shove. “I know that dopey ass look. You only care about one person yelling your name tonight.”
“Tonight and every night.”
He snorts. I grin, scanning the limited view of the lower bowl from the tunnel for my girl with the other WAGs.
Holly’s my girlfriend now, but there’s no doubt in my mind: she’s my future wife. Soon enough, I’ll finally give her the ring I bought months ago.
He grabs me by the back of my collar and drags me away. “Come on, lover boy. You’ll see her soon enough when we hit the ice.”
The other guys are going through their own stages of physical and mental preparation prior to a game. I pop a pair of headphones in my ears and sit on the bench at my locker to tape my stick while visualizing my goals.
Before Holly came back into my life, my visualization techniques focused solely on gameplay and running through the skills I worked hard to hone.
Now, I picture everything in my life I want to play for. I’m no longer dedicated to my job by my love of the sport alone, but driven by the good things that make me happier than I’ve ever been. It’s a way to unload anything I should let go of before the puck drops, leaving me focused.
Tonight might be my first game back since my contract was terminated midseason last year, but I’m playing better than ever. My reaction time is flawless and I chase the puck with everything I’ve got because I’m not holding back in my life anymore.
I’ve felt it in training this year, but I know it once I step on the ice—I’m unstoppable tonight.
I’m locked in, ready to win against our opponents.
Fans shout my name when I skate around the edge of the rink to get my legs ready. I wave, tossing a few pucks to kids with homemade signs.
At last, I spot my girl standing at the glass to watch warm-ups when I reach the section she’s sitting in a few rows up withthe other players’ partners and Layla. My sister gives me a wave from her seat.
“Watch out. Hot heartbreaker alert,” Holly says.
She’s filming me on her phone and blows me a kiss. I catch it with my glove and tuck it against my heart, giving her a wink.
Pieces of her hair are pulled up in two spots, tied with blue bows to match the team colors. Best of all, she’s wearing my jersey. She sewed on glittery pink beads to add hearts to it.
I’ll never tire of seeing her wearing my name and number. She’s mine for life.
“You look good.” My gaze rakes over her.
She spins, showing off the back of the jersey. “Oh, you like it?”
“You in my jersey? Fuck yes.” My voice lowers just enough that she’ll still hear it through the glass dividing us. “I’ll like it even better when it’s the only thing you have left on later.”
Her cheeks redden and she plucks the material for emphasis. “I wanted to let everyone here know that’s my man scoring out there.”
“Yours and only yours. Know that every puck I put in the net is all for you,” I promise.
Theo skates by, busting my balls. “Game time, lover boy.”
Grinning, I hold up my glove against the glass. Holly puts hers against the other side.
“See you after.”
