Page 102 of Catch
“I’ll go with you. Say the word.”
“Thanks, but it’s not necessary.”
“What was Renner saying?” Archie asks.
“That Ethan’s using me and fucking other people behind my back.”
“Do you believe him?”
I glance at Archie and then stare at the ice.
“No. Ethan’s been honest about what this is, and if he’s changed his mind, he’d tell me. I’m under no illusions. And since Ethan and I have spent most days and nights together, Renner is full of shit.”
I hope. Self-doubt is a sneaky pain in the ass, and he’s trying to rear his ugly head again.
This time, I don’t want to let him win.
CHAPTER 23
JETT
“Okay, here we go!” I announce and clap my hands. “The third period’s getting started.”
Thank fuck for distraction. I’m done talking about Renner and my love life. Even if Renner’s comments buzz around in my brain like an ear worm, I do my best to ignore it and focus on the game in front of me.
Five minutes in and it happens. The Cougars come blasting back in the third.
It happens so fast, that I nearly miss it. Ethan, with an assist by Axel, scores on a breakaway to tie up the game. I’m up on my feet, shouting and yelling, jumping up and down and hugging my friends as we celebrate. Ethan’s surrounded by his teammates, who pat his helmet and hug him. He looks up into the crowd and when he spots me, I shout out, “Way to go, Walrus!” His teammates must hear me, because they all look up, offering a wave. Ethan puts his glove to his face and then holds his hand out. It looks almost like he’s blowing me a kiss, but I’m probably imagining it. Or if he is, he’s offering it up to the crowd, not to me. I reach for my soda because I think I’m dehydrated, and I’m reading way too much into things.
Sutton fans are feral after that goal, and we’ve still got fifteen minutes to go.
After the on-ice excitement from Ethan’s goal finally calms, the players get back to it, and the rest of the period is a total nail-biter. Wisconsin hits back, and their offense is strong and aggressive, but the Cougars’ defense isn’t letting anything past them. Finn and Silas are in top form, hell, all the guys seemed to have come back stronger from their break.
Dane gets possession of the puck and takes it all the way down the ice with Ethan and Axel hot on his trail.
“Come on, come on,” I urge, and pull out my phone to record the play.
“Take it all the way, Dane!” Hudson yells.
One of Wisconsin’s defensemen moves to block Dane, but our captain passes the puck to Ethan just in time. Ethan takes a shot, low, but the goalie’s reaction time is spot on.
No goal.
“Shit, that was so close,” Archie comments.
“You can do this!” I shout. “Come on, Cougars! Let’s go!”
The puck’s back in play, and this time Axel gets possession. I’m mesmerized by the speed at which he dekes around Wisconsin’s forwards. Their D-men close in, but he manages to pass the puck to Ethan. Ethan takes it the rest of the way, but he’s suddenly blocked, barely managing to flip it back to Axel.
There’s an opening, and I hold my breath as Axel takes his shot.
The crack of the stick slamming against the puck is loud, and everyone in the stands is up on their feet watching with rapt attention. The puck zooms past the goalie’s blocker, and when the buzzer sounds, we erupt into another celebration. Chips are flying everywhere, and I’ve probably knocked over my soda, but I don’t care. We’re too busy jumping up and down and hollering until our voices are hoarse.
“Way to go, Axel!” I yell. “Cougars roar! Cougars roar!”
“I’ve never seen you this hyped up at any school game before,” Archie teases.
“I think I’m addicted to hockey.” I laugh. “It’s so fucking exciting. Did you see how fast that goal was? Where’s the replay? Ethan got an assist! A goal and an assist, holy shit!”
