Page 19 of Power Move
I’m reminded of the other week, when it was me standing near him in the Slash’s locker room, readying to step onto the ice together. “I do too. It’ll be hard returning to a Slash jersey after this. I want to do a good job out there. Good enough to stay.”
He lays his hand on my shoulder. The tip of his thumb brushes along my neck in a soft caress. “You will. Focus on one play at a time. You’re on a line with Morgan, so that’ll help. Jonas is great at reading his line mates and adapting to them. And whenever I’m out there with you, I’ll have your back.”
“I know you do. Thanks.”
He bumps his fists to mine, something I’ve seen him do with his other teammates before the start of games. Others claim his attention, and I stick close to Morgan as we head into the tunnel. The home fans boo us as we take the ice and it feels more real than ever right now.
Every seat filled, the arena looks like a sellout. My nerves settle a bit once the puck drops and my mind focuses completely on the moment. Maxim and Quinn’s line is strong, starting off the game. They battle hard and dominate. Rhys and Remy work well together.
I keep my attention on Quinn. When he comes off the ice, I need to go on. Maxim skates over at the same time, with Nicklas dumping and chasing the puck. I hop over the boards with Morgan and race to join the play. Nicklas plays the puck around the boards, and Edmonton’s massive defenseman gains control, knocking it to their star center.
Jonas barrels in, delivering a check that knocks the puck loose. I get my stick on it and fly up the ice. Skating fast is one thing I know I can do. Morgan keeps pace in the corner of my vision.
Bam!Something slams into my side, sending me careening onto my hands and knees, and across the ice. The boards rush up fast. I twist to avoid my foot colliding with it, and take the hit to my back instead.
My stick is who knows where, and I’m jarred, but I rush to stand and get my bearings. I think the massive defenseman hit me.
Rhys is still on the ice, and he crashes into that guy. The whistle blows as the two exchange words. The ref signals a roughing penalty on Rhys. Two minutes in the box.
I find my stick and skate back to the bench. Remy opens the door for me. “You okay?”
“Fine. Annoyed that I didn’t get a shot off before he hit me.”
“You’ll get another one.” He pats my shoulder.
The penalty kill unit is out there trying to keep Edmonton off the scoreboard. Rhys is in the box for defending me. I feel helpless sitting here, but all I can do is wait for my next shift.
I’m on the edge of my seat, watching Edmonton with the extra attacker dominate in our end. They make one too many passes, and Maxim gets the puck, clearing it up the ice.
Quinn’s coming off, and Coach sends me out. I win the puck from Edmonton’s winger in the neutral zone. The penalty box door opens and Rhys tears out, joining the rush. Powering toward him, I pass the puck. He dodges a defenseman, closes in on the goalie, and shoots the puck through the five hole.
The goal light flashes and he pumps his arms in the air.
“Yes!” Breath heaving and so freaking happy, I fly into the teammates hugging him.
He bends his head, tapping our helmets together. “Nice moves. Way to make an impact.”
“It was a team effort.”
The PA announcer’s voice rings out. “Minnesota goal scored by number seven, Rhys Farrell. Assist by number eleven, Sage Murray. Time of the goal, ten minutes, thirty seconds of the first period.”
We skate to the bench and bump gloves with our teammates. The tension in my muscles eases. It’s only one assist, but it’s my first point in this league.
I hope it won’t be my last.
CHAPTER 6
RHYS
The players’parking lot fills with sounds from my teammates exiting the bus that carried us here from the plane. The sky is a dark blanket of navy blue. Cold air seeps into my skin, my breath puffing out in clouds. There’s a hush to this time of night… or day. Three-thirty is technically morning, but sunrise won’t be here for another three hours or so.
“I’ve always loved the city in the middle of the night.” Sage raises his face to the sky and smiles like we didn’t just spend three and a half hours on a plane. Or an exhausting hard-fought three hours going skate to skate with Seattle earlier tonight.
Coming off two games in two nights, which capped off that long road trip, Coach gave us tomorrow off. I plan to sleep in. With Sage. “You still up for coming home with me?”
“Definitely.” He smiles at me and I long to slip my arm around his shoulders. But only our closest friends know we’re hanging out. Dating? Are we dating? I don’t want to telegraph it to the team until I know we’re serious.
Sage and Morgan were pivotal players for us in those last two games. We beat Edmonton, and Sage got an assist there, plus proved himself on the penalty kill. We lost to Seattle, but the pair each scored a goal, and Sage had another assist.
