Page 117 of Off The Rush
Luka chuckles, seeing right through my request. “Just admit it, JD – you want a selfie from her for your routine.”
I feel my cheeks heat up, embarrassed but unwilling to deny it. “Yeah, okay, fine. But it’s important, alright?”
Alec grins as he pulls out his phone, tapping out a quick message while Luka does the same. “Don’t worry, man. We’ve got your back.”
Moments later, my phone pings with a new notification. I eagerly open the message to find a stunning photo of Emma, her green eyes sparkling and a bright smile on her lips. She’s dressed in one of my jerseys and she’s never looked more beautiful to me.
The accompanying text reads:
Good luck tonight! I’m so proud of you all.
I feel a warmth spread through my chest at her words.
Coach never enters the locker room but we can hear him yelling from here.
The assistant coach, Benson, comes in with a smile. “You’re mine tonight, boys. Get out there.”
I step onto the ice, taking a deep breath as the chill of the rink washes over me. The sound of our skates cutting into the ice fills the air as we begin our warm-ups, each of us focused on the game ahead.
“Alright, boys, let’s give it everything we’ve got!” Coach Benson shouts from the bench, and we all nod in agreement.
We’re not just playing for ourselves; we’re playing for our teammates, for our family, and for those who stood up for us when it mattered most.
The game is intense right from the start. Both teams are giving it their all, and every play feels like a battle. But with each pass, each shot, and each save, our determination only grows stronger.
Finally, after a nail-biting third period, the buzzer sounds, signaling our victory. The entire team erupts in cheers, rushing onto the ice to celebrate together. I can hardly believe it – we fought for our right to play, and now we’ve come out on top.
“Great job out there, JD!” Alec says, patting me on the back as we head off the ice. Luka grins at me, his eyes shining with pride. “We did it, man.”
Inside the locker room, the celebration continues. There are hugs, high-fives, and more than a few happy tears. I look around at my teammates, feeling overwhelmed by gratitude.
“Thank you, guys,” I say, my voice hoarse with emotion. “You stood by us, and now we are going to the playoffs!”
As the team continues to revel in our victory, I slip out of the locker room, eager to find Emma and share this moment with her. I spot her waiting just outside the locker room, her eyes lighting up when she sees me.
“JD!” she exclaims, rushing toward me. My heart swells as I lift her into my arms, our lips meeting in a passionate and celebratory kiss. She wraps her arms around my neck, her laughter mingling with mine.
“We did it!” I whisper against her lips.
She smiles, her eyes shining with love and pride. “You did it, JD – all of you. And I’ve never been more proud.”
“I love you so much, Emma baby. Thank you for giving us this chance.”
She seals her lips to mine before whispering against them, “I love you too. I’m the luckiest girl in the world.”
I have everything I need.
Chapter 53
The warmth of JD’s arms around me and the taste of victory on his lips fills my heart with happiness. As we break from our passionate kiss, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride for him and his teammates.
“Come on, let’s get out of here,” Luka says, walking up with Alec and taking my hand as we walk toward the exit. Together, we head to the parking lot and pile into the car, ready to leave the rink behind and celebrate their victory.
“Okay, guys, I need all the details,” I say, unable to contain my curiosity any longer. “How did you manage to play today?”
“Well,” Alec starts, glancing at JD and Luka with a grin. “Coach was going to forfeit the game rather than let us play.”
“Seriously?” I ask, astonished by his stubbornness.
