Page 63 of Racking Up Penalties
I feel it then, a surge of gratitude so powerful it threatens to overwhelm me. These guys, my teammates, they’re offering a sense of belonging I didn’t even realize I was missing.
“Alright, let’s get out there,” Liam says, his voice filled with renewed vigor.
As we disperse, gearing up for practice, I catch Liam’s eye. There’s a shared understanding there, a silent acknowledgment of the support surrounding us.
The cold bite of the rink seeps through my jersey as I step onto the ice, my skates carving a familiar path. Liam is beside me, his presence a steady force that matches my stride.
There’s a different energy between us now, electric and humming beneath the surface. The others might not see it, but they feel it.
Liam picks up speed, and instinctively, so do I. Our movements sync up as if we’re two parts of the same whole. His lean figure cuts through the air effortlessly, dodging imaginary opponents, and I mirror him, one beat behind.
“Nice pass!” I shout as the puck flies from his stick to mine without a second’s hesitation.
“Keep up, Matthews!” he calls back, though I’m already there, anticipating his next move before he makes it.
We break away from the rest, setting up a drill that’s second nature by now. But today, it’s different. Today, our execution is sharper, our coordination more precise.
A few people are in the stands watching but it’s hard to make them out.
The puck skates across the ice, a blur against the chilled surface. Liam’s stick intercepts it with an ease that speaks of years spent on rinks just like this one; he doesn’t hesitate. In one fluid motion, his body pivots, and he sends me a pass that cuts through the opposing defensive drills like they’re nothing but shadows.
I weave through the makeshift obstacles, each player from our team watching now, their faces a mix of concentration and quiet awe. They’ve seen us play before, have watched as we awkwardly danced around each other on the ice, our movements disjointed by a history we’d kept tucked away.
But not today.
Today we are working together.
“Nice shot!” Liam cheers when I send the puck sailing into the net, and his voice holds genuine pride.
“You set it up perfectly,” I answer, acknowledging the assist that made it happen.
“Beautiful play!” Reed calls out, and there’s a cheer in his tone that lifts me even higher.
“Like poetry, man,” Alec adds, his smile broad beneath his helmet.
The practice continues, each drill reinforcing what we already know—we’re better together than we ever were apart.
Movement in the stands catches my eye and I freeze. An older man is leaving. In the quick glance I can spare, he looks a lot like my Grandfather but that’s impossible.
“Matthews! Johnson! That’s the teamwork I want to see!” Coach’s voice booms across the rink, his approval a tangible thing that wraps around us and distracts me from the stands.
I catch Liam’s eye as we circle back, preparing for another run and he grins.
As practice winds down, I skate over to Liam, bumping his shoulder lightly with mine.
The Zamboni lumbers onto the ice, signaling the end of our time here today. But as Liam and I head toward the bench to shed our skates, I feel a sense of peace settling over me. The confusion, the anger, all the tangled emotions that once defined our relationship—they’re giving way to something else. Respect, maybe even the beginnings of brotherly love.
“Want to plan a study date with Tessa?” Liam asks.
Tessa deserves all the love for bringing Liam and me together.
“Yes,” I say, slinging my arm around his shoulders as we walk toward the locker room.
Chapter 30
The doorbell chimes and I know my girl is behind it.
“Coming!” I call out, jogging to the door. The chill of anticipation tickles my spine, even if I try to play it cool.
