Page 54 of Retaking the Shot
Three minutes into the first period, Coop made a break toward the goal. He passed the puck to Sexton, who evaded one of Colorado’s defenders and then he passed it back to Coop. With one hard swing of the stick, Coop sent the puck sailing past the goalie and into the net.
The crowd jumped to their feet, the goal horn blaring, and immediately everyone began chanting “MVP” over and over as Coop skated around the back of the net with his arms raised.
“Your man is looking good out there.” Kaylee grinned.
She wasn’t wrong. Seeing Coop in his element, doing what he loved, was incredible to witness. It was as though he was on top of the world when he was on the ice.
After that first goal, the momentum stayed on the Bruins’ side, and they ended up winning three to zero.
Kaylee and I followed the thousands of other fans out of the arena and headed toward Flanagan’s.
The bar was crowded,just as it always was after a game, but I spotted the open table in the back. I waved at the manager, Steve, who I’d met a few times, and led Kaylee over to it.
“Is it okay for us to sit here?” she wondered.
I nodded. “Yeah, this is where the team hangs out after the game, so the bar keeps a couple of tables open for them.”
Her eyes widened. “The team is coming here?”
“Yep.” I smirked. “You cool with that?”
She pushed back from the table. “I need five minutes.”
I laughed as she rushed off with her handbag toward the restrooms. While waiting for her to return, my phone chimed with an incoming text.
Hey, baby. Are you at Flanagan’s?
Yeah. We’re at one of the team’s table
Ok. The guys and I should be out of here soon
Ten minutes later, Kaylee returned, looking like she had undergone a small makeover in the restroom.
“Five minutes, my ass. Did you put on more makeup?”
She glared at me as she took a seat. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me we were going to hang out with the team.”
“I thought you wanted to meet Butcher.”
“I do. But you need to give a girl a heads-up.”
“Fine. Let me buy you a drink to make up for it.”
She smiled. “I’ll take a martini. Extra dirty.”
“Of course. Wouldn’t expect you to order anything else.”
Steve was helping behind the bar and came over right away. “Hey, Ford. What can I get you?”
“I’ll take an extra dirty martini and a Coke.”
“You got it.”
As he was preparing our drinks, the entire place erupted in cheers. I turned to see Coop, followed by the usual suspects, entering the bar.
Coop smiled when he spotted me, and I jerked my head toward the table where Kaylee sat alone—a silent plea for him to get over there before his teammates scared her off. Or maybe she’d scare them off. Either was possible.
He nodded and then clapped Butcher on the shoulder and led him over to my friend.
