Page 148 of Player Misconduct
I pull my helmet back on, ready for the next shift, when I notice a ripple move through the lower rows behind our bench. Heads turning, voices rising, Peyton standing up and waving her arms like she's trying to flag down a helicopter.
My stomach drops.
No.
Not now.
Not here.
I yank my helmet back off, half-standing, scanning the crowd for Kendall. She's still in her seat, but her face has gone pale, one hand pressed to her belly, the other gripping Vivi's arm.
And then Peyton's voice cuts through the noise, loud and unmistakable:
"HER WATER BROKE!"
The arena collectively gasps.
Then erupts.
I'm over the boards before I think, skates hitting the rubber mat, gloves flying off, stick clattering to the ground.
"Mäkelin!" Coach Haynes shouts behind me. "What the hell—"
"Time out, Coach!" I yell over my shoulder, already sprinting toward the tunnel. "We're having a baby!"
The buildingexplodes.
The tunnel is chaos.
Security trying to figure out what's happening. Equipment staff shouting questions. Theo materializes out of nowhere with a medical bag like he's been waiting for this moment his entire life.
"I've got her!" I shout, rounding the corner into the stands.
Kendall's standing now—or trying to—one hand braced on the seat in front of her, the other pressed to her lower back. Vivi's on one side, Peyton on the other, both of them talking over each other in rapid-fire instructions I can't begin to process.
"Breathe, Kendall. Just breathe."
"We need to get her to the car—"
"Someone call an ambulance—"
"Iamthe ambulance," I interrupt, dropping to my knees in front of Kendall. "Hey, Doc. You okay?"
She looks at me, eyes wide, a laugh bubbling up through the panic. "I think our baby really likes hockey."
"Takes after his dad," I say, grinning despite the adrenaline flooding my system. "Can you walk?"
"I can—" she starts, then her face goes tight, breath hitching. "Oh. Contraction."
"Okay. Okay." I rise, already scooping her up bridal-style. "I've got you."
"Aleksi, you're still in skates—"
"I've skated in worse conditions."
Vivi's already moving, purse in one hand, phone in the other. "I've got her hospital bag in the car. Penelope's calling ahead. Go!"
Peyton shouts from behind us, "Someone film this for the baby book!"
