Page 46 of Pucked Together

"We're sad to see you go, son. But let's play like it's the last game of all our careers, and after, we celebrate you at the Breakaway. I expect everyone to be there."

"Yes, Coach," the team says in unison.

"Alright, Game faces. Team captain?"

"Right here, Coach," Keelan rises from where he sat in front of his stall.

"Let's bring the heat."

"Yes, Coach," he smiles big. Always up for a challenge.

"Fire on the ice!" Fergie shouts from the back.

"Show em' what we're made of, boys," Coach adds.

I know I can't see her. But even with the screaming fans, pounding music, and general mayhem—I can still feel her.

I can imagine what it would feel like to watch her wear my jersey and shout from the stands. Though if I were to guess, she's probably in a pair of yoga pants and a heatwave long-sleeve shirt, already too hot from moving around to capture the perfect shots.

I hear banging on the glass behind me.

"Hey, Goalie-zilla!"

I turn toward the sound and see Izzy with her camera aimed at me. I can tell she is taking a series of shots and is laughing as she moves to the other side of the arena, clicking through her photos.

"Damn it," I whisper to myself. She probably got me looking stupider than usual. I'll make her pay later.

The puck drops, and Keelan and the Avalanche team captain face off. Keelan wins the puck for our team, and the game gets going.

Already, the section behind the away team bench is going nuts. Our fans are known for getting rowdy and busting the other team's chops.

The puck quickly changes hands, and the Avalanche centerman comes straight for me with both my defensemen, Sincaid and O’Connor, getting blocked.

I take a deep breath and anticipate his moves, launching myself across the net to block the oncoming shot.

Saved.

The crowd goes wild, and the Heatwave takes control of the puck again.

I can see in my peripheral the opening and closing of a small section of the glass where Izzy is capturing photos. There are a few stations for the photographers, and I have them all memorized. It takes everything in me to stay focused and not get distracted by the thought of her watching me.

"Wooo! That's how we do it, boys!" Keelan is bouncing towards the locker room and can hardly contain his excitement.

We won 3-0, and I don't know if it was knowing that Izzy was watching the entire time, but I was on my A-game. I blocked 38 shots. Nothing made it past me. A shutout game. The first of the season.

The guys slap me on the back or rub my head as they make it past me. I stop at the locker room entrance, where Keelan is leaning on the door frame. He looks me up and down with his arms crossed and a red lollipop in his mouth.

"You played well, B."

"Thanks."

"Doesn't negate the fact that you're still on my shit list, but...you did good."

Wow. He really does have such a way with words.

"Heads up, your girl's coming," says Fergie from behind me, waving at Izzy coming down the hall.

I look at Keelan, who shakes his head and turns to his sister.