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The crowd cheers.
I want to disappear. I want my whole person to vanish into nothingness, leaving nothing but a puddle of this goddamn Blizz suit behind.
With my arms trembling from exertion and rioting nerves, I lift the flag high above my head and wave it back and forth in big movements.
The crowd gets louder.
Torn between laughing and fucking sobbing, I carefully skate the rest of the way to center ice.
I have no idea which way I’m supposed to face, so I turn to face where I think the home bench is. The visibility is better than I expected in this bobblehead, but it’s still far from great.
My arms start to really shake.
Why is waving a flag so hard?
Finally, the spotlight leaves me, and I lower the flag.
If I’m going to make it off this goddam ice without falling again, I need a break.
The announcer’s voice bounces through my skull as the opposing team enters the rink, and that’s when I realize we’re playing Chicago.
Just perfect.
I prop the end of the pole against my hip and straighten my arms so the flag is jutting up and out. Then I sway, the flapping fabric following the movements.
It’s the best I got right now. And if anyone is focused on me at this point, that’s their problem.
Chapter 75
Luke
On our cue,we race onto the ice as a team.
I shoulder Zach as I skate next to him, and he shoulders me back.
We’ve already warmed up, but these laps around our half of the ice are for the crowd. And to get the rest of the jitters out.
I’ve wondered all day if Natalie would be here tonight. Or if she just has to lie to her dad again and tell him she’s going.
Tonight. I will message her tonight.
The announcer starts to call out the starting lineup, so I listen for my name.
When he calls it, I jump into a short sprint and slide to a stop beside Jackson near center ice.
I try not to look. Try to keep my gaze forward. But my eyes drop on their own, focusing on Blizz’s thick ass. But it’s only because he’s swaying back and forth, practically shaking it for the crowd. It’s the motion that drew my attention.
I blink and jerk my eyes away from the yeti’s rump and focus on getting my head back in the game.
Chapter 76
Natalie
There’sno one to give me a cue, but as soon as the national anthem ends, I turn and start toward the exit behind the goalie net—the way I came in.
And, of course, I crash into someone.
Before I can lose my balance, gloved hands grip my shoulders. “Whoa, dude.”
