The third period starts and the next puck that comes Seth’s way, he blocks without even looking. He swats at it like it personally offended him with a scowl on his face, and when it goes flying away from the ice with such a rapid speed it almost makes it halfway down the court, I swear he’s looking right at me.
Get it together, Bri.Why would he be looking at you?
I provide an update to the medical director who communicates with Coach Steele the bad news about Penn.
“Okay, Coach said you’re out the rest of the game,” I tell him.
“Good thing we’re up,” he snorts, leaning back and finally relaxing on the bed. He’s calm now, but I can tell he’s itching to be back out there. These guys live for the adrenaline, the rush, and I can’t blame them. I feel it every time I work with athletes. The camaraderie, the thrill of winning. It’s addicting.
“It’s a good game,” I agree, my eyes drawn back to the ice like a magnet.
Penn says something in response that I barely register because I’m already getting lost in the moment again. The way the blades of the players slice across the ice, smooth and precise, leaving tiny shavings in their wake. The almost poetic rhythm of the game, the fluid motion of the players crashing into each other, rebounding off the boards, and chasing after that tiny black puck like their lives depend on it.
It’s chaos.
It’s grace.
It’s brutal.
And it’s… beautiful.
Most sports require direct contact with the ball, but hockey is different. The stick adds an extra layer of skill. It’s a delicate balance of power and finesse that few can master.
My phone buzzes in my back pocket, pulling me out of another daydream. My heart jumps when I see whose name is flashing across the ID. It’s one of the moms who traveled with Sawyer for her game this morning.
“Excuse me for a sec,” I say, stepping back from the noise to answer.
“Hi!” I say, a little too eager, hoping it’s good news that Sawyer got some playing time, they won, and are at the airport heading back to Brookhaven.
“Hey, Brianna. Sorry to bother you,” Kelly says. I can hear the concern in her voice. “Seth listed you as Sawyer’s emergency contact, and he’s not answering his phone, so I figured I’d try you instead.”
My stomach drops.
“What’s wrong?”
Kelly sighs a little and drops her voice. “Sawyer’s refusing to board the plane. She said she was really nervous for the flight home and needed a minute but when it came boarding time, she refused to get in line and started crying. I could tell she was embarrassed, so I pulled her aside so the other girls wouldn’t notice. The whole group’s on the flight, and they have to close the gate, but she won’t budge. Don’t worry, I won’t leave her, but we can’t drag her on the plane either.” She blows out a heavy breath. “I hate to ask, but… can you drive up to Boston in the morning? I’ve rebooked my flight back to Connecticut for free, but she said she won’t get on that one I rescheduled for tomorrow either. And look, I’d rent a car, but I’m beat and don’t think it’d be safe to drive through the night.”
I don’t even hesitate. “I’ll come. I can get there tonight.”
“Thank you.” Relief floods Kelly’s voice, but there’s still a thread of concern. “It’s going to be close to midnight when you get here. She’s exhausted. Do you think Seth would mind covering a hotel for the night? I can stay with her until morning if you’d rather come then. She’s calmer now, just wiped out. I think she needs the rest after the tough game she played.”
I can’t imagine Seth wouldn’t but if for some reason he’s not okay with that, I know that I will. I don’t even hesitate. Poor girl’s been through enough. She needs rest, and anything else can wait until the morning.
“Text me the address. Don’t worry about the cost. I’ll reimburse you.”
I check the time on my phone. Almost nine. The game’s wrapping up, Seth’s going to be exhausted and will still have to do post-game interviews. Kelly’s right, even if I leave now, it’ll be well past midnight by the time that I arrive in Boston. Poor Sawyer must be so scared.
I’m already calculating the route in my head, adrenaline kicking in. Exhaustion from the long day working with the team is buzzing beneath my skin, but there’s no way in hell I’m not driving to get her tonight. I can rest when I get there and drive her back in the morning after she’s gotten some rest.
“The game’s ending in ten minutes,” I add, already moving toward the exit. “I’ll update Seth as soon as he finishes interviews and then I’ll hit the road.”
“Thanks, Bri. Actually… she’s asking to talk to you now. Do you mind?”
My throat tightens, and I swallow hard. “Put her on.”
A few seconds later, I hear Sawyer’s small, muffled voice dim against the loud cheering in the stadium behind me. “Hey, Bri?”
Her voice is heavy with emotion, and I can tell she’s been crying.
