Page 3 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

His helmet is off. His face is white as the ice beneath him. He is looking at me like this is somehow his fault.

I know that look.

Every rookie has one moment when the game gets too big and too fast and too cruel.

One bad bounce. One missed read. One second that they wish they could get back.

Ethan’s hands hang useless at his sides.

I force my left hand to move -barely an inch. It feels like lifting a truck.

Still, I manage the smallest nod I can. I’m okay.

Or at least, that is what I need him to believe.

The woman follows my gaze. She sees Ethan, then looks back at me.

“You can worry about everybody else later.”

I blink at her. “What?”

“Right now…” She braces my shoulder with careful hands. “You’re my patient.”

Another wave of pain crashes through my chest.

I squeeze my eyes shut. Everything tilts. Everything hurts. The arena lights dissolve into white.

Twelve seconds. If I could have those twelve seconds back…

***

………….. Colby’s legs are running on fumes.

I see it before anyone else does. His stride has shortened. His shoulders aren’t driving the way they should. He’s giving us everything he has left, but it isn’t much right now.

Toby pinches too deep.

Liam’s chirping again, which means his nerves are climbing.

Caleb stands motionless in the crease. Calm as stone.

And Ethan…

Ethan is thinking instead of playing.

I slide half a stride closer.

Not because Coach tells me to. Not because Ethan asks for help. Because that’s my job.

If everyone else gets through the next twelve seconds, everything will be fine.

The puck takes one ugly hop.

Straight toward Ethan.

***

No! Ethan reaches for the puck a fraction too late. It skips over the toe of his stick and lands on the tape of the opposing winger charging through the neutral zone.