Page 178 of Monstrous Serpent

Connor juts his chin at the ice. “Twenty-eight's got a tell. Drops his right shoulder before he shoots.”

Yeah, noticed that shit earlier.

“First line, you're up!” Nieminen barks.

We hop over to the boards, Connor ahead of us. My eyes drift once again to the stands. Hunter’s arms are crossed, eyes intense. He nods, and I do the same back.

I’ve got this.

Settling between the hash marks and the blue line, my lips curl up into a shit-eating grin as Western Michigan’s winger drifts into position across from me. “You look tired. Or do you always skate like your legs are buffering?”

He sneers. “Surprised you can still skate.”

“Aww, you worried about me?”

“Knock it off.” The ref glares at us, then gets into position.

The puck drops, and Connor wins it, snapping it back to Knight.

Our defenseman pulls it to his forehand and fires it up the wall to Doyle, who takes it on his blade and drives hard up the boards, shoulder dipping to protect the puck. I push off my inside edge and cut toward the middle, staying just below the tops of the circles.

Doyle sends the puck across to me at the hash marks. I catch it in stride and step over the blue line as Ryan streaks wide down the left side. I pass it to him and drive hard to the net, dragging their winger with me.

Number twenty-eight elbows me, lifting my stick.

“Aw, look at you backchecking. Proud of you.”

“Shut the fuck up.”

“Can’t. Doctor said it’s good for my recovery.”

He shoves me, but I snort and step around him to free myself up.

Connor has already planted himself in front of the goalie. But it doesn’t matter. Ryan can’t get a clean shot off. He passes to me, and I take it behind the net.

Shit.

Twenty-eight’s right on my back. Fuck this asshole. No way I’m getting hemmed in.

There’s a clear path to Knight at the point, so I pass to him. He receives the pass, walks the blue line, then takes the shot. Connor gets his blade on the puck enough to redirect it over the goalie’s pad and into the net.

I throw my hands up. “Yeah!”

The red light goes on, and the arena explodes.

I skate over to Connor and jump on his back. “Let's fucking go!”

Ryan wraps his arms around both of us, and I pull away to give them some space.

Knight nods at me. “Nice pass.”

“Nice shot.”

Fuck, it feels amazing to be back on the ice. To just be playing the game and not worrying about anything else, including how many points I have. Gave that up since there’s no way I can be named First Team All-American after missing half the season.

Honestly, I don’t even care anymore. I’m just lucky to play the game I love.

Doyle pats the top of my helmet. “Only two minutes left. We got this right?”