Page 180 of On the Breakaway

We should be in a better spot by now, but we’re playing off.

I shake my hair off my forehead and remind myself that being tied 0-0 heading into the third period isn’t ideal, but it’s not a disaster either. During the first two periods, we’d controlled possession for long stretches and won most of the important battles, but it wasn’t translating the way it had in the first three games.

We have one more period to turn it around before we end right back up in New York playing game five.

Every single shift on the ice has turned into a war. New York is playing angry, and I don’t blame them. Getting this far in the playoffs only to lose in a clean sweep is embarrassing, which is exactly why we need to win.

We need to send Damon Woods and his whole team home crying. It’s the least that asshole deserves.

He’s always been bad on the ice, but tonight is next level. Between the late hits and slashes that are technically accidental but always landing in painful places, he’s acting less like a captain and more like an old-school enforcer.

And unfortunately, Avery’s warning about him hasn’t stopped circling my head. Especially knowing that she’s seeing every single hit from twelve rows up.

Aside from a shy smile when I first came on the ice, I hadn’t acknowledged her, but that didn’t mean that I wasn’t painfully aware of her watching me.

Of her watching Damon.

I shouldn’t have asked her to come tonight. Being in the same building as him can’t be easy after their last run-in. My mind hadn’t registered that when I asked her, though. I just wanted her here.

“We have twenty minutes,” Coach Rylan’s voice booms through the locker room.

I adjust on the bench, sucking down more water.

“One period is between us and a chance to fight for the Cup.” He points to the hallway. “They’re frustrated. They know we’re better. And the only chance they have is if we stoop to their level.”

Several guys nod because it’s exactly what they’re doing out there. They’re trying to get us to hit back.

“Don’t do it,” Coach continues. “You beat them by playing better hockey. Keep making smart decisions and keep your heads up. Let’s get it done.”

Sticks slam against the floor as the energy in the room grows. Coach claps his hands together and walks out of the locker room.

After years of playing for him, it’s still impressive how all it takes is a couple of sentences from him to completely motivate the team.

Everyone is ready to finish this.

The room dissolves into smaller conversations while I adjust the tape around my wrist. Nathan drops onto the bench beside me.

“God, Woods is a prick.”

I bark out a laugh because prick is too nice a word for him.

Nathan frowns. “What? That guy is supposed to be their captain, and he’s racking up penalties for the hell of it.”

I shake my head. “I’m aware.”

Nathan pulls his helmet into his lap. “It’s crazy to think that the girls used to hang out with him, especially knowing how his last relationship ended.”

“What?”

“I’m just saying, Wesley said he was always an asshole, but at least he kept his hands to himself back then.”

My stomach twists. The last thing I need when I’m trying to focus on the game is to think about Avery dating him.

“It’s good Avery ended things with him when she did.”

I stare at the floor. “You have no idea.”

Nathan’s eyebrows immediately pull together. “Why does that make it seem like you do?”