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CHAPTER1
RYDER
Racing forward,I skate toward the middle of the ice, trying to create as many options as possible for my teammates. With two defenders on me, I slide the puck to Darius on my left side and he sends it off running around the end of the rink. Kaiden gains possession on the other side of the ice while I scramble forward, finding an open lane. He deftly passes the puck to me and I fire it off without hesitation. Time slows down to a crawl as I watch for the red light to go off above the net. When it does, I’m so stunned it takes me a moment to react. The crowd goes wild, cheering as if their lives are dependent on how loud they’re shouting.
I throw my arm up in the air just before Darius thumps me on the back. Kaiden, our captain, joins us. “Fellas, let’s finish this out before we get carried away celebrating” he says, reminding us we’re not done yet.
As the clock ticks away at the final two minutes of the game, we stay on task, holding our opponents off from scoring any more goals. Emotion wells up in my chest. This season has been the best of my career. Everything has clicked for us as if it was meant to be. Especially after the crushing feeling of defeat we experienced last year when we got knocked out in the second round of the playoffs. The memory of that loss has been the driving force fueling us through this championship series.
I watch as the clock counts down, five, four, three, two, one, zero.The Cup is ours!
Every member of the Coyotes team races onto the ice. We all fall together in a jumble, tears rolling unheeded down our cheeks as we celebrate being world champions.
It’s the best feeling ever. Nothing compares.
By the time we get back inside the locker room, the champagne is being passed out. Murphy, our goalie, grabs a bottle and pops the cork. With his thumb over the opening, he shakes it vigorously, then lets the spray fly in every direction, hitting as many of us as he can.
Licking the champagne from my lips, I drop my helmet and gloves onto the bench. I drag my sweat-soaked jersey over my head and remove my shoulder pads before peeling off the long-sleeve compression shirt.
I sink to the bench with a relieved sigh. Now that the game is over, every part of my body is sore. Murphy falls onto the wooden surface next to me, beaming.
“Dude, we fucking won.”
My lips part in a wide smile. “We sure did. ’Bout time too.”
Kaiden sits on the other side of me, shaking his head as if he can’t believe the outcome. “This is so surreal.”
I give him a quick pat on his shoulder. “It’s real, Cap. We’re the motherfucking champs.”
“Damn right,” Darius says, stopping in front of us. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m ready to celebrate.”
* * *
Brain Fog Pub is packed with Coyotes fans who cheer when we walk in. A slew of high fives are doled out as we wind through the crowd toward the long table in the back that’s reserved for us. It used to be a smaller table, but now that my teammates all have significant others, the size has increased.
I take one of the end chairs and get comfortable. Murphy lowers onto the seat to my right and says, “Dude, I’m starving. It feels like I haven’t eaten in days.”
“I hear ya. I’m ready to order every appetizer they have.” My stomach grumbles as if to saybetter make that double.
“You guys were amazing tonight,” Wendy says.
“Thanks.” I clasp Murphy’s shoulder, giving it a quick squeeze. “But we know our man over here is the star of the night.” I watch Wendy and Murphy make fuck-me eyes at each other.
“Thanks, but it was a team effort,” Murphy replies, never looking away from his woman.
Honestly, these two always seem like they’re on the verge of tearing each other’s clothes off at any second. The vibes they give off can make it feel as though you’re intruding on a private moment even when you’re out in public. It’s disconcerting. It hasn’t been easy for me to get used to my wingman being out of the game. But after an entire season of Murphy being off the market, I’ve had to.
I glance around the table at my other teammates paired up, and shift uncomfortably on the hard seat. I’m the lone wolf, the last man standing, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
The waitress, Nikki, comes over and takes our order, even though she knows we always get the same things after home games.
Once she walks away, Kaiden leans forward, his blue gaze singling each of us out. “I just want to say, you guys made me so fucking proud this season. You always have, but the way we fought to the end and came out with the Cup, is something I’ll never forget.”
“Aww, Cap, are you going soft on us?” I tease, to lighten the emotion of the moment. I’m pretty sure if he continues on with the compliments we’ll all break down and cry.
Kaiden’s lips curve. “I’m not going soft, per se, but I don’t know what the future will bring. Since we’re all here together, I wanted to tell you how much I’ve enjoyed this season.”
“You’ll enjoy the next one even more, Cap,” Murphy says, but we’re all silently wondering if this was Kaiden’s last season.
