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I shrug, the movement barely perceptible under pads and a jersey. “It helps that Luz is basically in both of those worlds.”
Conor, who has been following the conversation in front of us, glances over his shoulder. “So you’re saying we should date Strikes?” He makes it sound as if it’s the most horrifying prospect.
“That’s it.” Nate hits the floor with his stick. “I’m asking Brit Thomas out.”
“Good luck, buddy.” Conor pats his shoulder with a gloved hand. “You’ll need it.”
“Yeah, I know. She’s way out of my league.”
Huh, so maybe Luz and I will have a different problem on our hands. Rather than things returning to how they were before The Incident, maybe we’ll end up with a bunch of couples. And if they’re anything like Luz and me, they’ll have trouble tearing themselves away from each other enough to focus on the game.
I used to only come alive when I stepped onto the ice. When the frigid wind rushed against my face as I skated with all the power in my legs. When the puck connected with the blade of my stick with a cracking sound. When I buried the disk in the net. But now my heart beats as fast when I’m with Luz. Now I don’t feel like hockey is my only reason. I just have more reasons to be better.
The second I slide onto the ice, I feel the answer to Luz’s question viscerally. Condition? Never been better.
The home arena is at about half capacity, which is the biggest attendance I’ve seen so far. By the looks of it, the St. Cloud student body seems to be finally coming around to how cool it is to have a team in the house. One of those is my roommate. He sits with a couple of his econ buddies.
Just a section beyond him, I spot my whole family—sans Alessio, who returned home right after Thanksgiving. Cossimo Jr. holds a big, custom-made sign with Leo’s Bulldog jersey printed on it. He takes the thing to every one of Leo’s games so his son can easily find him in the stands.
I used to want that, but now it doesn’t matter. The fact that Mom and Dad are here is already a miracle in itself. And yeah, I can’t lie to myself—I am a bit nervous about it.
Luz is right, though. This isn’t amateur hours. It might be their first or second hockey game, but it isn’t mine. I’m cool as a cucumber as I get in place for the faceoff against Leo. After tonight, one of us will reign supreme on this ice, and the king will be me.
He gives me a feral grin. “Ready to embarrass yourself?”
I laugh. “Ready to call me Uncle?”
It’s pretty sweet how it makes him grind his molars.
The grueling training we’ve endured since the summer has paid dividends, because even though our first game against the Bulldogs was embarrassing, it’s clear we’re dominating this one from the first period.
For me, the highlight comes at the top of the second period. Sometimes my vision is a bit like a video game. A target visible only to me hangs over the net, and I can find it, I can feel it, no matter where I am on the ice. I skate up to it with a clear intent to kill, because all of a sudden, it feels like there are more Bulldogs in my way than on the entire ice. I deke one guy so bad he’ll have to go home and cry to his momma. And then Leo appears.
The last time he skated over intending to barrel through me, I ended up flipping him over into the air. But maybe my mom will get pissed if I do that, and today, I’m really feeling my stick handling.
Just before he’s in my range, I slide the puck wide. It looks like a pass. Confusion slows his roll, but it fuels mine. I pull a Tinker Bell and use some fancy edge work to slide around Leo. Barely grabbing the butt end of the stick, I pull the puck back to me, and it’s a breakaway.
Most beautiful goal I’ve ever scored, and also not the only one in the game.
By the time the final buzz goes off, the St. Cloud Thunder Bolts win, five to two. Three of them were mine.
Coach Green is hoarse again, but this time from celebrating so much. It feels like a special victory considering we were down Boucher, who is a pretty good D-man, even if he’s not really a good person. And with all the drama he caused, it feels great to finally be on track.
“See what happens when you put your minds to it?” Coach asks with what’s left of his voice while inside the locker. “You stop sucking, that’s what!”
No one said he was great at giving speeches or that he’s a perfect person, but he’s sure the best coach I’ve ever had. And maybe one day I’ll thank him for recruiting me, because otherwise I wouldn’t have left my nephew in the dust like I did tonight. I also wouldn’t have met Luz.
I take the world’s quickest shower and break the barrier of sound with how fast I get dressed afterward. Earlier, Tinker Bell said she’d wait right outside the training facility. We’ll go to O’Malley’s with the others to celebrate—and to pregame for tomorrow. I can’t wait to hear her play-by-play analysis of my performance.
But instead of just my girlfriend, I find her standing beside the entire Cassiano family. Luz rocks on the balls of her feet, which tells me something’s up.
My parents, my brothers, their wives and kids, and even Leo stand outside, blowing puffs into the cold December air. I can’t believe I’m irritated that Leo changed faster than me. Maybe one day I’ll stop being such a petty baby about him, but not today. Today I’m annoyed.
I glance from Tinker Bell back to the others. “Uh, what are you all doing here?”
Mom steps out of the line to give Leo a pointed look. It’s the kind that says his head will get acquainted with the broomstick unless.
Leo clears his throat, jams his hands into the pockets of his down coat, and buries his face in his scarf.
