Page 150 of Ruin The Friendship
Once the game starts, we’re all focused on every single movement by our opposing team, fighting for possession of the puck and shooting every shot we can.
Three periods isn’t enough. The game is tied one to one, and we go into overtime, playing three on three. The last couple of games have prepared us for this, even though they haven’t ended in our favor, I still have hope.
Trigg is a machine, blocking thirty-nine shots on goal.
Overtime starts, and I take the ice with Calvin and Waffles. We pass back and forth, trying to find an opening to shoot, but nothing comes. My shift ends, but Calvin and Shep stay on, Adam taking my place.
Something isn’t clicking. Adam isn’t locked in the way he should be. Calvin shouts something at Adam, but I can’t hear it over the roar of the crowd. There are two minutes left in overtime. Two minutes to secure the next game and stay in theplayoffs.
Calvin slaps the puck across the ice to Adam, but it tips off his stick, straight into the opposing player's stick. The player takes off toward Trigg.
“Shit,” I mutter.
The player passes to his teammate at the last second, and he shoots the puck over his shoulder and into the net before Trigg can stop it.
The lamp lights up red behind the net, and the crowd groans. Trigg slumps to his knees, dropping his head into his gloved hand. Calvin slides to a stop next to him, rubbing his back.
Adam stands before them, completely dejected. Shepherd skates off the ice, following the rest of the team down the tunnel to the locker room.
That’s it.
Our season is over.
Coach lets out his frustrations in the locker room before sending us on our way. There’s nothing left for us to do now, and I glance around the room.
“I know it was a tough loss, but I’m proud of each and every one of you. We fought hard this season, and we’ll fight even harder next year.” I tip my chin toward my teammates, noting that Adam is sitting with his head in his hands on the bench.
Calvin sits beside him, and I leave them to their conversation, knowing they need the time to themselves. They’ve known each other for a long time, and Calvin can comfort Adam better than I can.
I finish my cool down and grab my things from my locker, waving goodbye to the guys. I’ll see them at some workouts and events over the summer, but it’s always a little bittersweet to leave after the end of the season.
Zoey and Grace stop me in the hall, offeringhugs, and I show them a few photos I took of Thea this morning. She was smiling in her sleep. Lydia and my mom both said it was just gas, but I don’t know. I’m convinced it was a smile.
Mabel and Stan are there too, offering me congratulations and telling me they expect to see us at their lake place this summer.
Heading out of the arena, I take a deep breath. On the bright side, I now get uninterrupted time with my girls. I drive home, and when I enter the apartment, Lydia is sitting on the couch, feeding Thea. She has a somber look on her face, and I shrug.
“I’m sorry,” she says, her brows knitted together. “It was a tough game.”
“It was.” I sit beside her and give her a long kiss. “Missed you.” Leaning down, I press a gentle kiss to Thea’s forehead. “Missed you, too, ladybug.”
“So, what now?” Lydia asks, tilting her head to lean into my chest as I wrap my arm around her shoulders, scooting in close.
“Now, we get to spend as much time as we want together, all summer.”
“Sounds pretty great, if you ask me.” I can hear the smile in her voice.
“Mabel and Stan want us to come to their cabin sometime.”
“I’d love that.”
“Maybe someday we could get a lake place there, too.”
I already have a plan in mind to get a place there. It’s a beautiful area, and I’ve always wanted a summer getaway.
“That would be fun, but anything with you sounds fun.”
“Agreed.” I kiss the top of her head. “I love you.”
