Page 232 of Risking the Pucking Defense

“At least it’s today,” I say softly, leaning over to kiss the tip of her nose.

“Not soon enough,” she whines.

“You'll be so busy, you won’t even notice. If you’re bored, you can always go hang out with Killer. He’s already going stir crazy.”

She smirks, finally cracking an eye open. “Not sure I’ll get that bored,” she quips.

“You love him really,” I tease. “Now go back to sleep. You’ve got hours before you need to be in.”

“Good luck tonight,” she mumbles, snuggling deeper into the sheets.

A sad laugh spills from my lips. “We’re gonna need it.”

“You’ve got this, baby. I have faith in all of you.”

So do I. I just don’t want to jinx it by saying it out loud.

I get myself dressed as quickly and as quietly as I can before pressing a soft kiss on Hailee’s head and slipping out of her apartment.

I stop on the way to the arena to grab coffee and breakfast, but I’m disappointed when I bite into the cinnamon roll. Firstly, because it’s not as good as mine. Yep, I’m getting that big-headed over my baking skills now. But also, the last time I ate one was with Hailee on her balcony as the sun set a few nights ago. Having this one as I rush to the airport without her just isn’t the same.

I find Rett and Linc pulling their luggage from the trunk of Linc’s car.

“Ready for this?” Rett asks once I’ve joined them.

“Yeah, we’ve got this.”

It’s not the first time we’ve had teammates miss games, and it won’t be the last. But this is the first time I’ve had a friend out of action with such a serious injury. I guess it’s something I really need to get used to. Assuming I’m going to have a long career, it’s something I’m going to see over and over.

We go inside for morning skate and team meetings before we make our way to the bus to head to San Diego for our game tonight.

I sneak up to see if Hailee is free before we leave so I can get my fix, but the second I step into her office, Maisie informs me that she’s in a meeting, and I leave with my tail between my legs.

I shoot her a message to let her know that we’re leaving, but it takes hours for her to respond.

The bus ride is pretty quiet compared to normal. It doesn’t do anything for my anxiety over tonight’s game.

We can do it. I know we can. But more than anything, I want to do it for Killer.

Sitting at home while we play must fucking suck. The last thing he needs is to feel any guilt because we lost without him.

But also…is it just as bad if we win? Will he think that we don’t need him?

“I can hear the cogs in your head turning,” Linc says, leaning over the aisle toward me.

“Just thinking about tonight,” I confess quietly. Not that anyone else is paying me any attention. Beside me, Brody has his headphones in and is in full pre-game mode.

“It’s gonna be you, know you,” he whispers back.

“What’s gonna be me?” I ask, my heart rate picking up at just his suggestion alone.

Of course, we’ve been debating what our starting lineup tonight is going to be for days. My name has been brought up a few times, but I’ve always waved it off. I’m in my second year. There are guys on the team with so much more experience than me who’ve been fighting for that spot for years.

Do I want it? Do I want to stand beside my hero at the start of a game? Fuck, yeah, I want it. But I’m also realistic and refuse to allow myself to hope. Getting out on the ice for games has already been a big enough challenge this season. I’m not sure I’ll cope with the added pressure.

“On the starting line-up. Unless Coach has pulled some secret trade out of his ass, you’re his only option.”

“That’s bullshit and you know it.”