Page 229 of Off Limits: The Firsts

A glance at the clock.

Ten minutes left in the third period.

It’s a tied game.

Ten minutes left to either be a hero or forgotten.

Two to two.

Ten minutes left to make something happen.

Katzen collects the puck and slings it out to me.

I pass it over to Finch then dodge around a defender. My grunt as his shoulder checks me is loud in my head.

C’mon, Hunter. Twenty bucks and me taking over all your chores if you can make this goal. Show Dad that you can.

The puck is stripped from Finch and we race back to help Katzen.

Withers cuts across the ice and intercepts the pass. We all switch gears and go back the other way.

We’ve been at this for fifty fucking minutes.

Our legs are tired. Our chests burn from breathing so hard.

We need to stay focused.

No more missed passes. No more checks turning into fights.

We need to focus.

We have to win.

I have to win.

Pass after pass we move down the ice. Withers to me. Me to Heffner. Heffner back to me.

A glance at the clock.

Time’s wasting.

We need to score.

There is no sound.

There is no crowd.

There is no pressure.

It’s me and the goalie.

It’s the puck and the net.

It’s Jonah beside me, pushing me to make this shot.

Daring me to prove that I can.

Dekker