Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 121734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
“I—” He looked dumbfounded for a moment, but then Ray nabbed the puck from between us and he was off, rounding the goal.
A referee skated up. “We have a problem here?”
“No. Fuck.” Dane shoved past me, checking my shoulder as he went and normally that would be something we could drop our gloves over, but when our defenseman glanced my way, I shook my head. Dane did look flustered when he left.
Ray was battling against the boards on the other side for the puck. I skated up behind them, snaked my stick in the middle, and then grunted as I hip-checked one of Boston’s guys into the boards. The crowd was pounding against the partition, wanting for us to fight, but I had the puck.
I flicked it between my skates to Bruge who had come onto the ice. He was just past their blue line, in the middle of the ice and as he caught the pass, I slipped behind the goalie to the other side. He read my intention, pretended that he was going to pass to Ray and when everyone was looking that way, sent it to me without turning my way once. Their goalie caught on too late. I only had to raise my stick and the puck bounced off it, going just over their goalie’s shoulders.
The red lights lit up. Goal!
That was one. We were going to keep going all night long.
Bruge hit me for the celly, along with the rest of our guys before my line skated off.
Sunny and Ray both met my glove with theirs on the bench.
Sunny was grinning widely. “I’m thinking of personal goals tonight since Doc Rain is all about that. We should all try to get hat tricks. Whoever gets theirs first, buys the others’ drinks at our celebration.”
Ray ducked his head, laughing. “If we all get hat tricks tonight, that would be insane.”
I shook my head as we stood up and moved down the bench. “Not for drinks. Let’s think of something else to celebrate. Rain and I have a family thing tonight.”
“Oooh. Meeting the family…” Sunny trailed off as the implications hit him. “Oh. Do I console you?”
Ray barked out a laugh. “Nah, man. Just buy him a round at the bar when we get home. Let’s keep thinking of a way to celebrate later.”
A minute later and it was our turn again.
Dane scored.
I scored.
Sunny scored.
Boston scored.
I scored.
Ray scored.
Dane scored.
We won, five to two and we beat St. Louis for points. We were the first in the wild card spot. And the guys no longer questioned how we were here. Looking around the locker room, they expected to win. There was no doubt or wide-eyes or wonderment. Just readiness and eagerness to whoever we were going to be playing against for the first rounds.
I was damn proud to be a Gray Wolf.
We were going to the playoffs.
79
RAIN
Icame back from the rink after the players and found a cupcake wrapped in a cute package on the chair that I had sequestered as my own before the game. This one was chocolate with purple frosting on top. Two Oreo cookies stuck in the icing.
Glancing up, I caught a glimpse into the locker room. Tyler took the area by the goalies. They sat in the same spot no matter what locker room we were in. He requested to sit next to them. At first it caused an uproar. Any changes did that to a hockey locker room. Superstitions and all, but Bruge was the first to figure it out. From that position, Tyler usually had direct line of sight for wherever I ended up sitting. If we were able to use guest offices or not, he knew he could see me more in the hallway from his new spot.
I looked up now and saw him watching me. Everyone else was starting to change out. Not Tyler. He'd been waiting for me.
Giving him a shy smile, he blasted me back with a beaming one. My cheeks warmed and I fought from ducking my head because I still struggled with his direct attention. My brain liked to tell me it was a lie. That he didn’t actually love me. He barely even liked me, but then he'd do something like this and my stomach was somersaulting.
Cupcakes.
I grinned before tucking it away in my bag. He'd been sneaking me these little treats since December at every away game. I didn’t know if others were aware. I had to imagine they didn’t because hockey players weren't known for being quiet. Someone would've said something.
Coach Hines stopped by my chair just as my hand came out of my bag. “St. Louis got three points tonight.”
My mouth dried up. We got way more than three points tonight. “So, it’s cemented.”
He gave me a brief nod. “We would’ve been going anyway. I doubt that the Mustangs would’ve gotten enough points to usurp our standing, or St. Louis, but we’re going to the playoffs.”