Page 149 of Slap Shot
“It’s mine,” he says. “You’re wearing my number.”
“I told you I always liked being a good student.” I shrug and face him again. “How’s my spectating grade tonight, Hayes?”
His mouth stretches into a grin, and I give him one right back. “My name looks good on you, Galloway.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah. Better than any of the other women in the arena. You’re the only one I want wearing it.”
It’s silly to feel so giddy, but I do. There are butterflies in my stomach, and I’m not sure how I got here: flirting with a professional hockey player, proudly wearing his jersey while thousands of fans watch, and wondering if he’ll fuck me while I wear this—and only this—later.
“You know this means you have to play well tonight, right, Hayes?”
“I plan on it.” He glances at Lucy, lifting his gloved hand in the air. He gives her a wave with a big smile on his face, and she matches his enthusiasm.
Did you show him the pictures we took with Gus and Millie today?she asks, and I’m quick to pull my phone from my pocket.
I scroll through the photos I snapped of her with the dogs earlier in the afternoon, the ones of the three of them looking at the camera while wearing matching HAYES jerseys, and I hold it up to the glass so Hudson can see.
“Lucy insisted we order the dogs jerseys to wear on your game days,” I explain. “It took me thirty minutes to wrangle everyone into the shirts, but I think it turned out okay.”
“Is this what y’all were doing before you left for the arena?” He smirks, cute and cocky. “Why you weren’t answering my texts?”
“Maybe.” I laugh and wrap my arms around Lucy. “The meal-prepping I was working on for you went out the window when Lucy put her jersey on backward. The dogs, surprisingly, were easier to dress.”
“Send that to me. I love it.”
“Will do.” I smile and slip into SimCom. “Have a good game tonight.”
“I’ve got my girls in the crowd wearing my jersey, Galloway.” Hudson’s face shifts from playful to something soft. A truth he’s declaring in the middle of the sold out arena. “I could miss every shot I take. We could lose by twenty, and it’d still be a damn good night.”
I’mon the edge of my seat.
I have been for the majority of the game.
It’s the most physical matchup I’ve seen since I started watching hockey. Every time a player gets slammed into the boards, Lucy gasps and covers her eyes. I wince and cross my fingers, hoping our guys are okay.
I’m still trying to figure out how some aggressive plays end up as penalties and some don’t. The hit Maverick took in the second period definitely seemed rougher than the call Ethan got against him at the start of the third, but I’m clueless.
At the end of regulation, the Stars and the Longhorns are tied up, 2-2. After a five-minute sudden-death overtime period where neither team scores, we’re headed to a shootout. I’mgrateful to have Google handy to learn the rules for what happens next so I can explain them to Lucy.
Each team is going to have a chance to shoot, I tell her, and she nods.One player goes against the goalie.
That must be scary for the goalie.She points at Liam who is skating back and forth in the blue circle in front of the net. He’s talking to himself, and I wonder what he’s saying.Does he look scared?
I don’t think so.This is his job,remember?He practices for it.
Who is going to shoot for the Stars?
I crane my neck, trying to read the jerseys of the three players huddled together near the Stars’ bench. Their arms are draped around each other, and they’re deep in conversation.
It looks like Maverick, Hudson, and Ethan.
I’m nervous.
So am I.
It’s not a line I’m giving to placate her. I’m stressed out. I never thought I’d be emotionally invested in a sports team, but here I am, biting my thumbnail then clasping my hands together.
