Page 195 of Hat Trick
I know Lexi got the okay to leave early after the Stars’ game yesterday afternoon, but everyone else wasn’t due back until tomorrow.
“We took the redeye home last night,” Hudson explains.
“Did youreallythink we’d miss your AHL debut?” Maverick smirks. “Fuck no.”
“It was Liam’s idea.” Ethan pinches his cheek, and Liam scowls. “Practically demanded the pilots get us back to the East Coast with whatever shortcuts they could find.”
“I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about,” Liam grumbles.
“Wow. I can’t believe you all are here.” I pull off my glove and wipe under my eyes. I glance over at Lexi, and she’s beaming. “You knew about this?”
“Why do you think I pretended to have cramps last night and slept in the spare bedroom? I was texting Piper nonstop to make sure they were getting in on time,” she says.
“You’re sneaky, Armstrong.”
“It’s for a good cause.” She reaches for my hand and gives me a reassuring squeeze. “Everyone wanted to be here to support you, and no matter what happens, we’re all going to have your back.”
“I love you.” I look down the bench at the players I’ve gone to battle with. At my brothers and sisters who helped pick me up when all I wanted to do was crawl in a hole and not come out. At the friends who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. “I love all of you. I’m a lucky bastard.”
“Give them hell, Mitchy,” Emmy says, and I pop in my mouthguard, ready to get to work.
* * *
I’ve only playedsix minutes, but it’s the greatest night of my professional career. Skating fast, chasing the puck, scooping up rebounds and setting up an assist that leads to a game-tying goal feels like I’m on top of the world, and I hope this elation never goes away.
My body aches in ways I’ve never experienced before. My right leg feels like it’s seconds away from giving out. My eyes burn with sweat, but every time my blades touch the ice, I tell myself Riley from a year ago wouldn’t believe how far I’ve come, and I push even harder.
I’m doing it for him and the demons he faced in the hospital bed. For the nights when he wanted to give up and give in to the pain, and when an opponent cross-checks me into the boards directly in front of where my friends are all sitting, I can’t help but laugh.
The final buzzer sounds, and we win three to two. After a quick huddle with the team at center ice, I tap my blade on the logo and skate to the locker room.
“Mitchell,” someone calls out, and a Comets’ team official is gesturing for me to stop. “You’re the first star tonight.”
“What?” I sputter. “I barely played. I did the least amount of work.”
“You worked harder than everyone.” He spins his finger in a circle, and I make a U-turn back to the barn. “Get out there.”
I hold up my hand to a roaring round of applause, thanking the fans and laughing when Lexi blows a kiss my way. I pretend to catch it midair, and she grins when I tuck it in my pocket.
As the spectators starts to leave, my Stars teammates step onto the ice. Coach Saunders gives Coach Thompson a handshake, and Hudson puts a hand on my shoulder.
“You looked sharp out there, Ri,” he says. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I need to soak in an ice bath for days.” I hold on to his waist while I adjust my prosthetic. Everything is out of alignment after those hits, but I’ll worry about that tomorrow. I’m glad to know no one took it easy on me tonight. “How was my stick handling?”
“Still infinitely better than Ethan’s,” Maverick calls out, and Ethan gasps.
“So fucking rude, Cap. But you’re right. That was pretty to watch, Mitchy.”
“Thanks, guys.” I turn my attention to Lamar and skate up to him and his son. “Hey, man. Thank you so much for being here.”
“That was something else.” We clasp hands and pull each other into an embrace. “You were so fun to watch.”
“You should’ve seen me last year. I was much faster. But I’ll get there.” I glance down at his son and smile. “How’re you Mikey?”
“This was my first hockey game!” he exclaims, waving a foam finger. “I can’t wait to come back.”
“I might’ve created a monster. Sorry,” I say to Lamar, and he brushes me off.
