Shit.
Ash and the two medics help Nadison off the ice and people cheer along as he waves a hand around at them. Karlsen takes up the net for the last minute of the period, and then we all take a ten minute intermission. The locker room is quiet and we wait for someone to give us an update, but they don’t.
It must be bad then.
Fuck.
The entire gameshifts during the second period. I don’t let any goals past me, especially fueled by my competitiveness to not let Ash score on me. The second time I glove the puck that he shoots, he fake shoves me and smacks his stick on the ice, all the while smiling. It reminds me of when we were practicing back in Helsinki and how he needed some tough love at the time. Karlsen on the other hand lets in three goals, which ties up the game.
During the last 30 seconds of play, they pull him and they get an extra player on the ice. While they squabble in the face off and wind down the time, the white team gets a hold of the puck and shoots it at me. I stop it with 7 seconds remaining on the clock.
The face-off resumes in front of me and I keep my focus on the puck. The white team gets a hold of it again and shoots it right into my glove. I make a split-second decision and drop the puck right in front of me then wind up and take a shot. With everybody still converging near the face-off, no one sees it coming, and the puck goes right into the net.
Our red team wins 4-3 and my teammates skate out to hug me. We all stay out on the ice longer, waving at fans, and gathering for a group picture with the staff, crew, and volunteers.
As we head off the ice, Ash gives me a hug and shakes his head. “You’re fucking amazing,sunshine.”
“You put up a good fight. Sorry I didn’t let you score.”
“Are you kidding? I got to show off my cool moves in front of Bonavich, that’s all I need. That man’s eyes were glued to you the whole time, I swear.”
I take a deep breath but can’t shake off the anxiety of what that might mean for me or my future.
TWENTY-NINE
ASH
There’sno update on Nadison, but the whole team is celebrating the end of training camp. We’ve all pushed ourselves and worked hard the last few days, and that really showed on the ice. We work well together, no matter what gets thrown at us.
Bonavich joins us for the meal we got catered and he gives us a whole speech about how amazing we’re going to do this season and how much faith he has in us. This makes me think that the rumor that my father was vying for his job is bullshit. There’s no way Nelson Meyers would give up Boston for Detroit, not when he played there almost his entire career. I breathe a little easier seeing the excitement on Bonavich’s face.
Later, I try to find Eli, but he’s nowhere in the room. I do see Juuse sitting with a group of NHL players and I make my way to him.
“Hey, have you seen Eli?” I ask.
Juuse smiles at me with his perfect teeth and I still kinda wanna punch him for taking my boyfriend on a date. “Ash,good job out there. I just saw Bonavich pull him aside for a conversation. Guess it’s his time.”
“Time for what?” I ask, confused.
“Well,” he says, standing up and leading me away from the table. “Nadison’s injury must be pretty serious,” he says in a low voice. “He might be looking at months of recovery. That means I need a backup in Detroit.”
I stare at him, understanding dawning on me.
Eli is getting called up to play in the NHL.
I smile, but feel a pang in my chest too. That means he’s leaving. I won’t get to see him every day like we planned. We won’t get to go on dates like we talked about.
My face must show how heartbroken I am, because Juuse of all people gives me a pitying smile and pats my back. “You’ll make it work, I’m sure.”
As happy as I am for Eli, I can’t help but wonder if we will.
Eli
My anxiety doesn’t letup as Bonavich takes me aside. I try to focus on what he’s saying.
Two months. Groin injury. Secondary goalie.
My heart is beating a mile a minute and I nod along, but my hands are sweating and my breathing is shallow. This is it.
