I fucking love away games.
The booing that erupts the very moment my skates hit the ice is the gasoline that lights my fire. It’s the complete opposite of how I’m treated on campus. That’s my home turf. Off of it, I’m used to people not liking me. Hating me, even. Because if I’m not your favorite player, I’m likely laying your favorite player out and polishing the ice with them.
“Hey, can y’all run the clock please?” Maverick laughs, skating over to the bench.
“Aye, you don’t get to run your mouth when your teammates are the ones doing all the work for you.” Number forty-four calls out.
I follow alongside Maverick as the seconds count down on the other team’s time-out. “Check the clock, my guy, we’re four minutes into the second period and up six-nothing, about to be a shut out,” I call out.
“And somehow only one of those goals came from you. Some bust ass captain you are.”
I know he’s trying to get a rise out of me. Unfortunately for him, it’s not going to work. Unfortunately forme, it does work on my best friend.
“Bold statement coming from you, ya fuckin’ duster.” Mav turns around and points a gloved hand in forty-four’s face, and the idiot doesn’t back down.
“You.” He shakes his head. “I don’t even know who you are.”
“Google me then, bitch! Better yet, just ask your girl about me. She’s probably at home right now, rubbing the devil's doorbell while she watches me.” He lifts both his arms and blows a kiss in the general direction of the cameras.
That must be a sensitive topic for forty-four, because his lips curl into a snarl as he starts to charge for Mav. I squeeze my way between the two, backing my guy up. After losing him in the last game due to the fight a few weeks ago, we can’t risk him getting another suspension.
“Cole!” The Panthers captain calls our opponent over, and he obeys like the dog he is.
Thirty-five minutes and two more Lions goals later, I’m skating over to the bench and riding the high that comes with absolutely destroying the Panthers tonight. They beat us the last time we played them by one goal in the final minute of the third period, and that loss was a tough pill to swallow.
My usual post game shower and debrief is cut short tonight, since my parents are out of town visiting Ivy this weekend. A brief pang hits me when I think about Ivy having to deal with our dad over the next two days. Her eyes are liable to get stuck glaring up at her eyebrows by the time they leave.
Our game was early enough tonight that as I make my way out to the bus, I catch the sunset that covers the sky. It's one of those rare winter evenings where the sky is painted in various shades of purple and deep pink. I load my bag on the bus and pull out my phone, dialing Savannah. I smile to myself when she answers after the first ring.
“Hey, Golden Boy.”
“What’s up, Savvy girl?” I regret not FaceTiming, just so Icould catch a glimpse of those dimples that I know are forming on her face right now. “Come over to the house tonight. We’re celebrating.” She’s quiet for a moment, and I can practically see her biting down on the inside of her cheek, trying to come up with a reason to say no. “Come on, Sav. We won a huge game tonight. No, you know what? Fuck that. We brutally destroyed them.”
“I know.” I can hear her teasing smile through the phone.
“Goddamn. It makes my dick hard when you watch me.”
“Oh my god.” Her soft laughter hits me through the speaker and I drop my head back, taking in my new favorite sound.
“Come hang out. The ride back is under an hour. I’ll pick you up, and you can drive us over to my house.”
I wait a beat, with my hand clenching the strap at my shoulder. “Fine. But I have to be at work early, so I’ll drive myself over.”
“Already planning on staying the night? So forward of you.”
“No. I didn’t mean?—”
“It’s okay, you can stay with me any night you want.”
“Noah!”
“I’ll see you soon!” I quickly hang up before she can argue.
“Damnit!”
“Yes!” Silas flicks his hand, slapping his fingers together and shoving his goal in my face.
Any other night, I’d be annoyed, but tonight, I’m distracted by a soft knock at the door. “Here, play for me.” I throw my controller to Gabe before jogging and sliding across the living room floor.
