Page 35 of Final Score

“Both.” I yell as the crowd goes wild, the Saint’s scoring a goal in retaliation.

“That’s my girl.”

The buzzer sounds as the doors to the penalty box open. Jenner leans closer towards the glass. “Gotta go beautiful. Save some of that anger for later, ok? I’ve got a better use for it.”

Winking Jenner raced back onto the ice and into the action. I glared at the numbers on his back. The same ones that were on mine.

Lucky number 13.

CHAPTER 25

Hitting O’Conner had been the icing on the cake of an already great day. It was worth the ass chewing Coach would give me later just to see the furious look on Kat’s face. God, she was hot when she was angry. If I had anything to say about it, she’d be taking that anger out on me as soon as I was done beating her ex for the Championship title.

With half a period left in the game, we were tied. The crowd had gone wild during our fight. The energy lingering still. Everyone was waiting to see who would come out on top, and each team was fighting to make sure it was them. What the Saint’s didn’t know was we had a secret weapon. And he was about to come into play.

Coach called for another switch and Ronnie came onto the ice for the first time tonight. We had been practicing this drill for the past two weeks, and I knew he was ready. It had taken a lot of convincing from Coach to agree to this plan, and I was honestly surprised he had followed through after my actions.

But Coach knew how much this meant to our team. To have everyone included, even though Ronnie hadn’t technically been cleared to play by the team’s trainer. What Steve didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. The other team would be focused on Oliver and I. We knew no one would be paying attention to Ronnie.

The clock was ticking, counting down the final seconds of the game, as I quickly passed the puck off to my teammate. He had been putting in additional practice time and deserved to make the game winning goal.

I could have taken the shot myself, but that wasn’t how a Captain acted. I knew this moment would stick with him long after he had grown old and stopped playing the game. This was his time to shine.

. Ronnie was open and waiting, halfway to the net. Having a clear shot around the back corner. I skated quicky around the ice, and as predicted most of the Saint’s players followed behind me. I snuck Ronnie the puck as I skated directly into the Saint’s players creating a diversion.

Ten seconds… five seconds… two…

I held my breath as the Ronnie shot the puck. This was it, our last chance.

I watched like a proud father, as the puck bounced off the goalie’s glove and into the net. The play was good

Our teammates rushed to center ice, as the buzzer sounded signaling the end of the game. The Devils were taking home the State Champs title for a third year in a row. The noise in the stadium was defining as we celebrated our victory lifting Ronnie high into the air above our heads. There was nothing better than this. Winning was a high we wouldn’t come down from until next season.

I caught a glimpse of my family standing at the edge of the rink, cheering us on. I had won more than just a State Champ title tonight. I had won the heart of the girl I loved. We could sort out the details of what it all meant later, but right now I wanted to celebrate both victories. Each in their own special way.

CHAPTER 26

The hallway outside the locker rooms was empty as I waited for Jenner to exit. Everyone else had gone back to the boys’ house in preparation for the after party. I was beyond proud of Jenner and the team for winning another championship title. The high stress game wasn’t what had kept my stomach in knots for the past three hours. Jenner and I needed to talk, and I wasn’t sure how that conversation was going to go.

He had seemed happy to see me before the game started, but now that we would be alone and away from the adrenaline of the hockey game, I wasn’t sure how he would feel. I wouldn’t have blamed him if he told me to go to hell, never wanting to see me again. At the same time, I wouldn’t put it past him to chain me to his bed, and never let me leave.

I waited as the locker room door opened, and Coach Taylor walked out pausing as he saw me waiting by the door.

“You’re Kat, correct?” He asked

“Yes Sir.” I answered shaking his hand.

“It’s nice to finally meet you. You’ve been the topic of conversation more than once during practice.”

“Hopefully it wasn’t anything too horrible.” I blush.

“It was mostly good.” Coach Taylor adjusts the ballcap atop his head, having already traded his nice black suit for a sweatshirt and jeans.

“Jenner’s in there. He’s always the last to leave on nights like these. You’re welcome to wait on the bench inside if you’d like.”

“Thank you.” Coach Taylor exits the arena as I contemplate his offer.

The thought of going into the boy’s locker room was less than appealing. No woman should ever know what went on behind those doors. But at the same time, the empty hallway was becoming slightly creepy in its silence. Gathering my resolve, I opened the metal locker room door loudly.