Page 30 of Power Play

The Fury was giving everything they had, but it wasn’t enough.

We held hands as Porter Vaughn left through the tunnels. He was able to stand, but the hit he took looked like it hurt.

“Upper body injury,” Colby said quietly.

Jason was hanging on by a thread. Two kids they brought up from the farm team were working their hardest to keep up, but this wasn’t a normal hockey game. It was an execution.

“Can’t they just call it already?” Sydney said behind her hands.

“Only five minutes left.” Lucy’s knee was bouncing a mile a minute. I looked around and realized that the majority of the crowd was already gone. The Storm was up by two and there was no chance for the Fury to make a comeback, not tonight.

Finally, the buzzer sounded, and we stood to head back to the hotel. None of us spoke until we were outside the arena.

“That was painful,” Colby admitted.

“Now we know what it feels like to be the other team.” Lucy cringed. “I hate it.”

“Winning is much more fun,” Sydney said with a dazed expression.

“I can’t wait to leave this stupid city and never come back,” Colby announced as we crossed the street.

“I can’t wait for Taylor to come see Salt Lake.” Sydney looped her arm around mine. “You’re going to love it.”

“I …”

Colby stopped walking and faced me. “What do you have to lose?” I stared down at the ground. “Exactly. You might as well give it a shot.”

“She’s right. Worst case, you don’t find anything and decide to leave,” Lucy said.

“Best case, you find a great job and get to stay with us.” Sydney squeezed me closer.

“I really don’t want Jason thinking I’m moving for him.”

They all blew off my concern. “You won’t even have to see him if you don’t want to,” Lucy argued.

“Yeah, you’re coming because of us. Because of how awesome and supportive we are.” Sydney bumped her hip against mine. “You just can’t bear the thought of being without us.”

I laughed. “You’re right. How would I go on?”

They cheered and Colby took my free hand. “Taylor, does this mean you’re coming with us?”

My final resolve crumbled. It was this or heading home. Both scary, but one held potential for a fresh start.

“Looks like I’m moving.”

* * *

Not only did they have a ticket for me on their flight, but Colby coordinated with a company to have my car moved to Salt Lake. All I needed to do was pack my suitcases and meet them in the lobby at ten.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” I told them as soon as I saw them.

“It’s going to be the greatest adventure,” Sydney said with a secret smile. “Nothing in life is permanent. If you decide this isn’t the right path for you, we’ll help you figure out what is.”

Colby agreed. “We’re here for you, and at tomorrow’s game you’ll meet the rest of the Pride.”

“Then you’ll have way too many of us around to help,” Lucy said with a laugh.

They’d told me about the group of women that sat together at practices and games. They seemed like more than just friends. They were a family.