by Lynn Rush
Over the last twenty-four hours, I’d replayed every drill, every attempt on goal, and every blocked or missed shot over and over again in my mind. I’d held my own. The countless hours spent training with Brodie had paid off. But Izan, the other guy who tried out, had done well, too.
I needed this more. I had to spend as much time on the ice as humanly possible if I was ever going to get back to figure skating. I already felt stronger from my extra time, even if it was achieved in goalie gear.
I tossed my phone in my locker and slammed it shut.
I glanced up at the clock above the locker room entrance and forced myself to take a deep breath. You’ve got this, I chanted in my head on repeat as I made my way out to the rink.
My hands began to tremble. I cupped them in front of me as my blades carved into the fresh ice.
There had to be close to thirty people, if not more, already sitting in the stands. A bunch of little kids ran around the bleachers, too. Woodhaven only had seven thousand people; if this many of them came to club tryouts, how many came to the actual games?
A group of meticulously groomed girls sat in the bleachers right behind the team bench, fawning over the guys. I recognized one as Amanda Fert. She hung around the rink a lot. Jessa had told me that she was what the guys called a Puck Bunny, only hanging around to hook up with the stars. She was pretty with her blond hair, blue eyes, and tall, slender body, but to be nicknamed as a Puck Bunny, I didn’t understand why Amanda would be okay with that. It was kind of an insult to female fans. I mean, sure, it meant that they were pretty, but it also meant that they practically worshipped the hockey players. Dating one was like the highest honor they could achieve.
Several guys were on the ice. Some passed a puck back and forth while others leaned against the boards. Everyone had dressed casually, no uniforms or pads necessary for the team announcement.
Coach’s whistle cut through the air. “Head to the bench. It’s time to announce the team.”
The crowd cheered and stomped their feet on the bleachers.
I made my way to the team’s bench as the rumble got louder. Most people would look small, standing in the middle of the rink, but not Coach Kurt; he was short but still bulky from years of playing defense on the ice. He lifted the microphone to his mouth and then motioned to his right, where we were all sitting.
“Over the past two days, we’ve had a great showing of talent. Thank you to everyone who tried out. I’ll be announcing the forwards who made the team first, followed up by our team captain. He’ll have the honor of announcing the defense.”
As Coach began calling out the names of the players who’d made the team, the guys left the box and formed a line on the ice. With broad smiles, they waved to their family members and fans sitting to the left and right of the ice.
I swallowed the growing lump in my throat.
My hands were clammy. I wiped them on my pants and then brought them back to my lap.
“And our starting Left Winger, Brodie ‘Wiiiiind’ Windom.” Coach sounded more like a WWE announcer than a hockey coach. Everyone went berserk.
“Brodie! Brodie! Brodie!” the crowd chanted.
A little girl with pigtails who showed up to every single practice and pick-up game even threw a rose over the wall.
Memories of hundreds of flowers being thrown onto the ice after my last performance played in my mind like a movie on repeat. I’d won a gold medal.
The youngest girls in our program had taken to the ice, collecting the flowers, teddy bears, and other gifts people had graciously thrown after my nearly perfect performance. Cameras flashed as I waved to my fans and blew them kisses.
A sinking sensation filled my stomach, yanking me back to reality. What if I don’t make it? I could practically hear the whispers around town. Who was she kidding? Picking up a new sport at seventeen? She never had a chance.
No. I could do this. I had to stay strong. Besides, this was a means to an end. And that end involved many gold medals at the Olympics…as a figure skater.
The microphone screeched, snapping me back to reality. Glancing to the right, my heart broke for the six guys sitting with their heads hung low.
“If you didn’t make the team, don’t give up. I urge you to continue to come to the pick-up games, work on your skills, and try out for the Woodhaven Wolverines Varsity and Junior Varsity teams in October. Remember, as The Rock says, ‘Success is all about focus and effort. So keep at it.’”
Coach smiled and then turned his attention back toward the line of guys standing proudly behind him. “Let’s give them a round of applause.”
People in the bleachers stood and clapped. Several let out loud whistles, and some even held up signs with the player’s names on them.
Eventually, Coach held his hand up, and the crowd quieted down. “Now, it’s time to announce our team captain.”
People in the stands stomped their feet on the bench, the noise ricocheting like thunder through the arena.
“Brodie Windom.”
A proud smile spread across my face.
The girls in the front row with the perfect hair and makeup went wild. They literally leaped to their feet and screamed at the top of their lungs. Old guys in overalls and worn jeans pumped their fists into the air.
Brodie raised his hands, acknowledging the praise. Preach, who was standing to his right, patted him on the back. Teddy, who was to Brodie’s left, put both hands on his shoulders and shook him back and forth. Brodie flashed the fans behind the team bench a smile that caused my stomach to flip flop.
I thought back to him stripping his shirt off in my basement. The way the sweat clung to his perfectly taut skin and cascaded down his washboard abs. Ugh, why does he have to be so tempting?
“Thanks, Coach. I’m excited to lead this team to victory,” Brodie said as people in the stands started cheering again. “Now let’s see who’s going to help me.”
Coach handed Brodie a clipboard, and my heart almost catapulted out of my mouth. This was it. My name would or wouldn’t be called. It actually surprised me how nervous I was. And how much I wanted to make the team. Maybe it was Brodie’s encouragement and excitement about it, but I did feel stronger. All the extra time on the ice and the strength and cardio training with Brodie had been awesome.
Not to mention the fact that I landed an axel that day I showed him how to do some spirals.
Take a deep breath, chill out. If only I could crouch down and touch the ice. My pre-routine ritual had always helped me center myself before performing, but I was seated on the team bench, so I couldn’t just get up and touch the ice.Everyone would see and probably make fun of me.
Brodie tapped the microphone. “We’ve got a great defense this year; let’s hear it for: Teddy Cook, Pax Hunt, Trevor Lee, and Eric Smith.” Brodie shoved the clipboard beneath his arm and started clapping, a smile filling his face.
The goalie position was next. It was between Izan and me. We’d both done well in tryouts, but Brodie and Preach seemed convinced I was better. I hoped that I’d done enough to prove it over the past two days. I pulled my shoulders back and drew in a deep breath. I needed to stay strong, no matter the results.
I’d done it a million times as a figure skater. I could do it now. Nothing would get to me.
Brodie looked down at the sheet and grinned. My heart shot into my throat, and my hands got even sweatier. Did he see my name on that list? He glanced at Coach, who gave him a nod.
“As many of you know, our goalie, Josiah Brown, got hurt in a pick-up game this summer. Luckily,” Brodie said with a smile, “we have someone to stand in until he recovers. Willow Covington—goalie.”
Yes! My heart stopped for a beat, then drummed against my ribs. A rush of tingles danced along my arms as I clenched my fist and punched the air, jumping to my feet.
I’d done it. I’d freaking done it!
I hopped over the barrier onto the ice with a loud whoop, but instead of the crowd erupting into cheers, silence echoed through the arena.
My knees weakened, and I grabbed the edge of the plexiglass beside the team bench and gasped. Total and utter silence? Really?
My stomach hardened, and my chest tightened. Guess having the best talent on the team didn’t mean much here in Woodhaven.
CHAPTER
SIXTEEN
Brodie
I’d never heard the arena so quiet, other than when it was just me in here.
Of course the crowd would be shocked. They hadn’t seen how amazing Willow had done in tryouts. All they saw was a new person, taking Josiah’s spot, and for those thinking Izan would get it…
Coach elbowed me. “Say her name again.”
I gripped the mic harder. “Let’s give it up for Willow Covington. The Falcons’ new starting goalie!”
A few claps trickled through the air. I tucked the mic under my arm and started clapping, then slipped my pinkies in my mouth and let a whistle rip that ricocheted off the walls.
Willow released her hold on the wall and skated toward me. The shock I’d seen in her eyes when the crowd ghosted her pretty much kicked me in the stomach. It was the first time I’d seen hurt flash over her bright blue eyes, and I didn’t like it. She’d earned this spot.
As she approached, she kept her eyes locked on me. She stood, her back straight and her shoulders broad. I nodded at her and offered her a smile that hopefully told her to be proud. To own this. She’d earned it.
I knew this was only Fall League, one of the first steps toward getting to and winning State, and she might not be with us the entire journey, but I was glad she was here now. This team was solid. We had a real chance at sweeping the season.
Preach let out a whistle and clapped as well. Teddy and Nathaniel followed suit.
She stopped in front of Coach, and he held out his fist for her to bump, as he had for all the other guys. “Welcome to the team, Willow.”
Then she coasted in front of me, fist out.
I bumped that thing and said, “You did it, Toe Pick.”
“We’re going to kick ass.” She laughed and made her way down the line, knocking fists with the other guys.
Pax stood stick straight and refused to look at her, keeping his hands fixed at his sides.
Son of a bitch. Pax did not just leave Willow hanging. Heat stormed through my chest as I glared in his direction. I fisted my free hand so tight my knuckles hurt. He and I were going to have words about this as soon as I found his ass in the locker room.
“Classy, Pax, real classy.” Willow flipped one of her braids and turned to skate toward the far end of the line of players.
Another whistle resonated through the air, and then some clapping. I followed the sound directly to my little brother. Right there in the front row, standing up, he clapped and whistled like a wild man.
I whooped a couple more times, then handed the mic back to Coach Kurt.
“Thanks, everyone, for coming out to show your support for these awesome athletes. The first game is next Friday against Twin River, so be sure to come on out and cheer us on to a win.”
He waved the team over to him. “Circle up.”
I stayed where I was, since I was next to him. Willow was on the other side of the circle, and she leaned forward, eyes focused.
It was as if none of the stunned reaction from the crowd and Pax’s abuse had rattled her. She was strong as ice.
And damn if that didn’t make me respect her even more than I already did.
“Tomorrow, nine a.m., first practice. We’ve got a week until our first game, so it’s two-a-days until then.” He clapped. “Now, I know there are questions on how this works with having a female on the team for the first time ever, but it’ll be fine. Willow, you’ll have to hang with us a bit while we work through how this will work.”
She nodded, not appearing upset or phased in the least about Coach saying that. Besides having a separate locker room and moving our pregame huddle out of the guy’s locker room, I didn’t think there would be much to change.
“She’s just going to get hurt and leave us hanging,” Pax muttered from somewhere behind me. His voice dripped with bitterness.
“One thing’s for certain…” Coach looked at each of us, directly in the eye. “No fraternizing with your teammates. You all hear me? We don’t need that kind of distraction or drama. Every person I picked earned their place on this team. Let that be the focus.”
“And a perfect season!” Teddy yelled.
Pax grumbled and crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at the ice. Willow stood there, face unreadable.
“Go Falcons!” we all shouted, then Pax made a beeline for the locker rooms, followed closely behind by Eric.
“Great job, Toe Pick,” I said as I zoomed by her.
I marched down the tunnel, the voices of my teammates bouncing off the concrete surrounding us. The bright red door to the locker room was propped open, but I yanked that thing shut behind me, and the bang of it closing blasted through the air.
“Pax!” I yelled as he rounded the corner of the first row of lockers.
The echo of doors slamming shut hammered at my mind like a chisel. I darted past Nathaniel and Preach as they watched me with wide eyes.
“Dude,” I said as I caught up to Pax. “What the hell, man?”
“We got chicks on our team now?” Pax slammed his locker shut. “We’re a freaking joke. We’ll be the laughingstock of the league.”
“No way, man. This chick has more than proven herself.” I looked him straight in the eye. “Just stay focused on the goal—she’s going to help us win.” I jammed my hands onto my hips. “But leaving her hanging out there? Not cool, Pax.”
“Yeah, man, can’t we all get along? We—”
“Fuck you, Nathaniel, and your stupid la-la let’s all be happy Kumbaya crap.” Pax jabbed my chest with his forefinger. “And you. Are you all up in her pretty sequined skating skirts? Is that why you’re pushing her on us so much?”
I batted his hand away. I had over three inches on his five-foot-eleven height and about a solid fifteen pounds, so I’d put him in his place if I needed to.
I slammed my open palms into Pax’s chest. The back of his knees hit the bench and buckled. He went to put his hand down to stop him from tipping over, but he wasn’t fast enough.
Shit. I hadn’t meant to push him so hard. He was still my friend, but I was pissed. I went to grab him, but his shoulder rammed into the bench, and his body bounced against the floor.
He kicked his feet and used the momentum to sit up. “What the hell, man?”
I loomed over him. “She’s good. We need her.”
“We do not need a prissy figure skater on this team!” he shouted as he rested his elbows on his knees, still sitting on the floor.
“She beat out Izan, Pax. Deal with it.”
We’d trained a lot together these past ten or so days. She was laid-back and funny, and I was looking forward to hanging out even more. But I had to remember, it was temporary. She’d leave when she was strong enough to be on her team again. “Josiah will be fine by the time the school season starts.”
Pax pushed himself up to sit on the bench. “Izan would have been fine until then.”
“Willow’s better than he is,” Preach said from behind me. “And you know it.”
“She’s never even played hockey before,” Pax stood up and yelled. “She’s still tripping over her damn gear!”
Anger coiled in my stomach. “Less than Izan does. Get over yourself, Pax,” I said. “You were even more of a dick to her than the crowd was.”
I turned and walked by Preach, Nathaniel, and Landen, then flopped onto the wooden bench before my locker.
My knuck
les popped as I squeezed my fists.
Preach sat down and leaned into me. “She did good out there.”
“Sure did,” I said, then glanced at him.
“Pax’ll come around.”
Heat crept up my neck as I let out a frustrated sigh.
“I’m not so sure.” I opened my locker and pulled out my jacket.
“She’s exactly what this team needs. Coach obviously saw how good she was, too.”
“Brodie?” Caleb’s tiny voice had me looking toward the locker room entrance.
There he stood, his scrawny four-foot-two body barely filling the doorframe. He held his backpack in his arms, and he looked at me with big, wide eyes.
“Hey, buddy.” I waved him toward me. “You doing okay?”
“What’s wrong?” he asked as he shuffled in my direction.
“Hey, kiddo.” Preach held up his fist for Caleb to bump.
“Nothing’s wrong. Sit down. I’m almost ready.”
“Pax is mean.” He plopped onto the bench and reached into his bag for his iPad.
Preach frowned. “He can be a real jerk.”
“Sorry you saw that, buddy.” I ruffled my little brother’s hair, a twinge of guilt twisting my stomach. “You’re right, Pax was mean. I was mad about how he treated Willow, but I shouldn’t have pushed him like that.”
“She’s a really good goalie. And pretty.” His eyes widened, and he nodded slightly as he spoke.
“She sure is.” Preach gave a quiet chuckle, then coughed when I glared at him.
I’d noticed all too often how pretty Willow was. Training with her, seeing her in those sports bras and all sweaty…it was all I could do to not think of her.
The anger was still bubbling under the surface, but talking to Caleb helped ease it slightly.
Caleb smacked my arm lightly. “Can we go? I’m hungry.”
“Burgers at Nikky’s?” Preach said.
“Yes.” Caleb hopped up and chased after Preach as he strode to the door.