Attacking Zone (Utah Fury Hockey Book 4)

by Brittney Mulliner

  Not for much longer. I was going to fix this.

  I cheered and clapped with the Pride as the rest of the players came onto the ice. After the initial fanfare and national anthem, the owner of the team and the mayor of Salt Lake City walked out on a red carpet to the center of the ice for the ceremonial puck drop.

  This was it.

  Just sixty minutes of play time between them and another victory. They were up three games to two. This was the game for them, if they won the Cup was theirs.

  They could do this.

  The referee started the game and Wyatt won the face off.

  I expected everyone to sit once the game started, but not tonight. Not with so much on the line. The girls around me were screaming, telling the ref how to do his job, telling the guys what they needed to do.

  I knew the players couldn’t hear them, but I wasn’t sure if the girls did. Chloe was so mad about a bad pass from Erik to Reese I thought fire was going to come out her ears. This wasn’t just a game to anyone here. This was everything, and they were playing like this was life or death.

  They had to win.

  I couldn’t try to talk to Wyatt after a loss. I needed him in a good mood.

  That was all I needed to fuel my own screams.

  “That was hooking! Are you blind, ref?” I banged on the glass and Chloe joined me.

  “Yeah! Where’s the call?”

  Emma laughed next to us and shook her head. Until Olli was knocked to the ground.

  “Where’s the penalty?” Emma shouted. “That was stick contact with the goalkeeper! Read the rulebook!”

  I banged on the glass for her in support.

  The first period ended with the Fury only up by one. It was a tight game. Miami was playing their very best. The guys were going to have to push themselves.

  “I have to pee, anyone else need anything?” Emma stood, holding her pregnant belly.

  Chloe laughed. “No, I’m surprised you made it through the whole period though.”

  Emma rolled her eyes. “I told the baby if he kicked me in the bladder he wouldn’t get to come to a game until he was eighteen.”

  I laughed. “That’s quite the threat.”

  She smiled proudly. “He’s listening, so it must have worked.”

  The women around me were chatting, but I faced forward watching the Zamboni recoat the ice. Only forty minutes of play time now.

  About two more hours until the game ended. Plus, time for him to change and do any interviews. Maybe three hours until I got to see Wyatt. Every minute my mental state changed from positive to negative. He was going to tell me to get lost and file a restraining order. He was going to throw his arms around me and swear to never leave my side.

  More than likely, he hadn’t decided. Nothing had changed since I last saw him.

  My head and heart were going to explode before the game ended.

  “Are you doing okay?” Chloe rested her hand on my arm.

  I bit my lip. I really didn’t know the answer.

  “It’s all going to work out. Trust me, okay?”

  I didn’t really have a choice. Since I called her, she’d reassured me that this was what I should do. I needed to show Wyatt that I supported not only him, but his team.

  This was not only his career, but his family.

  I wouldn’t want to be with him if he didn’t make an effort to know Uncle David, so why had I assumed he would mind that I didn’t like his team.

  I’d been a fool.

  That was it.

  “Thanks Chloe,” I told her.

  She nodded and turned to the woman on her other side.

  The music changed and the announcer started pumping up the crowd again. Second period. If the guys played as well as they had in the first period, they had this in the bag. I clapped with everyone else for the Miami team but stood and screamed when the Fury came back out. All the players skating around the ice, warming back up.

  I slid down in my seat, not wanting any of the guys to recognize me.

  “Don’t worry. They’re in the zone.” Chloe patted my leg.

  Colby leaned over her. “Plus, most of them avoid looking at the Pride during games. We’re too distracting.”

  I laughed at her eye roll. Listening to the things they were yelling during the game so far would distract even the best player.

  “Did I miss anything?” Emma sunk down into her seat and looked around.

  “Nothing yet.”

  “Good.” She nodded and clapped five times. “Let’s go Fury!” She clapped again and soon the entire section joined in.

  “Let’s go Fury!” Clap-clap-clap-clap-clap

  This continued until Wyatt and the Miami captain got to the center for the face off.

  I was amazed that the cheer had spread through the arena, and it all started with Emma. The Pride had more influence than I thought.

  I stood, cheered, yelled, and clapped through the rest of the game. The Fury led the game the entire time, but only by one point. Miami answered each of the Fury’s goals with one of their own.

  The game was too close to call. Way too close to sit down or relax. I felt like my standing and cheering somehow influenced our guys. Like my energy revived them.

  “Come on Murray! Pass it to Hartman!” Emma was screaming so loud I was worried she’d go into early labor. She banged on the glass and I saw Reese glance at her. Crap!

  I moved to the side, but it was too late. He’d seen me!

  “It’s okay. He won’t say anything. There’s no time.” Chloe must have seen my panic.

  She was right. There were only two minutes left in the game. It’s not like he was going to pull Wyatt aside and let him know.

  I nodded and focused on the action.

  “Come on guys!” I cheered and whooped as the time ran out.

  Sixty seconds.

  Erik took possession and got the puck into Miami’s zone. He went around the back of their goalie and stopped in the left corner. He passed the puck to Reese who stopped it and quickly shot it to Wyatt.

  Forty Seconds.

  As I watched him, their captain and the man I’d developed feelings for, I held my breath.

  Time stood still.

  The puck drove through the air. Their goalie moved to his left, anticipating the goal, but the puck dropped. Faster than the goalie thought. It grazed his leg on the way into the net.

  Goal!

  I jumped. Hugged Emma. Hugged Chloe. Gave high fives to everyone around me. I cheered with everyone else, until my throat went raw.

  Thirty seconds remained on the clock, but it didn’t matter. With the way Miami had been playing there was no way they would score twice.

  Formalities took over as Erik went in for the next faceoff. He won and passed the puck to Reese. They continued to pass the puck to Wyatt then Noah then Brassard. It was like they were playing keep away from the Miami players.

  Ten seconds.

  The noise in the arena grew. It was almost deafening when the buzzer signaled the end of the game.

  Some of the girls started crying. Chloe was beaming. I could practically feel her smile. Everyone around me started yelling.

  “They did it!”

  “Third time champions!”

  “Fur-y! Fur-y!”

  Emma put her arms around me and we stood there in shock and reveling in the pure joy.

  This was it.

  They’d won.

  Their season was over.

  I was relieved for them. Each one of the guys deserved a break.

  But it was more. Wyatt had less pressure on him now. He might not think I’m such a distraction anymore.

  It might be our time.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Wyatt

  Even though this was my third time going through this ceremony, there was no getting used to it. I prayed I never did. I never wanted to take this for granted.

  Hats covered the ice until a team of junior players came and swept them up. I loved tha
t tradition.

  The red carpet had been rolled out and everyone, I mean everyone that had something to do with our team or the NHL came out onto the ice.

  It was like walking through a dream.

  My name was announced, but it sounded far away. I stood frozen until Erik shoved me forward toward the cup. Coach handed it to me. The weight in my hands was all it took to wake me up.

  I threw my arms in the air, raising the silver award into the air. I kissed it as I skated around letting the fans get a chance to see what was rightfully ours.

  When I got to the section where the Pride was sitting, I paused and thrusted it in the air again. They all cheered, some were even crying. I scanned their faces, and nearly fell to my knees when I saw Kendall between Chloe and Emma.

  She was clapping and jumping up and down. When her eyes met mine time stood still. She smiled and winked.

  I didn’t know she would be here. It made the victory sweeter, knowing she was here to be a part of it.

  She wiped a tear and I realized in that moment I was done. I gave in. I couldn’t fight it anymore.

  I wanted to be with her. We would figure out the details later. I never wanted to see her walk away again. Our future was full of uncertainties, but I could handle it. As long as we were together.

  I smiled at her then went back to the team and passed the cup to Erik. Each guy took their turn before the rest of the ceremony continued. As maddening as the loss in Miami had been, I wouldn’t trade it for winning at home. There was nothing sweeter.

  I posed for endless pictures. Made a speech. Hugged each of my teammates and the staff. The Pride was out on the ice and I thanked each of them as they congratulated me, until it was just her.

  Kendall hung back. Watching. She smiled and talked to a few of the guys as they passed, but I could tell she felt out of place. I looked around and took the opportunity to go to her while I had the chance.

  Her smile wavered as I got closer.

  “You’re here,” I said.

  She nodded. “Do you mind? I can leave if you want. I know I said I’d give you space.”

  I put up my hand, touching my finger to her lips. “I’m glad you’re here. I can’t believe I get to share this with you.” She blinked rapidly and I realized she was about to cry. “Kendall, please don’t cry.”

  She sniffed and smiled. “I’m just really happy for you. You were incredible. This whole season.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Even the part when you didn’t know me?”

  She scrunched her nose. “Even when I thought you were the jerk that took a shot at Ollisac.”

  I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her against me. Even with my bulky pads it felt good. Having her near me always felt right.

  ‘I missed you, Kendall.”

  She turned her head and looked up at me. “I missed you so much it hurt.”

  I kissed the top of her head. “I’m sorry.”

  “Me too.”

  “Kendall?” Her eyes found mine, looking worried. “I want to try again.”

  I only had to wait one second for her response.

  “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  With zero concern for who was looking, what cameras were around, or what the consequences may be, I kissed her.

  Pressing my lips to hers with force. Every lost moment. Every misunderstanding and miscommunication. Every second we could have been together, but let our pride get in the way.

  We’d make up for it all.

  It was a promise. I wasn’t going to lose her again. If she tried to push me away, I’d hold on tighter. If she tried to run, I’d follow.

  We’d made enough mistakes for a lifetime. I wasn’t going to let us waste another second.

  When I finally pulled back she was flushed and smiling.

  “Get a room you two!” Erik and Reese were standing with their arms around their fiancées as if they had any room to talk.

  “I kind of forgot where we were.” Kendall dropped her head against my chest while I laughed.

  Wow. That’s one heck of a compliment. My kiss made her forget we were standing in the middle of an arena with hundreds of thousands of eyes on us? Not too shabby.

  “I’ve got to get changed. Wait for me?”

  She looked up at me with wide eyes. “Forever.”

  The next day felt like the day after Christmas. The buildup. The preparation. The excitement. The joy. It was all done. The season was over.

  I looked over at Kendall laying next to me on the couch and smiled.

  She was much better than Christmas or even the Stanley cup.

  I had nowhere to be and she had a few more hours until she had to be to work.

  It was exactly what I wanted.

  Time.

  With her.

  Something I thought I’d never have again.

  She looked over at me and smiled. “Why are you watching me?”

  I leaned down and kissed her lightly. “I’ve got something to tell you.”

  She sat up and looked at me with a cautious expression.

  “I went to see Dr. Thompson.”

  Her eyebrows pulled together. “What? When?”

  “I first went after you got out of the hospital.”

  “When I told you I needed space?”

  I nodded. “I went to her to see if I could be tested.”

  “Even though I’d just run away?”

  I nodded again. “We all did the test, and last week I found out.”

  Her eyes were wide, waiting.

  “I’m not a match.”

  She sighed and fell back onto a pillow. “Okay.”

  “I’m not a match for you, but I’m a perfect match for another person on the list.”

  Her eyes met mine again, and I almost laughed at her upside-down expression.

  “That person has a donor who’s a perfect match for another person. That third person’s donor is a perfect match for you.”

  She blinked. Then again.

  Slowly, she sat up and reached for my hands. “What are you saying, Wyatt?”

  “I’m saying that you have a donor.”

  She squeezed her eyes shut. “But why didn’t we think of this before? Uncle David could do it?”

  I shrugged. “A lot of things have to fall perfectly in place, and it just worked out this way.”

  Her eyes shown with unshed tears. “You can’t donate. You’ll be out for weeks.”

  “I already talked to Coach about it. He’s on board. I’ll be out for about four weeks before I can come back for light training. I’ll be back in shape in time for next season.”

  “I can’t let you do that, Wyatt. You can’t risk that.”

  I smiled at her and leaned in to kiss her. When I sat back she was dazed. “It’s all done, Kendall. You’re getting a new kidney in three weeks.”

  Her jaw dropped. “That soon?”

  “Everything is lined up. The sooner the better, right?”

  She nodded. “Thank you.”

  I smiled before kissing her again. This woman was my world.

  I’d thought for years I could only have one thing. Hockey or a life. Hockey or a relationship.

  Not anymore.

  One stubborn Harbor fan changed everything.

  Epilogue

  Three Weeks Later

  “Are you ready?”

  That was the third time Wyatt had asked, in the past five minutes. I reached across the railing and grabbed it, squeezing hard.

  “I’m ready, babe.”

  He leaned up and smiled at me. “I wish I could be there for you when you wake up.”

  I rolled my eyes and rolled slightly to my side to face him. “You’re going to be waking up at the same time. We’ll see each other once we both know the date and president.”

  “What?”

  I laughed at his confusion. “Don’t the nurses ask questions like that?”

  “Maybe in movies. I don’t think they’re going to quiz us.”

&nb
sp; I nodded and laid back down until the door swung open.

  “Are you two ready?”

  I smiled at the question and looked up at Uncle David at the end of our beds. “I think we are.”

  He nodded once. I could tell he was anxious, but he wouldn’t show it.

  “Everything’s going to be fine.”

  He nodded again and cleared his throat. “The other donors and recipients are all prepped. It should be any time now.”

  I couldn’t stop smiling. I’d been trying to absorb the news since Wyatt told me weeks ago, but it still felt like a dream. I was getting the transplant. Three people were today. All because of Wyatt.

  I squeezed his hand again and he squeezed mine three times.

  I love you.

  It had become our code through the endless appointments and treatments and lab tests.

  We hadn’t said it out loud yet, but I knew what it meant.

  A woman in blue scrubs walked in, smiled at Uncle David, and finally looked at me. “It’s time.”

  Like she’d said a magic word, two teams walked in, one going to Wyatt and the other flocking around me.

  Our hands were pulled apart as we moved out to the hallway. Panic instantly flooded through my body. “Wyatt?”

  I tried to sit up, but a hand kept me down.

  “Wyatt?”

  Uncle David came to my side. “What’s wrong?”

  “I need to see him.”

  My bed stopped moving and my uncle stepped away. Wyatt’s bed appeared and stopped when we were face to face. “What’s wrong, Kendall?”

  I took a deep breath. “I love you, Wyatt.”

  His grin could have lit the entire hospital. “I love you too.”

  I closed my eyes and let the relief and joy wash over me.

  “Hey.” I opened my eyes to his perfect face watching me carefully. “I’ll see you in just a little while.”

  I nodded. “Okay.”

  His bed moved on until I couldn’t see him anymore.

  Uncle David came back into view and took my hand. “I guess I should buy a Fury jersey while I’m here.”