Coming onto the ice for the start of the third period, we’re tired, but the entire arena gets to their feet and it’s easy to push it aside with so many people cheering us on. We’re so close.
I look to Adam before the puck drops. Like me, this is it for him. We lose and our hockey careers are over. The hard set of his jaw tells me he doesn’t want to go out like that. Especially not here in front of our home crowd.
Southern is physical in the final period. Desperation makes them meaner and tougher.
“I think that motherfucker bit me,” Heath says after a SU jersey gets a penalty for holding.
“They know they’re done. Let’s put the nail in the coffin,” Maverick says as we set for the power play.
Everyone in the arena is back on their feet. It’s so loud I can’t even hear Coach yelling from the bench. Doesn’t matter. We’ve got this.
It’s a game of cat and mouse as we pass the puck around firing shots, grabbing rebounds, and taking turns hacking away at their goalie.
They aren’t going down easily, I’ll give Southern that. But they’re worried about Heath scoring on them and giving me room to work. Maverick moves toward Heath just like they expect. His eyes never leave Heath as he shoots the puck to me and I get a clear look through the five-hole as SU’s goalie shifts to reposition himself.
The goal post lights up seconds before the final buzzer sounds.
“Three-beer limit, boys,” Adam says, tossing cold cans from a cooler in the back of his Jeep.
In two days we travel to Icarus State for regionals, but we couldn’t not celebrate our win tonight.
The basement of Sigma is jam-packed. It feels like everyone from the arena followed us. Sienna’s supposed to meet me here, but I can’t see shit over the crowd of people.
Ginny, Reagan, and Dakota are with us as we push through the dark room. So are a few other girls that came with Jordan and Liam. I didn’t catch their names, but for some reason they all have a vested interest in helping me find Sienna.
“Is that her?” one of them asks, standing on her tiptoes and pointing to a girl that looks nothing like Sienna. Which is what I tell them.
“Brown hair and green eyes aren’t a lot to go on.” She holds on to Jordan’s arm and tries to make herself taller.
“You forgot gorgeous,” Maverick says, elbowing me and mocking my earlier description. I could give two fucks less. I stand by my description.
“There she is.” Adam, the tallest of the group, points to the far right side of the basement where a group of people are playing flip cup. Sienna and Josie stand off to the side.
I start toward her, circling around the middle where people are dancing.
She doesn’t see me until I get within spitting distance.
“Hey!” Her smile widens and she steps forward, tossing her arms around my neck. “You won! Congratulations!”
“Thanks.”
She pulls back and I slip a finger through one of the loops on her denim shorts. They’re really fucking short and her toned legs are going to be a real welcome distraction.
She has a mixed drink in her hand and takes a sip, smiling. I think it’s the first time I’ve ever seen her cup half empty.
“Getting lit tonight?”
“You scored the game-winning goal. We have to celebrate!”
“I know. I was there.”
Josie steps forward to speak over the music. “Congratulations!”
“Thanks.”
My friends step up behind me, finally making their way through the party. I introduce everyone and we make one big circle.
Huh. I think this is the first time ever I’ve been out with my friends at a party with a girl. When Carrie visited, we usually kept to ourselves. This is nice.
Since we’re taking it easy, we mostly stick to our circle, talking, hanging out, enjoying the night.
My buddy’s girls are all about Sienna and her friends. Two more skaters have joined us, and they’re all talking and laughing.
“Stealing her,” Dakota says to me. “We need her more than you.”
I highly doubt that.
Sienna winks as they tug her away from me.
“I found the downside of your girlfriends,” I say when it’s just the guys.
“Yeah, they tend to move in a pack. Don’t worry.” Adam tosses an arm around my shoulder. “They’ll be back.”
And come back she does, fifteen minutes later, arm in arm with Dakota and Josie, Sienna’s laughing and her cheeks are flushed. I’m still milking my first beer.
Giggling, she shimmies in front of me. Her phone in the front pocket of her shorts falls out onto the ground.
I pick it up and inspect for damage before I hand it back. “You are the biggest lightweight.”
“My pockets are so small. It keeps falling out.”
“I’ve got you.” I tuck it into my pocket.
“Thank you.” She kisses me on the mouth, tasting like beer and wintergreen gum.
I don’t think she’s drunk, but she’s definitely feeling it.
A new song comes on and she tosses her hands over her head. “Oh my gosh, I love this song.”
Maverick bounces in place. “Hell yeah.”
“Come on, let’s dance.” Sienna takes my hand and pulls.
Ginny and Heath are already moving that direction and Adam and Reagan are sort of sway-hugging to the beat.
I stay glued to the spot. “I don’t dance.”
“Lies! You were dancing the other night.”
“Would we call that dancing?” Mav asks with a grin.
We wouldn’t, actually. I was standing there, and girls were dancing around me, not exactly the same thing. I say as much.
She closes the space between us, pressing her body to mine. “All you have to do is stand there and I’ll make you look good.”
16
Sienna
There’s a long list of things I rarely do because of my heart condition. It isn’t that I can’t drink, or do those other things on the list, but with so many things out of my control, I do the things I can to take care of myself.
So Rhett is correct when he calls me a lightweight for the second time as we make our way to the dance floor and I stumble over my own feet. I’ve had three beers and I’m definitely feeling it.
He holds me upright as we join his friends in the middle of Sigma’s basement. Looking uncertain, he keeps his hands at my waist as I dance in front of him. He’s just standing in place, but he makes it look good. Ripped jeans and a plain black T-shirt set off the blond of his hair and those steely blue eyes.
I took a lot of dance lessons growing up, but those mostly only get showcased on the ice. Without my skates, I’ve never felt that same confidence. But the way he stares at me like I’m this amazing, beautiful creature he can’t believe he’s with, gives me the boost I need to cut loose. The alcohol is also probably helping.
Olivia and Josie are still with us, squealing as they get right in the middle of the circle we’ve formed. Rhett’s friends are nice, and they’ve been so welcoming to me and my friends.
Speaking of his friends, Ginny dances behind me, rubbing her butt against me playfully. I turn so my back is to Rhett while I dance with her.