Power Play: A Second Chance Hockey Romance (Sinners on the Ice)
Power Play: A Second Chance Hockey Romance: Chapter 35

Now, December

What the fuck was that?

I’m going to have a word with Pashkevich because that fucking hurt. I swear, with passes like that, that let our opponent so close to the net, I’m going to need to start taking stretching lessons from ballerinas.

I grab my water bottle from the net and squeeze some into my mouth. I wince, leaning on my left leg and then on my right. Thank God it’s the third period already because I was close to tapping out a few moments ago.

Vancouver is playing masterfully, and it’s their home arena. The support for them is overwhelming. It’s like the crowd is another player on their team, and their powerful energy plays on our nerves. It’s loud and obnoxious.

Though we’re still winning.

Colton gave us a one to zero lead at the eighteenth minute of the first period on a partial breakaway, scoring with a wrist shot pass from Drake. I probably even did a little victory dance, which wasn’t that well-received by Vancouver’s fans. The things I heard them yelling at me weren’t fucking nice at all.

Vancouver tied it in the tenth minute of the second period. Roman had blocked their center’s shot seconds prior, but he gobbled the puck off Roman’s stick and snapped it past me. In all honesty, I was flabbergasted, ready to yell that they got it all fucking wrong, until I looked back and saw the lonely puck behind me.

Dean scored a few minutes after Vancouver’s first goal, knocking in a rebound at the left post with one second remaining on a power play. We didn’t get to celebrate because Vancouver’s bench challenged the play for goaltender interference. But, luckily for us, the call was upheld after a video review.

Two to one definitely felt nicer than two to three—Vancouver sent the puck into my net twice within the last three minutes of the second period. Those goals brought both teams energy. Different kinds, but still.

When we returned to the ice for the third period, the Thunders were buzzing with the desire to bounce back. Things got messy in a span of seven minutes. I spat out my water when I glanced at Roman, who was sitting in the penalty box with a busted lip. The guy was fucking smiling despite the blood leaking down his chin. He will never cease to amaze me, though he landed himself in there because he stood up for me. His right hook into Marković’s gut was hard and precise, and when Marković punched him back—in the face—he didn’t even flinch.

He takes things as they come and never backs away from a challenge. That energy is something I’m drawn to. It’s no surprise he became my real friend.

Colton tied the score in the eleventh minute of the third period. He kept the puck in at the blue line, skated around Vancouver’s players, and beat our opponent’s blocker side while falling to the ice. Three to three on the jumbotron made me throw a fist into the air, happy that it seemed like we were ready to return to the game.

“C’mon, guys,” I mumble under my breath, glancing between the time on the jumbotron and Colton, Drake, and Dean rushing toward Vancouver’s net. “One minute, fuckers.”

Dean sends a puck flying toward Drake. Drake passes it to Colt, and when I think he’s about to hit it, he passes it back to Dean, who lifts his stick and sends the puck right into Vancouver’s net with a powerful shot from the point after Vancouver turned it over while trying to clear the zone.

Four to three, and the game finally ends.

“Yeah, baby!”

Another little win on our road to the playoffs. No way in hell are we missing out this season.

The Stanley Cup will be ours…I can fucking feel it.

I sit down beside Drake and glance at him. He’s reading some book with a serious expression on his face. The noises of the airport don’t bother him. I fiddle with my phone, tapping my foot on the ground. My gaze roams over the place, noticing Roman and Colton sitting nearby with coffee cups in their hands. Maybe I should go sit with them before our flight?

“Spill.”

“Huh?” I turn my head, only now realizing that Drake has closed his book. His chocolate brown eyes, the same color as his sister’s, are on me.

“You clearly have something to say to me, so spill.”

I smile. “No, no, no, I just sat here⁠—”

“Clay, cut the bullshit, okay? Just be honest.”

“Drake—”

“Be honest.” He eyes me with his lips pursed. His features are strikingly dark.

“You’re like David Beckham from that viral video,” I joke, trying to lighten the mood. But it’s not working. It actually has the opposite effect.

Shaking his head, Drake sighs. Then he picks up his book and opens it again. He looks so disappointed that my hands instantly become clammy. He knows, doesn’t he?

“Layla and I are together,” I say on an exhale. His lack of reaction to my confession reaffirms my thoughts. He knows. “Though ‘together’ feels like a really strong word right now. With like eight away games back-to-back, I barely see her. Hell, last month I spent more time around you than her.”

“Is that supposed to make me sympathetic? To help me forget all the lies I’ve been told?” He peers at me, and a heavy grip seizes my heart. I didn’t want to hurt my friend in the pursuit of my happy ending.

“Drake, for what it’s worth, I never wanted to lie to you. Just, the circumstances…” I trail off, knowing how terrible it all sounds. Plus, I don’t like the idea of putting the blame on Layla. “Screw this shit,” I mutter under my breath. Then I turn to my left to get a better look at him.

“I love Layla. I never stopped loving her, even after our breakup. She’s always been it for me, and now she and Princess are my whole world.”

Drake turns to face me too; his attention is completely on me.

“I cherish your friendship, and I’m sorry for disappointing you. But I’m not sorry for doing anything I could to get my girl back. For that…I will never apologize.”

“What, you’d kill someone for my sister?” he goads me, a smile peeking at the corners of his mouth.

I reply without any hesitation. “For Layla? I would.”

Drake’s nostrils flare, and he starts coughing. “You’re insane.”

“Maybe a little bit,” I admit, bursting into laughter. “We’re good?”

“For now. I still have a lot of questions…but they can wait till my dear sister is back from Michigan. Angie and I will expect you two to come to dinner. Christmas came just at the right time, don’t you think?”

“I’d say it came at the worst time ever. I can’t even spend it with Layla and Maya.”

“Fly over to them.” He shrugs. “I don’t think our parents would be against it.”

I swallow the bile clogging my throat.

“You can also visit your family while you’re in Michigan, no?”

I blink and blink, opening and closing my mouth like a fish out of water. “I didn’t think about it…I thought you were flying home too.”

“Angie’s seven months pregnant. We’re staying home. Her family is coming to visit us.” Drake smiles, tilting his head to the side. “Maybe, instead of making assumptions, you should’ve asked?”

“I feel really stupid right now.” I chuckle. “I’ll look at flights. Maybe I can replace one from Vancouver today. It’d be better than flying home first and then to Detroit.” I stand up. A smile as big as the Empire State Building is on my lips. “Thanks, Drake.”

“You’re welcome.” He opens his book again, ready to bury his nose in its pages.

I take a step forward, but then I turn to Drake. “How did you replace out?”

“Wow, I thought you weren’t going to ask.” Drake laughs wholeheartedly. “First of all, did you think you were that subtle? Your car parked in her driveway early in the morning, her suddenly staying out all night, which she literally hasn’t done in years, since she and Ava graduated? Maya sleeping at our place at least once a week?” The more he talks, the warmer my body gets. There’s no anger or annoyance in his voice. “But also, Maya talks. All the time. I knew when they were at your place, and when you were staying at theirs. I even knew about the trip to Monterey!” He falls quiet for a moment. The mischievous glint behind his irises makes me arch a brow at him. “Maya speaks well for being two years old, but some words are still hard for her. That’s when Angie came in handy.”

“Meaning?”

“She corrected Maya when she couldn’t pronounce ‘Monterey.’ That gave it away. I knew she knew something, and…making the girl talk is pretty easy when you know what she wants.”

I hide my hands in my pockets, rocking back and forth on my heels. “How long have you known?”

“Since the regular season started, around the end of October.”

“But it’s almost the end of December now.”

“And?”

“And you didn’t say anything?”

Drake closes his book again, annoyed; he twists his lips into a scowl. “I love my sister, and I love you, Clay. As a good brother and a good friend, I kept my distance, let you two figure everything out on your own. And is it really that bad?” he asks, staring at me with concern. “We’re not in some medieval century, when a grown-ass brother has any right to command his sister. Well, okay, there are families like that, and maybe it’s normal for them, but it’s not for me. I’ve never been like that. You and Layla should both know that better than anyone.”

I move closer and outstretch my arms, watching him with a smile. Drake rolls his eyes but stands up, and I instantly wrap him in a bear hug. At least I try—this motherfucker is still six-foot-five.

“Thank you, Drake. You’re the best friend I could’ve asked for.” I take a step back. “I bet you’re going to be the best brother-in-law too,” I say, just to tease him and see his grimace as he lowers himself back into his seat.

“We’re not there yet, Rodgers. Don’t try my patience.”

“Duly noted.” I wink at him and finally walk away, heading off to replace Coach and look for a flight to Detroit. Once I have all my plans figured out, I fish out my phone and quickly type a text to Layla.

I take a screenshot of my ticket to Detroit.

A picture of Layla and Maya’s smiling faces pops up on my screen.

I’m about to slip my phone back into my pocket when I remember her text. And, like the little shit I am, I text her back.

It takes her a good ten minutes to reply, and I’m more than sure it’s because she wanted to taunt me.

With that, I go replace my friends to say goodbye because my flight is at another gate. There’s no place for secrets anymore, and soon I will be able to tell everyone how much I love her.