Page 178 of Cheap Shot

Once Tanner succeeded, he fired the disc toward the net, but it was gobbled up by Poole and the play was whistled dead.

Just a few minutes later, Tom got an opportunity from one of the circles, bending a knee to fire the puck in. It zipped past Poole’s shoulder and into the back of the goal, giving Boston a 2–0 lead.

Sebastian cursed again. Damn, they were really fired up tonight …

Of course, it was Luke’s night. None of the Harriers wanted to lose during his thousandth game celebration. Least of all Luke. He was playing hard too, and it was one of the most energetic games Sebastian had seen all season.

The teams traded scoring chances for another ten minutes or so, both goaltenders making great saves. Sebastian clenched his hands together tightly as Nicky passed the puck from the far goal line toward the near circle where Leif Rasmussen lurked. Leif immediately fired the puck, but Jesse denied that too.

Damn, that had been a great opportunity for New York. But no matter how many great opportunities both teams got, the game was still 2–0 at the end of the first period.

The Harriers dominated play in the second and it wasn’t until eleven minutes in when Connor fired the puck toward Roman Poole. Poole blocked it but when it shot toward Luke, he fired it back toward the net.

It pinged off the post, rebounding wildly and suddenly Tanner was there, shoving it in past Poole’s pads.

Tanner threw himself toward Luke, hugging him in a jubilant celly and even from where Sebastian sat, he could see Luke trying not to grin as he squeezed Tanner tight.

Whatever Luke said, he loved that guy. And it was clear from the video message earlier that the feeling was mutual.

As much as it pained Sebastian to admit it sometimes, the Harriers were a great team.

The frustration from New York was growing though and as the rest of the period continued, there was more shoving and grappling along the boards.

One of New York’s forwards got caught hooking a Harriers player and went to the box.

Boston nearly scored on the power play and Sebastian held his breath as Poole managed a diving kick save.

Thank fuck.

Frustration on both sides simmered as the minutes of the second period ticked down.

Tanner had been dogging Leif Rasmussen the whole game, but Rasmussen’s annoyance was clearly building. Sebastian had no idea what Tanner said along the boards near the penalty box during a stoppage in play, but Leif cross-checked Tanner in the chest, shouting something.

Tanner dropped his stick, yelling back at Rasmussen, and Rasmussen flung off his gloves and grabbed the front of Tanner’s jersey. He shook him like a rag doll but Tanner merely grinned.

They grappled for a moment, Tanner’s helmet popping off and a moment later he was on his knees, laughing up at Rasmussen and blowing him a kiss.

And then Luke was there, pulling Rasmussen away, shouting something at him. Mirsad Renner took exception to that and then Luke and Renner were squaring up, sticks and gloves flying to ice and fists coming up.

Luke ducked a hit and got a couple of solid punches in before he wrestled Renner to the ground. Sebastian chuckled as they both got dragged apart by referees and forcibly skated toward the penalty boxes.

Shit, all Luke needed now was a goal and he’d have a Gordie Howe hat trick. Too bad Luke didn’t score many. It really would be a perfect ending to this game.

“Hey,” the Rockets fan in front of Sebastian said, turning around in her seat. “Is it just me or does it seem like those two have some weird thing going on?”

“Crawford and Renner?” Sebastian asked, confused. “Uhh …”

“No!” She waved that off, laughing. “Not your man. Pretty sure he and Renner just want to kill each other.”

Sebastian nodded ruefully. That was probably accurate.

“I mean Clayton and Rasmussen,” she explained. “Like … I think they hate each other but it also seems like they kinda want to fuck about it. Totally different energy there, you know?”

Sebastian nodded. He’d wondered about that too.

“Honestly, I have no idea,” he admitted to her. “I wish I could give you some inside scoop, but I genuinely don’t know. Wouldn’t surprise me though.”

She grinned. “They kinda remind me of you and Crawford, now that I think of it.”