Page 53 of Drop Pass

“I promise you, Nikolay, every single man on this team, and everyone back home cares about you. We all want to get her here and make sure she’s taken care of. We will do everything we can, all you have to do is play like you always do.”

“Thanks.”

He walked away and I finished dressing out. He was right. Everyone was helping me so much and all I had to do in return was my job. For the next few hours I wasn’t a brother with a sick sister. I was only number seventy-one. A center. A player.

I lined up with the guys and we walked out of the locker room in a charged silence. The music coming from the rink grew louder with each step, the bass matching my heartbeat. This was what I lived for. The energy, the adrenaline.

The moment my skate touched the ice I pushed everything out of my mind except for the one thing I needed to focus on. This game.

I went through warm ups with the guys then headed to the bench to watch the opening ceremony, national anthem, and first puck drop. The first line won and they headed toward Detroit’s goal without a moment of hesitation.

I watched their movements and followed the puck with my eyes. Detroit wasn’t as fast as we were, but they were one of the toughest offenses in the league. They held the record for shots on goal. If they got the puck into our zone it was almost a guarantee they’d get a shot and maybe a rebound in. Our focus in this game was to keep them as far from our goal as possible. We had to keep our defense tight and get in front of our goal faster than they could get in position to shoot.

Hartman signaled a line change and I had my leg thrown over the edge waiting for him to get to the bench so I could launch onto the ice without a missed second. Fisher and Malkin flanked my sides and we surged forward as McCann took possession of the puck and turned toward us. He passed to Fisher as we changed formation in the middle of the ice and charged toward their goal.

Two of the Detroit players came into view, but I got around them and stayed in the left corner ready for Fisher to pass. He faked to the right before slapping it to me. The goalie was a beat behind and I had the upper net open. I had less than a second to turn and shoot at the goal.

Goal!

I threw my hands in the air as the guys piled together around me.

“Yeah, Kozlov,” Murray shouted in my face.

I grinned and slapped their backs before heading to the bench to high five the guys. I sat down and took a sip of water, unable to fight my smile. I knew the cameras would be on me and I usually tried to keep my composure, but I didn’t care.

That one was for Yula.

17

Elena

I walked up to the set and froze. Shawn and Jordan were at their desks talking and laughing with Dean. The original sports guy. I approached them feeling completely out of place. Maybe he was just visiting?

“Good morning.” I forced a smile and waited for them to acknowledge me.

“Hey Elena.” Jordan said with a grin. “Look who’s back.”

Dean held out his hand. “We didn’t get a chance to properly meet before I left. Thanks, so much for covering for me.”

I shook his hand and then looked to the two producers waiting for more of an explanation but they didn’t pick up on my signals. “I thought you would be out for a few more weeks.”

Dean grinned. “Luckily, my recovery went better than expected. I was cleared to get back to work, just no strenuous activity.”

I nodded. “That’s great.”

Why was I so bothered? I’d been in over my head covering the majority of the sports stories, and now I wouldn’t have to pull doubles to cover the weather too. I looked across the room to where Jas was waving at me.

I was back to where I belonged.

“Well, see you guys later.” I left them and went back to my desk with the weather team. “Hi Jas, Wesley. Missed you guys.”

I smiled and Jas nodded excitedly. “I’m so glad to have you back.”

Wesley nodded but didn’t look up from his computer. “Here are the reports for today.” He slid the paper across to me and I glanced over them.

“Thanks.”

There was no logical reason for me to be this bummed out about being back on the weather team, except for one silly thing.