Page 104 of Unforgettable Player

We’re on the edge of our seats as the clock ticks down. With about ten seconds remaining, Connor gets a good shot on goal, but the goalie makes a glove save. My heart had been in my throat watching that puck soar toward the goal, and it drops now with the collective groan from the stands.

Savannah’s player comes out of the box and we lose the man advantage.

The game goes into overtime. I chant please don’t go to a shoot-out over and over in my head. I hate shoot-outs. The coach always puts Connor in to take one. Despite his confident demeanor, he’s admitted how much he’s shitting himself every time it’s his turn.

With two minutes left on the overtime clock, a Savannah player gets a breakaway. We’re all on our feet, waiting to see what will happen. Praying our goalie will anticipate the skater’s move and make the save.

The Savannah player dekes, shoots. The puck flies into the back of the net so fast I only know it went in because of the reaction on the ice.

Disappointment spreads through the stands.

I’m never prouder of Connor than in these moments. He never lets his head drop. He rallies and shows character in the difficult moments. That’s probably why his coach has been talking about putting him in an assistant captain role next season. He pretends he’s fine either way, but I know he wants that A on his jersey. With his charisma and easy rapport with the refs, it would be stupid of his coach not to take advantage of that.

I keep my eyes on Connor as he lets it sink in that they lost. They are out of the playoffs.

Connor commiserates with his teammates before looking up to find us. We all wave and try to send some love his way. When he finds us, a small smile touches his lips.

CONNOR

I meet my family at a restaurant the players hang out at a lot. The owners know us and commiserate with me over the loss.

“Maybe next season,” the owner says, slapping me on the back.

Sure, I’m disappointed, but I’m happy my family are here. And the playoffs were more than we were hoping for so soon after the rebuild and with so many rookies. I have to be happy with the progress the team has made so far.

“I plan on eating the biggest cheat meal of all cheat meals tonight,” I announce as I study the menu.

Scout rolls her eyes. “Athletes.”

When I decide what I’m having, I put my menu down and hold Elliot’s hand over the table. I love how natural it feels. How my family don’t bat an eye.

“You guys look good in your new jerseys,” I say. “Especially you, baby.”

Scout pulls a face. “Urgh, stop.”

“What? You said don’t kiss in front of you, fine. But you didn’t say anything about terms of endearment.”

“I thought nauseating words like ‘baby’ were implied.”

Dad laughs. He raises his glass and announces a toast. “To Connor, for working hard and making the playoffs, and for many great seasons to come.”

My family raise their glasses and toast me, even though I just lost.

Eli and I say goodbye to my family outside the restaurant. Mom and Dad are giving Scout a ride back to school and Eli’s coming home with me, obviously.

While Eli’s focusing on his grad degree, he’s still living on campus in grad student accommodation, but we plan on finding a place to ourselves once we save up enough money. My parents would help, but we want to do this on our own.

I’ve loved living in the apartment complex with the guys, and it was definitely a good way to get to know the team, but having a roommate can suck when you have a boyfriend. Luckily, my roommate is understanding enough to make himself scarce for a few hours whenever Elliot comes over. I do the same for him when he brings his girlfriend home.

My roommate isn’t home when we get back to the apartment. He has left a mess of the living room, though. Empty pizza boxes and dirty socks are all over the floor. I groan.

“Sorry about this.”

Elliot laughs, “I don’t care about the mess, Connor. Come here.”

I put my arms around him, taking in his scent and how familiar his body feels.

“You okay?” he asks.

I check in with myself before answering. “Yeah. I’m disappointed, obviously, but we’ve got next year.”

“You’ll have so many opportunities to win the Kelly Cup, and maybe the Calder and the Stanley Cup one day, who knows.”

I laugh. “Fuck it. Let’s try and win all three.”

He chuckles against my chest. I’m just about to ask him to take the jersey off so it doesn’t feel like I’m hugging a teammate when there’s an obnoxious knock on the door. I know it’s weird to think of a knock as obnoxious, but there’s only one person who manages to achieve that.

“Busy!” I shout to Sebastian. What’s he even doing here? He lives in a nice house with his NHL boyfriend. He does not need to slum it with us.

“Sorry!” he shouts back. “Carry on!”

Elliot laughs and buries his face in my jersey.

I tilt his chin up until he’s looking at me, his eyes shining behind his glasses. My heart catches at the knowledge that he’s mine.

“Where were we?”

THE END