Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 86422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
“Maybe it’s a sign,” Mac says.
“A sign for what?”
“That you should submit a piece for the art show."
I’m scared to put my stuff out there for everyone to see and critique, but I can’t achieve my dreams if I don’t take a chance. “It does seem like the universe is pointing in that direction, doesn’t it?”
CHAPTER 30
MAC
“Holy shit, is that Roman Hammerstein?” Steele asks as we take our seats on the bench.
“Forrest-Hammer now, but yeah.” That I don’t sound like I huffed helium is a miracle.
“Did you know he was coming?” Lovett’s knee is going a mile a minute, just like mine.
“I did not.” Fee, who is seated next to her younger sister, with Cammie on her other side, assured me she was coming tonight, but she failed to warn me her brother-in-law would also be here.
“Scouts in the row behind him.” Stiles chews on his mouth guard.
It’s a habit we all have. The hockey equivalent of a soother.
“No fucking way.” Steele rolls his head on his shoulders. “I hope I get decent ice time. Or maybe I hope I don’t. That’s some real fucking pressure.”
Roman stands and turns to shake the scouts’ hands. I’m sure Roman has regular conversations with those guys, being a coach for the Hockey Academy.
I send a prayer to the hockey gods that all my extra time on the ice pays off tonight.
“You got this, man. You’ve been owning the ice lately,” Stiles assures me.
“I got this,” I repeat. My passing accuracy has improved, and I’m not eating ice when I hit the crease like I was earlier in the season.
I channel my positive energy into playing smart and clean. And it works. Fee being here to cheer me on, wearing my hoodie, is an ego boost. She’s here because she cares and she believes in me. It’s not about who I know, or what my future career might look like. Fee isn’t starstruck by pro hockey players; she’s genuinely impressed with the tenacity, effort, and dedication it takes to play for my school team.
During the first period, I manage an assist, and another in the third. Tilton wins the game 3-1, and my team is riding the high as we head for the locker room.
“We are definitely celebrating the hell out of this win.” Steele claps me on the back, then shouts, “Party at my place!”
“Is there ever a weekend we don’t have to clean up after fifty people?” Stiles grumbles, but even he’s smiling.
“Nice goal tonight,” I praise.
“Thanks for passing it to me.”
The mood is buoyant as we change out of our gear and head for the showers.
“Shit, Stiles, did you get hit with a puck?” Lovett asks.
Stiles frowns and looks down, running his hand over his pec. “Oh, no. I was shooting the puck in the driveway and it ricocheted.”
“Good thing it didn’t hit your pretty face,” Steele comments.
“Yeah, my dad paid a lot of money for my straight teeth.”
We shower, change into our dress clothes, and leave the locker room.
Fee is waiting in the lobby, along with Cammie and Tally. Roman is close by, with Callie at his side, talking to one of the scouts.
Chase scoops Cammie up, and Fee rushes over and throws her arms around me. “You were great tonight!” She kisses my neck.
“I play better when you're watching me.” I give her a squeeze but avoid putting my lips on her because Roman might be nice, but he still scares the shit out of me.
“Mac!” Callie rushes over to greet me with a hug.
“Hey, Calls, thanks for coming to my game.”
Fee rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling.
“Lexi is on an away series, and Hammer and Hollis are taking care of Ariel, Roman said he was coming, and that I could have all the best snacks, plus I might want to come to Tilton because they have an amazing girls’ hockey team.”
“You’re not even in high school yet,” Fee points out.
“It’s never too early to start planning for your future. Plus, Mac has come to see me play, and I’ve never seen him play, so I wanted us to be even.” She beams up at me.
Fee links our arms. “It was a good game, wasn’t it?”
“It really was! I had so much fun. Dred and Connor had some kind of dinner thing with Connor’s family tonight, which he said he would have missed if he could because I’m more fun to hang out with than his dad. But he couldn’t get out of it.” Callie shrugs. “So I ended up coming to the game and I’m glad I did. You had two great assists! Roman says you have a lot of talent.”
“That’s because he does.” Roman settles his hands on Callie’s shoulders. “You were great out there tonight, Mac. You knew when to pass and when to play. It’s clear you spend a lot of time with your teammates on and off the ice.”