Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Nolan is skating side to side, carving up the ice in front of his net as the Vipers players get ready to start.
It will be a five-round shootout. The best score after five shots wins it all.
Their power forward starts first. He takes a deep breath as the referee skates over, ready to blow his whistle.
Nolan looks locked in as he stares the player down.
Now, more than ever, I’m happy I paid the money to get a first-class goalie like Nolan Barlowe in. This is his opportunity to earn every cent of his giant paycheck.
The forward takes off and dekes to the right before shooting to the left. Nolan is not fooled and he catches the puck in his glove.
“Yes!” I shout as the arena bursts into cheers.
Now, it’s our turn. Sebastian is first, of course, and he takes the puck out like the natural he is. He skates up to the goalie and fakes a shot. The goalie bites, lurching forward, but Sebastian pulls it back and flicks it in. God, he makes it look so easy. The crowd explodes as we go up 1-0.
They score on the next shot and Riley leaps out of her seat. I look up at those beautiful breasts bouncing and feel a swell of happiness despite her team tying it up.
Tucker comes out second for us. He tries to sneak it through the goalie’s legs, but the goalie is not fooled. He stops the puck and we’re tied 1-1 after two rounds.
Nolan misses the next one, but I can’t blame him for it. It’s a beautiful low fake, which the Viper then shoots up high. It hits the crossbar and slips inside.
Edvard finishes the third round for us. I hold my breath as he takes the puck from center ice and skates with it to the net. He’s the weakest of all five players chosen, and unfortunately, he misses. He gets the goalie out of position with his deke, but then just misses the open net.
“That’s it,” Riley whispers, clenching her fist.
Round three is over and we’re losing 1-2.
Luckily, the Vipers’ next player misses in round four. Nolan deflects the puck with his stick and it sails into the crowd.
Harris Sutton comes skating out to chants of “Flamethrower!”
He winks at his son and then goes after the puck, bringing it into the zone before easily flicking it into the bottom corner.
“Fuck yeah!” Zara screams as he ties it up 2-2.
One round left.
Riley takes my hand and squeezes it as her player, Zuccarello, skates out. He takes the puck and skates near the boards on his way to the net.
Nolan turns and faces him.
An empty feeling hits the pit of my stomach when I see what Zuccarello is setting up. He fakes the backhand and Nolan takes the bait.
“No!” I gasp when Nolan slides out, doing the splits to stop him, but he’s leaving most of the net open.
Zuccarello pulls the puck back quickly to his forehand. He flicks it to the open net.
I hold my breath as I watch the puck summersault forward.
Nolan contorts his body and yanks his leg up at an unnatural angle and the puck smacks into his blade. It bounces up and sails over the net.
The arena goes nuts.
My girl drops her head with a heavy breath. I rub her back, trying not to seem too excited even though my heart is pounding.
That goddamn goalie. I’m going to buy him a helicopter for that brilliant save!
All eyes in the arena turn to the last man up, our star rookie Austin Gambill.
“Come on, Austin!” Zara hollers.
“Let’s go Vipers!” Riley screams.
I rub my jaw and say a little prayer as Austin gets going. He picks up speed and grabs the puck with his stick.
The goalie is staring him down as he approaches.
Austin abruptly stops and then hammers a wrist shot so fast, I can’t see it. It flies past the goalie’s stick, but it hits the crossbar and bounces back.
“No!” I shout, but I react too soon.
The puck hits the goalie’s back and then bounces into the net.
Twenty-four thousand fans scream so loud my head feels like it’s going to explode. I jump up and give Zara a high-five. I hug my general manager.
The boys have swarmed Austin on the ice. He disappears under the mob of celebrating players.
And then my heart sinks when I see my girl with her head down. I put my hand on her back and drop to my knee.
“I’m sorry,” I say to her.
She looks at me and smiles sadly. “It’s okay. I’ll get you next year.”
I’m sure she will. She’s done so much in such little time. I’m sure she’ll be back better than ever next year to give my team all sorts of new problems.
“I love you so much,” I say, kissing her forehead.
“I’m okay,” she says, smiling at me as everyone celebrates around us. “I’m proud of the season we had.”