Puck Shots, page 19
“See you.”
***
“I’m dying. I might actually already be dead,” I wheeze next to Luka, who has his head between his knees, gasping for breath beside me against the wall of the ice rink.
“He’s trying to kill us. Why is he trying to kill us?”
The coach blows his whistle from center ice.
“Come on, break over, ten more. You need to be able to skate a full sixty at one hundred percent. You want to be the NCAA National Champion’s, don’t you? You want this to be your year, don’t you?”
I take a gulp of water, loving the slight relief it offers.
“You want us to actually be alive on Saturday, don’t you?” I mutter under my breath, though I suspect the coach has better hearing than I think given the side eye he’s throwing me right now.
I get the push for us to be our best. We’ve been playing amazingly this year; and we won our semifinal and are now prepping for the big one. The championship game. I’m trying not to be in my head about it, and I guess with my attention on trying not to throw up on the ice, Coach’s tactics might not be so crazy after all.
Luka grabs my arm and pulls himself up.
“Come on, the longer we make him wait, the more laps he’ll make us do.”
“Urgh, what’s the bet he’s waiting for one of us to puke?”
“Wait two minutes, you’ll find out.”
We shove off, rejoin the rest of the team skating laps around the rink like we’re in training to be speed skaters not hockey players. We’re also in full gear, so I stink now, dripping with sweat, on top of wanting to hurl. On the plus side, if I go home stinky, Eli can help make me all clean again. Except then we’ll use up all our date time in the shower, when he’s just offered to watch a game with me, despite him really not being all that into the sport, except for when I’m playing. He’s managed to find a way to be at every home game this year, and when I’ve been playing the away games, I’ve been drawing on a matching lightning bolt for him to have a piece of me with him while I’m away. It’s corny but it’s us.
“Hit the showers, boys. Good hustle. Let’s bring the same determination to the finals on Saturday and we’ll whip those Sabers,” Coach calls, and just as we head towards the exit, Chang doubles over and hurls right over the center ice face-off circle.
Glad I’m not the one cleaning that up. I wonder how fast the barf freezes on ice. Will they have to scrape it off or chip it up with an ice pick?
***
Eli’s chest rises and falls in a slow rhythm as he sleeps against my side on the main living room couch. He fell asleep about ten minutes ago, and while I know he’ll be more comfortable in his bed, I like the feel of him cuddled at my side. I turn down the television so that the noise doesn’t wake him, and as hard as it was when Telemanski scored not to cheer and scream at the television, I kept my reaction to a raised fist in the air and a silent scream of joy.
My phone buzzes beside me, and I reach over to check the messages. It’s just a check in from Pedro.
PEDRO:
Just want you all to know, retirement is great. Totally not bored at all.
ME:
You still pining for the good old days, old fella?
PEDRO:
You wait, those days will come up on you quicker than you think.
I know he’s right. It’s part of the reason all sports players have a plan B, and in some cases, a plan C and D, too. We know it won’t last forever.
BRAYDEN:
What do you do with all your free time now?
ME:
Speaking of things to do, you better all be watching the game this Saturday. I sat through that weird as fuck rugby final after all.
CAMDEN:
Don’t dis rugby, kid, or I’ll distract your big bro with more tempting visuals than your moves on the ice.
Gross. I know I was claiming super matchmaker rights after Brent started dating Camden, but no one wants to think of their friend and their brother hooking up.
BRAYDEN:
No need to be nervous, kiddo. It’s not like everything is riding on this one game or anything.
Except it totally is. Every guy in the chat gets how stressful this kind of pressure is. They’re under the same pressure I am. Well, not exactly, some of them play soccer and rugby. The ball is as big as your head, not exactly hard to miss.
ME:
I just want you all to witness true greatness.
BRAYDEN:
Wow, not wanting for much.
CONNOR:
Can’t argue with you on that front. You’ve been killing it out there this season.
Okay, time to get real.
ME:
I aim high. But since you bring it up.
Any tips to help me, you know…not fuck it all up?
BRAYDEN:
In all seriousness, you’ve got this, kid. Keep your head cool, and you’ll smash it.
Do they have to keep on with the kid stuff? Urgh, how do I keep my head cool? I don’t know if I now feel better or worse about this Saturday’s game after texting those guys. My phone chimes, and it’s a message from Brent.
BRENT:
Just relax, little bro. Play your game your way, and everything will be alright.
I guess he saw Camden's phone, or Camden told him I’m freaking out.
ME:
But what if it isn’t?
BRENT:
Then you’ll focus on class while you wait to hear about the draft.
ME:
You know as well as I do that the scouts will be watching this game more than any other game this year.
BRENT:
And they know you are just one guy on a big team. Sometimes, the team is in perfect harmony out there and nothing can stop you.
Other times, it’s like blind geese trying to roller-skate.
ME:
You suck at this philosophical stuff, you know?
BRENT:
That’s what we have you for, baby bro. You’re the cosmic intervention no one saw coming.
ME:
Or asked for.
BRENT:
I can’t speak for the rest of the family, but I asked the universe to change my life and then they had you, so, yeah, I kind of did ask for you. Now go spend some time with that man of yours and try to relax.
I lay the phone face down and shift ever so slightly so that I can wrap my arm around Eli. He looks so peaceful with his head resting over my heart. I wonder if he can hear it beating in his dreams. I lean down and kiss the top of his head and whisper. “It’s beating just for you.”
26
Eli
Iused to hate being in places like this. Squished into seats like sardines in a can, surrounded by too many scents to count and voices melding together like some kind of twisted white noise. But I started to come to games to watch Cosmo when we started dating, and now, at the most packed game of the season, I am not worried about overstimulation. I’m excited for the game to start. For me to see Cosmo skate onto the ice, to his happy place.
“Here you go, honey,” Lyn says, passing me a bottle of water and taking the seat beside me. Jo is on her other side, and Rachel, Calvin, and his boyfriend Ash are in the three seats in front of us. Tony’s got a game against the OG’s at the Banana Ball field in Savannah. While normally that would mean Calvin had to be there, too, because all the teams still have to perform when they don’t play, he mentioned something about catching his coach at a good time to ask for the night off to come here.
I lean forward to speak to Calvin.
“When Cosmo makes it into the NHL, do you think that you’ll be able to catch your coach at another good time to come to those games, too? I know Cosmo will be happy to see you there.”
Calvin turns in his seat a little, and I spot immediately that he has the same mischievous grin that Cosmo has. That and the blue-gray eyes run in the family. I saw Tony and even Rachel make the same smile when I was at their place for New Year’s.
“Oh, it wasn’t so much the time as the “what” he was doing at the time that scored me the out tonight, and I’m fairly sure I can milk this one for a while. I won’t be able to come when their dates align with my games, but as long as I’m not scheduled to play, I’ll be there.”
Ash turns toward me, too.
“I’ll be there for every game wherever he’s drafted. Calvin won’t miss me.”
“I will too,” he whines, and Ash makes a face like he doesn’t believe him at all.
“I will,” Calvin continues. “I’ll also get over it the second you’re home, though, so I guess I can spare my cheering section for Cosmo, if he makes it.”
“When,” I correct, and he rolls his eyes.
“Sure, when.”
The energy shifts in the crowd, like someone just upped the wattage on their energy. The announcers kick off, and the team skates out from the opposite side of the rink to where we are sitting.
“Wooo, go Cosmo!” I cheer, and Rachel glances back at me before standing right in front of her mother, raising her arms in the air, and cheering the same, only louder.
“Sit down, Rachel, you’re not made of glass,” Lyn says, and Rachel wiggles her ass in her mother’s direction.
“How cool would it be if I were though?” she asks, plonking down in her seat.
The rink is packed, and it’s nice to see a bunch of frat brothers here supporting the guys, too. There are about ten of them seated to the right of us. They’ve painted their faces in the team colors and have large painted letters in their hands that, when lined up, spell, “KOKS 4 EVA!” It will make zero sense to anyone who doesn’t know the frat, but it will mean a lot to the brothers on the team. Especially seeing the press and VP are two of them. As much as Cosmo and Sam give it to each other about which is the better sport, they’re still brothers, and seeing them here supporting each other reminds me exactly why I decided to join KOK. I wanted a place I could belong, could fit in, and make connections that could last me a lifetime. Did I expect to totally fall in love with the frat bro asked to keep an eye on me? Hell no. But I wouldn’t change that part for the world either. Coming here, pledging KOK, and meeting Cosmo has been the best year of my life. And when he gets drafted, if he decides to leave college and start playing for the NHL as soon as he can, we’ll figure out a way to make it work. I’ve already found five different internships at research labs around the country. Where he goes, I go, because the only thing I know for sure is that I love him.
The first period starts and ends in a blur of back and forth, up and down the rink. Neither team scored, and if I’m honest, the puck spent way too much time up near Reddy, our goalie. Good thing he’s playing an amazing game. No wonder he was drafted last year. He’s finishing off his degree, though, before he’ll go pro; he’s saved almost thirteen percent more shots on goal than any other college hockey goalie this season. I pulled stats for Cosmo to show him how much he’s improved his game this year compared to last, too.
Sure, he’s been a rock star on the ice since high school, but all those nights out partying in his first year of college really put him in a bad light with a few of the scouts. Or all of them, according to him. This was the year he wanted to show them that the person they thought he was, is not the guy they’ll get if they draft him. He’s committed to the game, to developing his skills, and doing whatever he can to get the win.
After a quick trip to the concession stand to grab us all popcorn and another bottle of water each, Rachel turns in her seat again to chat while we wait for the Zamboni to resurface the ice and the second period to start.
“So, Eli, I’ve been trying to think up a good way to get Cossie back for the pool on New Year’s, any ideas?”
I shake my head. “Sorry, I’m not the pranking type.”
“You’re a KOK brother now, though, so you’ll have to have some ideas.”
“Rachel, turn around and stop trying to corrupt Eli. Cosmo has enough going on at the moment. You can save your payback for when he’s home next,” Lyn reasons, but Rachel is not having it.
“Come on, there has to be a way I can get him back that doesn’t derail his focus on hockey or classes. What if I hide a snake in his bed?”
Before Lyn can respond, she clarifies.
“A non-poisonous one. Like the cute one that the zoo guy was holding in the underwear photo shoot.”
“Didn’t he hold a spider?” Ash asks, and Calvin fakes offence.
“How do you know what he was holding?” Calvin asks.
“I’ve got eyes, and those ads were everywhere when it first came out.”
“I’m sure he was the reason a few guys came out.” Rachel chuckles, and Lyn just shakes her head. Jo hasn’t said a word since we got here, but that’s not unusual for him. He’s a quiet guy, but even a quiet guy has his limits.
“No snakes, turn around, and get ready to cheer again because here comes our boy,” Jo says, and all of our eyes go to the other side of the ice as Cosmo’s team comes back out. They’re skating tall, determined, ready. He’s got this.
***
When he got back on the ice before the end of the second period, he made a killer pass to Hewie, and they scored. He was close enough to take a shot on goal himself, but Hewie was wide open, and Cosmo had the attention of the goalie and one of their defenders. He totally had them fooled. He raised his stick to take the shot, then swept the puck over to Hewie, who sent it in. The way they all celebrated was intense.
Luca practically launched himself into Cosmo’s arms, and when Chang met up with them, they head butted each other. I learned a few months back now, that the head butt thing is a good luck ritual they started forever ago and like all other good luck things these guys believe in, the superstition will hold strong even after we’ve graduated and possibly retired.
We’re up by one, and everyone is watching the clock as the timer runs down the last three minutes, but I’m watching Cosmo. He hasn’t slowed down since he stepped on the ice, even when his coach called him back onto the bench, he was up and down from his seat, calling out to his teammates. Not that I think they could hear him over the deafening crowd.
Reddy is a ninja tonight. He’s saved thirty-seven shots on goal and looks just as fired up now as he did when he stepped in front of the net.
Two minutes left. The other team has the puck, Cosmo is after them, but before they even cross into Boston’s side of the rink, the guy shoots. The puck hits the back wall to the left of the net, and the players all move over to one of the circle things.
“Why are they going up there again?” I ask as the players head into the opposing team’s side of the rink.
“It was iced, they shot the puck from inside their own half, it crossed the goal line untouched, so now the face-off comes back to their defensive zone,” Ash explains, his head only slightly turned in my direction. He’s leaning forward in his chair intensely; gaze locked on the players waiting for the puck to drop.
One minute left. Come on, Cosmo, you got this. Hold the lead.
The second the puck drops, Luka has his stick to it and flicks it back to Chang, who then sends it back to Greg, further away from the goal they are supposed to be headed towards. Then it gets sent to Cosmo, back to Greg, back to Luka, then to Cosmo, who has picked up his speed and is flying toward the goalie. My heart’s racing, hands sweaty, fuck, if I’m like this, I can only imagine how Cosmo is feeling right now.
Luka’s pass is perfect. The puck connects, and Cosmo spins with it as if going to change directions or pass back to another player, but he goes full circle and shoots. The goalie’s glove comes up as the puck flies toward the right corner of the net. An audible gasp sounds around me, or from me, I can’t even tell right now. Then the horn sounds, and we’re all on our feet, hands raised in the air, cheering.
“Woooooo, go Cosmo!!!!!” I cheer along with his family and two-thirds of the crowd around us. Cosmo flies behind the net and then up the ice, raising his stick in the air and pumping his fist to the cheer of the crowd.
Thirty seconds to go.
If the crowd was on the edge of their seats before, it’s like they sit on a knife’s edge now, every person in the building ignoring anything but the game in front of them. I’m trying to watch Cosmo, but my eyes keep moving to the clock as it counts down. Ten, nine, eight… this is it. He’s done it. Two…one.
“Wooooo,” I cheer as the final buzzer sounds and every player in Cosmo’s team barrels over the wall onto the ice.
“I told you he’d win,” I yell over the deafening screams of the crowd, and Calvin turns.
“You never doubted for a minute, did you?”
“Nope. My guy put everything into his game this year, no way was he not making this dream happen.”
27
Cosmo
This morning was a blur of texts and phone calls from family and friends and teammates wishing me luck for today. I think I ate something. I remember Mom shoving something soft and round into my hands, and me maybe chewing, but that’s it. In between then and now, I’ve showered and changed into the most well-fitted suit I’ve ever owned. “Gotta look good for your big moment,” Mom had said when she took me to the tailors to have it made. It has to have cost a small fortune. Fuck, when I think of all the money they’ve spent on supporting my dream, supporting this, me, this is what it has all been leading up to. The day my life could change.
