LOGINThe man introduced himself as the head scout for the National Hockey League, and he handed Michael a sleek business card. The massive professional offer left us shocked, but we felt incredibly happy about the amazing opportunity. Michael shook the scout's hand, and they agreed to schedule a formal meeting for the following week so they could discuss a future contract.We left the loud arena behind us, and we walked out to the private charter bus. The hockey players cheered loud when we stepped onto the vehicle, for everyone knew Michael led the team to a major victory despite the dirty hits. The ride to the hotel felt relaxed and joyful. I sat next to Michael in the front row, and I held his hand while the dark city streets passed by my window. We reached the private hotel suite Michael booked for the team trip, and we finally escaped the stressful public attention of the media reporters.The hotel suite was very spacious, and it featured a separate bedroom for Gabriel. The young teen
The heavy wooden stick hit my lower back, and the sudden impact pushed all the air out of my lungs. I slammed into the hard ice with a loud thud, and a terrible shock of pain radiated up my spine. My vision went dark for a few seconds because my body simply forgot how to breathe. I lay flat on the frozen surface, and I listened to the chaotic noise erupting all around me.I heard Carter shouting loud, and I heard the sound of heavy skates scraping the ice as my teammates rushed forward to defend me. A massive physical fight broke out near the goal net, and the referees blew their silver whistles over and over to stop the brawl. I did not care about the penalty minutes, and I did not care about the angry opposing player who hit me from behind. I only cared about finding a single breath of air to stop the burning sensation in my chest.My chest heaved up, and I finally sucked a sharp gasp of cold air into my empty lungs. The oxygen burned my throat, but the deep breath proved my back wa
The thick plexiglass separated us from the cold ice rink, but I still felt the chill radiating through the barrier. The security guard stood near the concrete stairs to keep the reporters away from our section, so we finally had a safe space to watch the playoff game in peace."Is Michael going to score a lot of points today?" Gabriel asked me while he adjusted the zipper on his warm winter jacket."I think he is going to score the most points out of anyone on the ice," I answered with a confident smile. "He practiced very hard for this game, and he really wants to win the championship for his teammates."The referee blew the silver whistle, and the playoff match officially began. I watched Michael skate toward the center circle for the opening face-off, and I felt very proud of him. He looked strong and focused under the bright arena lights, and he did not show any signs of the massive stress we endured over the last two days.However, my positive feelings did not last very long.The
I stood in the narrow aisle of the charter bus, and I held my heavy hockey bags over my right shoulder. I waited for Axel to step down the metal stairs so he could clear a safe path for Gabriel. We were very tired from the long drive across the state, but we were ready to win the playoff game. I expected to see a few arena staff members waiting to guide us to the locker rooms, and I thought we would have a quiet arrival. I never expected a massive wall of screaming journalists to ambush my family in the parking lot.I watched through the large front windshield while the sports paparazzi swarmed Axel the exact second his shoes touched the concrete pavement. They shoved large cameras right into his face, and they shouted invasive questions about my father and the trust fund. The bright camera flashes blinded him, and he took a fast step backward to protect himself. He raised his free hand to block the harsh lights, but the reporters did not care about his comfort. They wanted a front-pa
I read the harsh words on the cracked screen, and the peaceful atmosphere inside the bedroom vanished. Richard realized the federal judge blocked him from taking Gabriel, so he decided to attack the hockey team instead. He pulled his corporate funding to punish Michael, and he wanted to force the university to forfeit the massive playoff game tomorrow.I watched Michael process the terrible news. Just five minutes ago, he was crying in my arms, and he looked incredibly vulnerable. But the tears dried on his cheeks, and a major shift happened in his posture. He sat up straight, and his dark eyes hardened with a fierce determination. The exhausted boy faded away, and the ruthless hockey captain took his place."He wants us to cancel the game," Michael stated. His deep voice held no fear, and he threw the broken phone onto the mattress. "He thinks he controls the athletic department budget, so he assumes we cannot travel to the arena without his corporate money.""Coach Gregory says ther
"I was so scared," I confessed to him, and my voice shook with raw emotion. "When those police officers handed you that yellow paper, I really thought I was going to lose everything. I thought they were going to put me in a jail cell, and I thought my father's security men were going to drag Gabe out of the dorm while I was handcuffed.""But you did not give up," Axel reminded me gently."Because you stopped me from running away," I said, holding him closer. "I was ready to run out the door and ruin my life, but you grabbed my face and forced me to breathe. You saved me today, Axel. You kept me grounded when I wanted to panic.""You will never lose us," Axel promised me, and he pulled back just enough to look into my dark eyes. He reached his hands up and wiped the wet tears from my cheeks with his thumbs. "Richard has no power over you anymore. The judge took his power away, so he cannot use the law to hurt us."The deep emotional relief shifted into a profound and passionate need fo
Mrs. Davis stared at me with strict eyes, but I forced my heart rate to slow down. I did not panic because I knew I had the facts on my side. I unzipped my backpack and pulled out my official printed schedule to show her the truth."Mrs. Davis, I understand the digital system shows a different time
The morning traffic moved slowly through the busy downtown streets. I gripped the leather steering wheel of my car, and my knuckles turned white from the tight pressure. My dark suit felt heavy and restrictive against my bruised ribs. Every time I pressed the brake pedal to avoid the stopped cars a
Michael's promise lingered in the quiet space between us. I heard the fierce dedication in his deep voice, and I knew he meant every single word. He was ready to pack his bags and walk away from his university life just to protect our relationship. We stayed on the floor of my bedroom for a long ti
I pressed the red button on the digital screen and ended the call. The silence in the kitchen felt heavy. I stared at the dark face of my cell phone, trying to process the words Marcus just spoke. My father was not going to the athletic board hearing. He was going to the university hospital to targ







