Tense

Ryker POV

I focus on the game, but all my mind can focus on is the other arena, the one where Erin and Jaxon are skating together. I know they’ve got that big move today, and I wanted to be there to support them.

Actually, I wanted to be there for if he dropped her on her head so I could make him pay for it. He won’t, still, I feel anxious anytime they are doing dangerous moves on the ice.

Hockey? That’s fair game, we know what to expect, we’re meant to be hurt, slammed into the boards and thrown to the ice.

Figure skating? That’s meant to be clean, no mishaps, no slips, no fuck ups. I can’t focus, I’ve seen them training and I know they have it perfect but something in me is on edge.

My body is thrown back hard and I slam against the ice, a groan is ripped from me, and I blink out the disorientation.

“The fuck Ry! I shouted move,” Quinn pushes me against the ice and I groan.

“I didn’t see you coming my way,” I growl and shove him back.

“Well get off the fucking ice as you’re ruining our game! Go on,” he snaps and climbs off me.

Moving, I shake off the hit, but the entire team is glaring at me like I fucked up. I guess I have, totally fucked up.

“Oh sweetheart, that was epic, want me to kiss it better later?” Liam mocks as he skates past me. I regret fucking him. My eyes go to the score and I realize I’m messing up the team. Pushing myself forward I focus on it more.

I can’t let the team down, I force Erin and Jaxon out of my mind and go back to the game, I can probably get there before their performance.

The air in the arena burns my lungs as I push forward, and lock my focus back into the game. The puck moves fast, and Quinn takes control instantly, skating down the ice with sharp precision. I shake out the last of my hesitation and drop into the zone, reading the play and looking for an opening. I have to make up for the fuck up I caused, and prove I'm not dead weight out here.

Liam is still smirking when he cuts past me, but I don't bite. The last thing I need is time in the penalty box, I keep my head down and my eyes locked on the puck. Their winger tries to shove Quinn against the boards, but he dodges at the last second, and flicks the puck towards me.

I saw the hesitation in his movement like he is ready for me to fuck up. My stick meets it clean, and I take off down the ice. My skates carve hard into the ice as I pick up more speed. My heart slams like a war drum, and I fake left just to cut right and that's when I see my opening.

There's no hesitation, I shoot, and the shot leaves my stick with force, a sharp sound of cracking erupts through the arena. For a split second, everything around me slows, and I watch it fly, I watch the goalie drop too late. The puck slams into the net.

The goal horn screams and relief washes over me as my teammates rush in, slapping my helmet and knocking against my shoulders.

"Fucking hell Ry! That's more like it," Quinn barks, his grin widening. I don't bother replying, I just get ready to go again.

Liam skates up to me and laughs. "See? You're still useful on the ice, sweetheart."

I don’t hesitate.

Shoving him off me, I push away but I can't help the small smirk that tugs at my lips, Liam's team isn't winning this. Sure the game isn't over, but at least I've evened the score, at least on the ice. Off it? My mind still lingers on the other rink, on Erin and Jaxon. Pushing it down I ignore the worry, I have to finish this first. Then I can go check on them.

I watch the puck drop again, and I force every ounce of my focus onto the game. Digging in, I push off hard and ensure my skates bite into the ice as I charge forward. The other is pissed, it's clear to see in the way they tighten their grip on their sticks. I can see it in the way their bodies shift with more aggression. They didn't expect us to even the score so fast.

Good, I'm glad they feel blindsighted. Let them be mad.

Quinn wins the faceoff, and flicks the puck toward me, there's no hesitation this time. I barely catch it before a body slams into me, driving me toward the boards. The moment I hit, my helmet rattles with the impact, and pain sparks down my side, but I refuse to fall down. I spin off the check, and keep the puck on my stick as I drive it up the ice.

I hear the crunch of skates as they close in, and heavy breathing of my opponents as they close the gap. They're not letting me get another clean shot, at least not without making me bleed for it.

My eyes flicker across the ice and I see Kai up ahead, he's cutting across the blue line, his stick tapping against the ice. I don't hesitate. Faking a pass right, I then quickly send the puck flying toward him, as soon as it flies forward, a body collides with mine.

I go down hard, but I hear it, the sharp slap of Kai's stick and the sudden roar of the crowd that tells me we got another shot in.

Blinking through the sting in my side, I push myself up just in time for the horn to blare signalling a shot was made.

Kai goes crazy, skating past the bench, his fist is raised and I laugh feeling the rush of it. The energy of the team feeding off the goal. Quinn hauls me up off the ice and back onto my feet before delivering a slap to my helmet.

"You back now?" he shouts over the noise.

I nod, although my mind is already ahead, thinking about the time on the clock. It's the third period, with five minutes left. I can make it, if I play this right. I can still get to Erin and Jaxon before they hit the ice.

The puck drops again and we dig in, grinding down for the final few minutes. The other are desperate and getting sloppy, they ar throwing everything at us, but we keep shutting them down. Every check, every blocked shot, every clear, and it all adds up.

They pull their goalie with only a minute left, further proof they are desperate and grasping at any chance to pull this back.