Pucking Road Trip (Bay Rebels #3)

Chapter 29

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Honda Center, Anaheim

E den

I’m not skating on the rink with D’Angelo and Shay tonight but I feel like I’m flying.

Phoenix.

My phoenix!

My shoulder and arm are in agony, but it’s my back that feels like it’s on fire.

No one has given me a nickname before.

Dummy, loser twin, freak.

I’ve been called those.

But not an actual nickname like I’ve read friends give to each other.

Plus, this is even better because it’s a pet name like D’Angelo has for Robyn and Shay.

A phoenix is beautiful, representing hope and renewal.

Life after death.

Robyn doesn’t want only part of me, but the dark as well as the light. She knows about the fire, which led to the ash. And she wants to be part of the rebirth that comes afterward.

Happiness bubbles through me.

Is this how Shay feels most of the time?

It’s overwhelming. Almost too much.

But I don’t hide from it.

It’s as good as an anesthetic for the throbbing through my shoulder, which is lucky, since the meds that Cody gave me aren’t coming close to touching the pain.

Back in the locker room, when the Ducks players twisted my arm out of its sling and then behind my back, I was a full ten on the pain scale.

My lips twitch at the memory of Cody dramatically overacting that ten by rolling around on the floor like an electrocuted worm, when he first showed me the scale as my physical therapist.

But I don’t need to bother others with my shit.

I hadn’t been able to hold back yelling out though.

I feel like a bastard for worrying the others.

My lip is sore from where I bit it through, holding back any further sounds. I learned that trick in the Room.

I know that I didn’t con my brother this time.

After Robyn iced my shoulder, I swore that it was feeling much better. It’s the only reason she agreed that I could come to the arena, rather than return to the hotel with Noah to have my shoulder properly sorted.

I couldn’t miss this game.

“Pass the puck!” Robyn chants under her breath.

She’s hopping up and down, gesturing wildly like she does when she’s caught up in a game. She appears to think that she has an invisible stick in her hand.

Her hair bounces on each hop.

She’s definitely at her cutest like this.

Although, she’s also cute when she’s snuggled in the nest that I make of blankets for her, during our book club.

Or when she’s wearing one of my cat t-shirts.

She has a lot of cute moments.

She looked beautiful and fearsome, on the other hand, standing up to Gibbs.

I cock my head in thought.

My brother fought for me. The scheme that I planned with D’Angelo, beside the damage to my arm, worked perfectly.

Our family came together to save each other.

I side-eye Robyn.

This woman didn’t choose to slap me.

“Pass, pass, pass.” Robyn swipes even more energetically with her arm.

I dodge to avoid accidentally being slapped this time in her enthusiasm.

To the other side of Robyn, coach huffs in amusement.

I give him a hard look.

About ten minutes into the game, coach joined Robyn and me beside the glass to watch the game. He hasn’t done that before.

I don’t know why he has tonight.

I hope that this doesn’t become a regular thing.

This time with Robyn is special to me. And coach makes my throat close up.

I clench my jaw.

Only three minutes of the game between the Bay Rebels to go.

Only three minutes before the last game of the road trip.

But it’s a draw, 4 — 4.

Shay has been setting D’Angelo up to score all evening.

I know my brother’s play. I’ve been on the ice with him, since we both learned hockey as kids.

He could have taken the shots himself. He could have made himself tonight’s star.

Yet he’s been working to make sure that D’Angelo is the one who shines.

He’s been restoring D’Angelo’s reputation, even if it dims his own light.

He loves that man.

My brother makes fun of himself, hiding his smartness and how kind he is.

Not many people are unselfish enough to give up their place in the spotlight.

I shove my hand into the pocket of the long woolen coat that I’m wearing over my suit.

“Fucking score,” I mutter.

I hold my breath, as Shay dodges a defensemen, glancing to check whether D’Angelo is free.

The atmosphere in the arena is electric.

It’s loud standing here close to the glass. It makes my head ache to be surrounded by so many people.

Too much hyped up emotions whirl around me. I don’t understand them.

But the happiness inside me is new. I want to understand that.

The players are skating, as if they’re flying on a cloud of ice.

My chest is rapidly rising and falling. I take a moment to draw in a deep breath.

In this final game, the Anaheim Ducks have been tough and aggressive. Their strategy has been to exhaust our team, which has worked because it’s the last leg of the road trip.

It’s why away teams rarely win this third game.

Yet our defensemen and goalie have shown the same courage as they did in the earlier game to rally behind their captain and stop the Ducks from scoring too many goals.

At the same time, despite the fact that D’Angelo hasn’t slept for as many days as me, he’s on fucking fire.

How is he managing that?

My legs feel like buckling. But D’Angelo is playing hockey against one of the best teams, as if he’s rested.

Playing like a fiend.

Shay is matching D’Angelo’s fire.

It’s incredible to watch.

The crowd, even the Duck’s own fans, are going wild for it.

It’s inspiring to see the whole team’s connection.

Like they’re a family.

“They’re going to score. I can feel it,” Robyn says. “They’re playing the best that they ever have.”

In her excitement, Robyn turns to me, as if to grab my arm. But then, remembering that we’re in public, she stops herself.

Robyn glances around at coach. Her expression becomes wary.

Before tonight, I haven’t seen her look at her dad like that.

Robyn bites her lip. “Dad, can I ask you something?”

“There are less than three minutes left of the game.” Coach watches the rink with piercing eyes. “Get your ass in gear, Grayson. Hell, Colton needs to work these spoiled, lazy players harder.”

“They’re not spoiled or lazy.” I surprise myself, when the words burst from me.

Coach doesn’t look around at me. “ You weren’t. You were the most dedicated player on the team. But don’t tell me my business. I know that I’m a hard-ass but I get results.”

I bite the inside of my cheek not to answer.

“Dad,” Robyn tries again.

“Damn it, two minutes left. What the fuck does Lucas think he’s doing?” Coach barks. “Talk to me after the game.”

“Why are you standing with me?” Robyn demands. “You never do.”

Coach’s gaze finally darts to Robyn. “After what happened in the locker room, I needed to see with my own eyes that you were okay. I don’t do emotions but allow me this. I’m still your dad.”

“What about seeing that Cody’s okay?”

Coach looks at the rink again, turning his back on Robyn. “Your brother has work to do. Now, you’ve had several questions, let me concentrate.”

Robyn’s cheek twitches. “What I wanted to ask was whether Mom really loved…that guy?”

I stiffen.

Robyn can’t say Gibbs’ name, in case one of the press or public picks up on what we’re talking about.

I’ve learned since coming to America that fame is shit.

Everything that you give up, including the right to privacy, being openly in a relationship with the people who you love, to the protection from being a public punching bag, is only worth it if you have a talent that you love more than anything else.

Playing a sport, singing, or acting.

A driving passion that it’d kill you not to pursue.

Fame itself is poison.

When coach’s expression darkens, I stand straighter, despite the pain lancing through me.

Coach holds too much power over our lives.

Robyn loves him, however, so she forgives him because she’s kind and sweet.

But she appears to think that he hasn’t hurt her.

I know better.

“I’m not talking about that, Robyn.” Coach lowers his voice further. “End of discussion.”

“Did she love him?” I repeat, harder.

I won’t let Robyn be silenced. Plus, I need to know for Shay and my own sake.

How easy is it for the least loved people within a relationship to be discarded?

When Robyn slapped D’Angelo, it was consensual.

The slap was like a kiss.

Intimate.

Her way of showing who she loved the most and not the least.

Coach shakes his head. “I don’t know. Not as much as he loved her .”

My chest is tight.

I stare steadily at the ice.

I’ll deal, if Robyn can’t love me, as much as I adore her. I never expected her to.

If she decides that she doesn’t want me anymore, then it’ll break my heart, but I don’t own her.

I’ll accept it.

It would fucking wreck Shay, however, to be thrown away like trash again. He doesn’t only adore Robyn. He’s given her everything of himself.

It’s who he is. There’s no point trying to warn him of the danger.

I’ve managed to start trusting Robyn with my body. But it’s harder, when it means risking the twin who I’ve spent a lifetime protecting.

As if she can hear my thoughts, Robyn turns to me. “I’m not like her.”

“I didn’t say you were.”

“You don’t need to. I’ll prove it.”

My gaze flicks to Robyn’s face. I wish that I was better at reading expressions.

My brow furrows.

Is Robyn angry? Disappointed? Determined?

I want to believe her.

“Forget about it,” coach advises, before continuing with an effort to keep things vague, in case we’re overheard, “We were silly college kids. He called us friends . Bullshit. Maybe in his deluded head. I tolerated the jerk for your mom’s sake. Everybody goes through phases of experimenting. It’s all that it was. But he took it more seriously. You’re not the same that we were back then. I’ve seen you together and even I can tell that. It’s why I accepted...you know. I only want you to have what you need and to be happy, Robyn.”

“Thanks, Dad.” It’s me that Robyn offers a secret smile to, however, brushing her fingers against mine.

My skin sparks, where our fingers touch.

My breath hitches.

Our relationship isn’t the same as her mom’s was with coach and Gibbs.

Robyn won’t abandon Shay and me.

I hope.

“One minute left,” Robyn whispers.

She presses a hand against the trembling glass.

I notice the way that D’Angelo glances urgently at Shay.

They can do this.

Excitement sweeps through both the crowd and me.

“If they win,” coach mutters, “the Bay Rebels will have achieved something that they have never have before. More than anyone will expect from the newest team in the NHL.”

“And if they draw? Robyn asks.

“I’ll still be proud. But the board will have questions.”

I wince.

My pulse is pounding.

We must win.

Just one more goal.

One more.

Thirty seconds…

Shay makes a break for the goal. His skating is breathtaking.

The crowd are on their feet. The noise is so loud that I fight the urge to put my hands over my ears.

I watch with wide eyes, hardly daring to breathe.

The pass to D’Angelo is laser sharp.

Twenty seconds…

D’Angelo hits top speed, blowing past Folkes toward the goal.

Ten seconds…

My heart is hammering in my chest.

Please…

D’Angelo raises his stick, aiming at the goal. Then he slickly backhands the puck through the legs of the goalie.

He scores.

“Fuck, yeah!” Robyn leaps into the air with a whoop.

“They damn well did it.” Coach grins, running his fingers through his hair in relief.

The arena goes into a frenzy.

I don’t look away from the rink, where the team are raising their sticks with D’Angelo leading them.

Shay waves over at Robyn and me, however, with a wide smile.

My heart soars.

Shay plays for all of us in the same way that he loves us all.

It doesn’t matter what happens to him, or how much he’s hurt.

It’s not able to darken his soul.

We’ve fucking won.

We’ve survived this road trip and beaten Gibbs, as well as the Bay Rebels board.

Robyn didn’t reject or choose us as the least loved. She’s promised that she’ll never abandon us to settle down with D’Angelo.

She’s wearing our rings.

Perhaps, we haven’t only found a place where we’re accepted.

A family and home.

We’ve found somewhere where we’re safe.

Tonight, I’m going to make certain that we celebrate.

D’Angelo may have won the kink bet, but we’ve all won Robyn.