Twin Babies for my Pucking Defenders (Chicago Icebreakers #2)

26. Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Six

Carter

It’s game day. The air’s electric in the locker room.

I breathe in the smells, which are a mix of sweat, adrenaline and the faint scent of hockey gear. I’m seated on the bench, my leg bouncing anxiously. I glance at the lineup board, my eyes skimming over my name—Carter Novak, #19, Left Wing. The reality of facing my old team, the Blackhawks, hits me harder than any hit I’ve taken on the ice.

“Ready for this shit?” Finn Bennett, my co-captain, shoots me a smirk as he ties his skates.

“Yeah, just—wish I had my lucky lighter,” I mumble, tapping my foot on the floor, the repetitive thud echoing my nervousness. It’s a stupid habit, but it’s what I do when I need to calm down.

“Dude, just focus on the game. You got this,” Finn replies, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

The horn blares, signaling that it’s time to hit the ice. As we step out, the crowd roars like a tidal wave. I scan the stands, searching for Jade, but I can’t spot her. Damn it. Where is she?

The puck drops, and we’re off.

The rink is alive with noise, the crowd’s cheers blending into a chaotic symphony as I take my place on the ice. The lights are blinding, but that doesn’t matter right now. What matters is the game, the puck, and not making an ass of myself in front of everyone.

“Carter! Get your head in the game!” Finn yells, and I nod, shaking off the nerves.

The Blackhawks are ruthless tonight. They’re dominating and it feels like they know our every move before we even make it. Every shot they take on Jamie makes my stomach drop. I tap my foot against the ice, a bad habit I’ve picked up since I joined this new team. I wish I had my lucky lighter on me. Just holding that thing always gives me some semblance of calm.

“Let’s go, guys! Pick it up!” Declan shouts, his frustration palpable.

But the more we try, the worse it gets. It’s like we’re chasing shadows. Every time I get near the puck, I hear Ryan’s voice cutting through the chaos. “Regretting leaving the Blackhawks yet, Carter?”

Fuck. I roll my eyes, trying to brush it off. “Not a chance, Ryan,” I shoot back, forcing a smile. I’m not going to give him the satisfaction of knowing how much this stings.

Axel comes skating in, his expression a mix of determination and fury. “Shut the hell up, Ryan. You don’t know shit.”

Ryan just grins, and I can see the way his eyes sparkle with mischief. “Oh, I think I do. You really think you guys are gonna turn this around?”

The score’s not pretty. We’re down by three goals and I can almost feel the tension radiating off my teammates. Coach Nate’s been pacing the sidelines, his jaw tight and I can tell he’s trying to keep it together.

“All right, boys! Time to regroup!” Nate calls, signaling us to skate over to him. I slam my stick down in frustration and we all huddle around him. “This isn’t over yet. We’ve got two periods to claw our way back. I want to see some heart out there!”

“Yeah, because we’re really showing that now,” I mutter under my breath.

Axel smirks. “You just need to channel your inner badass, Carter. Easy peasy.”

I wish it were that simple. I scan the stands, searching for Jade, but I can’t find her. It feels like a dark cloud’s hovering over me. What’s she thinking watching this mess?

“Hey, don’t look for her,” Axel says, nudging me. “You can’t let this crap get to you. Just focus on the game.”

“I’m trying, man,” I reply, rubbing the back of my neck. “Just…my mom’s back in Slovakia and I can only imagine how embarrassed she is watching this.”

“You’ve got to shake that off. She’ll be proud just to see you playing,” Axel reassures me, and for a moment, I believe him.

But then I catch Ryan’s smirk again. It makes my blood boil. “It’s not like you’re doing any better, Ryan!” I shoot back.

“Touché, Carter,” he replies, a hint of amusement in his voice. “But I’m not the one whose team booted them, am I?”

“Enough!” Nate cuts in, his voice firm. “Let’s get back out there and play like we mean it. Disperse and let’s go!”

We skate back onto the ice and the whistle blows. The game resumes, but it feels like a weight has settled in my chest. Every shot we miss, every goal they score just deepens that feeling.

The crowd’s electric, and the noise becomes a blur. All I can focus on is the puck, the players zipping around me and the awareness that the game is slipping away. I swear under my breath as the Blackhawks score again.

The third goal hits me like a punch to the gut. “Come on! We’ve got to do better!” I shout, frustration boiling over.

“Focus up, Carter!” Finn calls out.

“Yeah, well, I’m trying!”

In the back of my mind, I hear my mom’s encouraging voice, telling me to keep pushing. But right now, it’s hard to believe I made the right choice by agreeing to be traded to this team. Not that I really had a choice.

Another face-off, and I’m right in the mix. The puck drops, and we’re scrambling. I try to make a play, but it’s like I’m moving through molasses. The Hawks are everywhere, and I can’t get a clean shot.

“Get open! Someone, get open!”

I skate hard, trying to find a gap, but it’s like they know our moves before we make them. I glance up at the stands again, still searching for Jade. Where the hell is she?

As we head into the final minutes, my frustration peaks. The scoreboard reads 4-0, and my heart sinks. I can hear the taunts from the Blackhawks’ fans, the jeers ringing in my ears.

“Carter! You should’ve stayed with us!” Ryan yells from the other side of the rink, and I grit my teeth.

I can’t believe he’s still yapping. “Shut the hell up, Ryan!” I shoot back, my temper flaring.

Axel skates closer, ready to back me up. “Seriously, Ryan? You’re a fucking joke!”

Coach Nate’s voice cuts through the chaos again. “Focus! We don’t need this nonsense right now. Play the game!”

I nod, trying to keep my composure. The game continues, but I can’t shake the feeling of defeat. The clock ticks down, and it feels like I’m trapped in a nightmare.

Finally, the buzzer sounds, and it’s over. The Blackhawks’ bench erupts with cheers, while we’re left standing there, defeated.

“Great job, boys,” Nate says, his voice heavy with disappointment. “We need to regroup and figure this out. Meet me in the locker room.”

I hang my head, the sting of failure sinking in. I wanted to prove myself here, to show my mom I could do this, but instead, I just let everyone down.

As we skate off the ice, the reality of the loss hits me hard. I can’t shake off the feeling of shame. This was supposed to be my chance and I feel like I’ve blown it.

The locker room is silent as we sit down, the weight of the game hanging over us. I glance over at Axel, who’s staring at the floor, clearly frustrated.

“Carter,” he finally speaks, breaking the silence. “We’ll bounce back. We always do.”

“Yeah, I know,” I mumble, but it doesn’t help the knot in my stomach.

“Hey, I’m serious. You can’t dwell on this. We’ve got to focus on the next game.”

“Right,” I reply, but I feel empty inside.

Nate walks in, and the atmosphere shifts. “All right, everyone, listen up. I know tonight was rough, but we’re a team. We’ll come back stronger. We’ve got a lot to work on, and I expect each of you to bring your A-game next practice.”

As he talks, I can’t help but think about Jade. I hope she’s okay, wherever she is. I wanted her to see me play my best, but now? Now I just feel like shit.

“Hey, Carter,” Axel nudges me, snapping me out of my thoughts. “You good?”

“Yeah, just...thinking about Jade.”

“Don’t sweat it. We’ll make sure she sees you at your best next time.”

“Next time,” I repeat, forcing a smile.

But as the chatter fills the locker room, I can’t shake the feeling that I let everyone down.