Page 22 of Breakaway

“Love you too, Unc.”

This was one thing they were probably never going to agree on, and she was going to have to be okay with that.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Travis

Travis looked up into the stands, knowing Morgan was there. He touched his cheek. Hopefully, there wouldn’t be a repeat of last night. This was his first back-to-back game in Pittsburgh.

Kaden O’Conner was in net tonight, and he was on fire.

Kris shot the puck towards Luc from the corner. Nashville’s Jones cross-checked Luc, smacking the puck loose. Luc was knocked off his skates and shoved into Nashville’s goalie.

The Renegades rushed toward the puck. Nashville’s Mullen grabbed tight to Travis’s jersey, as he raced down the ice, and held Travis clear to the net. But no penalty was called. Harrison hurried to his aid and flattened the guy with a high hit. Furious, Jones shoved Travis, and a melee ensued. A mass of guys tangled in the corner, Noah joining in, with punches being thrown, until the linesman broke the fight up.

But then Jones grabbed Travis’s helmet, instigating another battle.

The linesman held Travis back and sent Jones to the bench.

Once play continued, Harrison shoved the puck towards Travis, who took a wrist shot to the net, but the puck bounced off the goal minder and back out towards Jaxon.

Jaxon skated around with the biscuit, stick handling and looking for someone to be open. He passed it to Kyler, who took a slap shot at the net.

There was a scuffle around the net for possession of the puck. Jones went after Travis, shoving him. They dropped the gloves, and it was on. Travis took a swing at Jones, while Jones grabbed Travis’s sweater, keeping him at arm’s length. The ref stepped in and separated them. They each gathered their gloves and headed to their penalty boxes.

After a few shifts, Travis was back on the ice again.

“Luc!” Travis called from along the boards and tapped his stick on the ice. He was open.

Luc overshot it, and Travis had to chase the puck to the wall. He was focused on the puck, playing out his actions in his head. He could wrap it around and bury it in the net, or send it back to Luc and then try to get open for a one-timer shot at the net. One way or another, this play was ending with a goal.

Travis went with the one-timer and buried the puck in the back of the net!

GOAL!

The goal horn sounded, and the Pittsburgh crowd went wild. Their goal song played, and Travis basked in his triumph, while he skated back to the bench.

“Okay guys, we need one more to win this,” Coach Walker called out from the bench. He waved for Tyler to come off the ice. “Morris, your line is up. Let’s win this thing.”

Sitting on the bench, Travis was tired. His mind went to Morgan. She would be waiting for him after the game tonight, and he wanted to greet her on a high from a win. Sweat dripped down his face, and his body ached, but he was ready to get back on the ice. He squirted water into his mouth and watched the boys go to work.

It wasn’t long before Tyler was on the ice again. Coach Walker didn’t appear pleased that the team had taken their foot off the gas. Tyler wasn’t here to carry the team. “You guys have to back up your captain! I want to see you on fire out there!”

Travis leapt over the wall to the ice. The Renegades had just taken the puck back to their end so the players could change. Tyler was breathing heavily and appeared exhausted, but as much as he protested to stay on the ice, Coach wasn’t having any of it.

Noah took control of the puck, as Ben and Kris rushed up the ice. Kris took it wide around their net, then quickened his stride towards center ice. After tossing the puck to Luc, he fell back into his defensive position.

Seizing the opportunity to have a chance at the net, Luc flew down the ice with the puck. No one was on his heels—yet. They would be, soon enough. One minute to go, and the crowd grew terribly loud, cheering on their home team. The upper right corner of the net was open; the goalie had been sloppy covering that tonight. As he watched, Luc took a hard wrist shot at the net, and the goalie deflected the puck away from the net and directly to Travis. Shooting the puck back towards the net, Travis held his breath until...

GOAL!

“HEY.” MORGAN’S VOICE made his heart soar.

Turning in the direction of her voice, he grinned slyly. She stood where the families typically waited for the players after the game. She was surrounded by wives, kids, and girlfriends.

“Hey there, sweet stuff,” Travis whispered in her ear, and wrapped his arms around her. He liked her being there, with the families. “Did you enjoy the game?”

“More than last night.” She raised an eyebrow and gently touched his sore cheek.