Astrid
Tucker collapsed to my right with a huff as Ozzy leaped over the boards and I waited for my shift change.
Coach was barking out directions to our defense, telling them who they needed to watch and if they were tired then they needed to change. The guys were starting to tire more frequently as the third period was almost over.
The scoreboard read 1-0. Our lead was dismal but it was a lead nevertheless.
The twins came flying to the bench as the play shifted to the offensive. Bentley and his partner were on the ice in a flash. Bentley flew high while the other defensemen waited down lower in case of the play shifting again.
I watch Ryder intently, who was already on the ice and fighting for the puck in the corner of the ice. My attention snapped though when my shift change came flying back to the bench and I held no hesitation as I flew over the boards and onto the ice.
"Here!" I shouted with a tap of my stick as I flew up the ice towards Ryder.
Thanks to my call out he knew where I was without even looking, which was helpful as he managed to take control of the puck and passed to me with ease.
It was with unusual ease that I skated around the net as the other team started scrambling to get control.
I risked a glance around the ice. Everyone was tied up besides Bentley. We shared a look that lasted meer milliseconds before I passed him the puck and found myself in front of the net.
"Screened!" The goalie shouted from behind me, however, his team wasn't listening. One of them skated at Bentley trying to get the puck from him, but it was too late.
The puck left Bentley's stick and came flying towards me. I moved my stick to try and get a tip but the puck already had bounced off the goalie.
It was unfortunate that the goalie hadn't covered it as the puck was loose and I scrambled to reach it.
Other players joined in the race but I got there first and immediately shot it at the net.
The goalie was ready and blocked it again.
It was another race to the puck but before I could get it on my stick, a hard force slammed into my back.
I fell to the ice. Hard.
My world was officially rocked as the air rushed out of my lungs. My mind raced to restart the faltering organs while also processing the surrounding noises.
I registered Ryder's voice and the mass amounts of curses falling from his lips. Ozzy's grunts became clear as I briefly saw him throwing fists with someone. The refs' shrill whistle ringed through my skull as he waved over the nearest trainer. Two doors flew open at nearly identical times, however, it was an unfamiliar face that came into view first.
"Your trainer is almost here," The stranger told me as her eyes scanned me for obvious injuries. "That was a hell of a hit you took." She looked up just as Luka came into view.
His face was pale with worry but other than that he kept his facial features indecipherable.
"Hey Astrid, how are you feeling?" his warm voice gave me comfort.
I wanted to answer his question, but I was too scared. Too scared to move. Too scared to breathe.
What if I was really hurt again?
His blue eyes narrowed at me when I didn't answer while his hands slipped my glove off discretely so he could check my pulse.
I took a shaky deep breath and was relieved when nothing felt pokey or extremely painful.
"Do you know where you are?" He asked in an almost professional tone.
"State Tournament, game number 2," I answered matter-of-factly.
I was as relieved to hear my voice as Luka and the other trainer were.
"Can you tell me what hurts?" He asked with a shared look over to the other trainer.
"Nothing now, I just got the wind knocked out of me," I felt my lungs fill fully again and started to move to get up. Both of the trainers offered their arms, but I refused help as I got to my feet.
Claps rang out around the rink as Bentley joined me at one side and Luka at my other. I knew that Luka wouldn't let me go back to the bench so I preemptively headed for the tunnel and walked straight to the trainer's room.
Luka and the other trainer followed me in and watched as I jumped up on a table.
"You've got this under control?" The other trainer asked Luka skeptically.
"Yes ma'am, if not, I'll give you a holler." Luka watched as she turned and left. Letting out a huge sigh when the door shut behind her. "Ash, sweetheart, you have to stop scaring me," He told me. His demeanor completely changed once the other trainer was gone.
His professional tone from before and indifferent facial expressions were gone. Now worry controlled his lips as fear clouded his eyes.
"That was one of the worst hits I've ever seen. Are you sure you don't feel any pain?" Luka asked. He now stood directly in front of me, seeming to be resisting the urge to touch me.
"None more than usual," I shrugged.
His blue eyes flicked between mine before he shook his head. "Astrid, something is wrong with you and I can't figure it out. But I'm not letting you get back on the ice until you tell me."
"I'm fine. Except for the cancer and the fact that I've just returned from a major injury which could've easily happened again because of that jackass," I ground my teeth as anger poked at me." I can never understand why guys detest the fact that they're playing against a girl, but the dirty hits are getting really fucking old - really fucking fast."
The stubbornness I saw in him early faded as he digested what I said.
"You're scared," Luka said simply.
I scoffed. "Of course, I'm fucking scared. Every guy out there has a personal fucking vendetta against me and my own body can't keep its shit together long enough for me to play one fucking game," I spoke animatedly with my hands.
"Astrid, I'm so sorry. It all sucks, trust me, I know," his blue eyes sparkled with an emotion that I didn't often see in him. pity. "But if you aren't bleeding out like last time, my advice would be to get back out there and just play your game of hockey. Because you don't owe any of them anything. You don't have to prove anything to them," Luka said as his hands held mine. His fingers intertwining with mine.
I chuckled at his words. "You mean you're going to let me play still?" I asked as I rested my forehead against his chest.
"Even though I wish I could keep you locked in this room, safe and sound with me, I know how much it means to you to get to play. And if you aren't hurt, this isn't anything I can do to stop you," Luka explained as his thumbs brushed the backs of my hands. "Just promise me one thing?"
I pulled back to stare into his baby blue eyes.
"Promise me that you are okay and that as soon as you aren't you will tell me?" His eyes flashed with emotions and I felt my heart crack.
"I'm okay, Luka," I lied.
I was far from okay. But that wasn't about to stop a damn thing. I had hockey to play, men to belittle, and goals to score. I would tell him eventually about my new struggles, but that was not right now.
"Alrighty then, Ash, go kick some ass," He told me with a quick peck on the lips and a slap to my ass when I slid off the table.
Guilt poked at me as I walked back down the tunnel. But I pushed it away. I will tell him - just not right now.
~~~~~~
Thanks for reading Chapter 51
Hi. Long time right? I'm so insanely sorry. College and hockey have kept me so extremely busy. I sincerely apologize for not updating anything for so long. You guys deserve so much better. I really want to do better for you guys. I'm going to try my darndest. But anyway, I hoped you guys enjoyed this update. Comments and feedback make me really happy. Even when I'm not updating, I really enjoy reading all you guys have to say. I hope y'all are having a great new year so far. Stay safe and Healthy!
~Until Next Chapter