CHAPTER 136: THE SMILE THAT NEVER MISSES

The scoreboard blinked.... 8 – 8.

The rink was chaos. Both teams had been clawing for dominance, trading goals like it was a war they refused to lose.

Every slam against the boards, every whistle, every groan from the crowd had led here to the last three minutes.

My throat was sore from screaming, though I barely realized it until I stopped breathing.

Everyone was alive.

Even Marcus showed up to watch, after swearing he wouldn’t.

This wasn’t just a game anymore. It was life or death.

The announcer’s voice boomed across the arena.

"Three minutes left on the clock, folks! What a game, what a rivalry. If the score stands, the Wolves will walk away with the win here tonight."

A gasp tore through the Falcon side of the crowd.

I hated how scared I was.

Because this wasn’t just about winning.

If the Falcons didn’t score, if it ended as a draw, the Wolves automatically took the victory home-ice rules.

And everyone here would see Dominic fall short.

He didn’t deserve that. Not him. Not my Dominic.

"What?!" June screamed next to me, slamming her soda cup down. "That’s rigged!"

"It’s not rigged, it’s rules," Marcus muttered, as he gripped the railing. "Home-ice disadvantage."

My blood went cold.

The clock ticked down.

"Two minutes left!" the announcer voice cracked. "Who will break the tie? Who will be the hero tonight?"

The Wolves tightened their defense. They weren’t even trying to score now. Just to shut Dominic and his team out.

1:59.

1:58.

The puck flew from stick to stick, but every time they pressed forward, the Wolves shoved back harder. Every shot blocked before it could even get close.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

I could hardly breathe.

Every move Dominic made felt made me nervous. The way he slammed into their captain to steal the puck back.

The way he glided down the ice.

"Jasper got possession!" the announcer started. "The Wolves are closing in fast...two on one, but he’s not slowing down! The Falcons are running out of time!"

The crowd roared. Then hushed. The noise dimmed like everyone collectively forgot how to breathe.

1:32.

"Come on," I whispered, rubbing my hands together.

The puck zipped from stick to stick, the sound of blades shredding the ice.

Bodies slammed into boards, helmets cracked, the crowd roared with every miss.

Thirty seconds.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to tell him not to get hurt, not to let them break him. But my throat was locked tight, fear kept strangling me.

The Wolves swarmed. Dominic glided left, then right, like he’d been born on the ice.

He shoved the puck to Ian who smacked it straight back to him.

"Vale with the puck! Ladies and gentlemen, here’s your captain. Vale cutting down center ice! He’s got Han to his right. Han calls for it.."

If this ended now, the Falcons were done.

And Dominic my Dominic, would have carried the whole game on his back for nothing.

The Wolves tried another rush down the ice. Their captain skated fast, snapping a shot blocked by the goalie.

The puck flew.

Dominic seized it.

My heart skipped.

The Wolves swarmed him.

The announcer shouted.

"Vale takes the puck back...time running down. Fifteen seconds!"

The arena didn’t breathe.

Ten.

Dominic shot forward. The Wolves’ goalie crouched, gloves spread wide like a wall.

Five.

The world blurred.

It was just him.

The Wolves were desperate to stop him, throwing themselves in front of him.

Dominic’s stick lifted. He shoots. The puck spun off it.

Four.

The goalie lunged.

Every Falcon fan was on their feet. Even Marcus couldn’t breathe beside me. June held my arm so tight.

If he missed, I’d have to watch the whole arena see him fail. And I couldn’t bear it

Three.

The puck blazed past his glove, and slammed into the net.

Two.

The red light flared.

And then the world exploded.

The Falcons’ side erupted so loud the bleachers shook under my feet.

Screams, banners, drinks spilling, the mascot flapping around like a bird.

"Goooooooaaaaallll! He did it." The announcer nearly lost his voice.

June jumped into Marcus’ arms, "He did it!Dominic freaking did it!"

Marcus was shouting too, fists punching the air.

I was frozen. My chest burned.

I couldn’t even process the chaos. All I could see was Dominic, tearing off his helmet, as his teammates swarmed him, dragging him into a pile of hugs and shouts.

Falcons. Falcons. The shouted.

My heart was filled with pride. That was my boyfriend. My Dominic.

The announcer’s voice was drowned out by the chaos.

"Falcons win! Nine to eight! What a finish, what a night! Captain Vale brings it home."

The whole arena screamed his name, stamping their feet until the floor thundered.

The last time I’d felt something this fierce was the first time he smiled just for me, like I was the only person in the world who mattered.

And now, under the chaos, he still looked up right where he knew I’d be.

And just for me he smiled. The same smile. Mine.

Across the rink, the Wolves sat angry on their bench.

Helmets tossed down, gloves ripped off in frustration. Their captain just sat there biting his lip like he might actually cry.

Their cheer squad were looking so sad. One of them tried to start a chant, but it died in her throat. They’d lost.

"Boo-hoo," June said with zero pity, clapping Marcus on the back. Then she spun on me, and whispered in my ear. "Ash. Go see your boyfriend. He just won the whole universe for you."

Before I could argue, the exact chaos June lived for happened, one of the Wolves cheerleaders tried storming across the ice in platform boots. She slipped. Fell flat on her ass.

The crowd howled.

June almost died laughing, dropping her soda all over Marcus’ shoes.

"Oh my godddd," she gasped, holding her stomach. "This is history."

Then the speakers screeched, again. It wasn’t the announcer’s voice this time.

"Yo, this is Jasper...yeah, the Jasper. Big thanks to everyone who showed up tonight. And tomorrow, tomorrow night....we’re throwing the party of the year to celebrate this win. Everyone’s invited. Even the Wolves and their hot cheerleaders."

The Falcons’ side erupted with laughter.

Half the Wolves liked like they wanted to punch him. The other half booed.

Jasper laughed. "Don’t pout too hard, boys. Bring your game to the party instead."