Score On Me

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 2

Kris stepped onto the ice as the music started to echo throughout the building. His heart pounded in his chest when he looked around the arena. Fans packed the first few rows of the lower bowl. Little kids had their noses pressed up against the glass. Well-endowed young women were bouncing up and down, their boobs barely staying in their tight shirts.

He always enjoyed warm ups. He liked being out there and taking it all in before putting on his helmet and suiting up for the game. He quickened his stride, grabbing a puck and controlling it with his stick as he sped around the ice. He stickhandled it gracefully down the boards and shot it between the goalie’s legs. Gliding behind the net, he circled back in front and caught the rebound from Jasper’s shot. Tossing it towards the net, it bounced off of Dominic’s pads and spun into the goal.

Poor kid.

Dom was new this year and doing his best as the Renegades backup goalie. Luckily, with Kaden in net they didn’t need to call on him too much. He had talent; he just needed practice to build up his confidence.

The cheers from the fans became louder as he approached the glass.

Looking up into the crowd of people, he laid eyes on a beautiful brunette. She was eating nachos, and a bit of cheese dripped down her chin. Wow, she had the most amazing blue eyes. Even from the ice they sparkled. Kris probably stared longer than he should’ve, but he couldn’t help it.

Once she realized she had cheese on her face, she nervously wiped it away. The whole time, his eyes never left her. She was beautiful, even with the smear of cheese. He didn’t know why he couldn’t stop watching her. He could hear the fans screaming. He could hear the females and the little kids calling out players’ names. Normally he scanned the crowd, admiring the big breasts and hard female bodies. But tonight his attention was stuck solely on her.

He continued to watch the mystery girl as he skated backwards a bit. She had his jersey on. That was cute. She was cute. She wasn’t flaunting her body and her boobs weren’t bouncing around, but she held his stare.

The whistle blew; Coach Walker called the team over. Kris tore himself away from her eyes and looked down at the ice. He started to skate away, but not before recapturing her attention and flashing a small smile at her.

After the team paused for a little pep talk from Coach Walker, players slowly started to leave the ice. Dominic was the first to go.

Tyler Kidd, the team captain, was talking to Coach Walker by the bench as the crowd chanted his name. Tyler was always appreciative of his fans. He waved to the crowd before he left the ice.

Kris was still shooting pucks at O’Conner.

The girls continued to scream for him. Wondering if that cute brunette was still there, he took one last skate past where she was standing. His eyes met with hers. The young girls went crazy, screaming and banging on the glass for him. He just shook his head, laughing.

Coach Walker skated towards him also laughing, “Oh those girls, Kris.”

He looked up at the brunette for just a second. Hoping she knew he was watching her. Were her seats along the glass? Or maybe behind the bench? He would certainly love to meet up with her later, but the chances he’d ever see her again weren’t good. He hoped if nothing else he would be able to get a glimpse of her during the game.

Sighing, he followed Coach Walker off the ice. Hopping onto the runway, he disappeared into the locker room.

****

The team split into two groups, each skating in a circle on half of the ice. Even though it was always fun to see the players drop and stretch a little as the goalies practiced moving side to side, pretending to protect their net, Kat’s eyes never left Lafleur. He skated to the bench, took off his glove and examined the blade of his stick. She watched intently as he tugged at the hockey tape to make sure it was secure.

Obviously she’d just imagined that little bit of interaction between the two of them.

There is no way in hell he was just smiling at me, the fatty with nacho cheese dripping down her face. He was probably looking at that Barbie doll blonde over there with her boobs hanging out. Kat was not blonde, nor did she look like a Barbie doll; she was a curvy brunette. She sighed. It was highly unlikely that he’d been looking at her, but it was nice to dream.

Warm ups were over, and all of the players had left the ice. Kat couldn’t stop thinking about Kris Lafleur. Had he really been looking at her? Was she insane for even thinking that he had? In a daze, she slowly made her way to her seat. Her seats were pretty good. She was in the upper bowl, but in the second row. She set her jacket and bag on the spare seat beside her, and took a look around the arena. Two championship banners hung from the rafters. The scoreboard played video highlights and showed previously recorded player interviews. Music played; it was low and up tempo. Snacking on her nachos, she finished them off just as the lights dimmed.

The video on the scoreboard switched to live feed of the players standing outside the locker room. In preparation for the game, they joked and tapped each other with their sticks, getting pumped as they did before every game. Kaden O’Conner, the goalie, had his mask resting on his head. He was the first one to head out onto the ice. As he passed the camera, he tapped the cameraman with his stick. Kaden then flashed a sexy smile into the camera followed by a goofy face sticking his tongue out. The crowd roared with laughter as Kaden flipped his mask on and headed down the runway to the ice.

The camera followed them to the tunnel leading to the ice as the music changed to the Renegades entrance song. The bass rumbled in her chest, lights flashed around the ice and sirens blared. The crowd yelled and screamed, and the music volume increased. The lights turned back on once the players poured out onto the ice again and the buzzer rang. Through all the noise the announcer yelled, “Your Pittsburgh Renegades!”

They skated around to the loud music until it stopped. They either took their starting position on the ice, or on the bench. When it was time for the national anthem, Kris Lafleur stood on the ice, holding his helmet in his hand. He bowed his head while a small girl sang. Kat watched as his damp brown hair covered his face. She couldn’t take her eyes off of that image.

At ten after seven the puck dropped. Tyler Kidd took possession of the puck first, stealing it from Colorado and moving it clear into their end. Kidd spun around and passed the puck to Matt Jasper. He shot at the net, but the goalie deflected his shot. Lafleur skated across in front of the net to catch the rebound and tossed it over the goalie’s shoulder into the net. Score! The buzzer rang throughout the arena.

Colorado didn’t like the fact that the Renegades scored on them so quick. As Lafleur and Kidd were skating to the bench to change lines, a player from Colorado tried to slew foot Tyler Kidd, but he lost his balance and instead shoved Lafleur into the boards. Lafleur and Kidd waved their hands in the air, calling to the refs looking for a penalty, but nothing was called.

When the second period started, Lafleur skated right after the Colorado player who knocked him down. While trying to knock the puck away from him, Lafleur’s stick got caught under the Colorado player’s skate. The Colorado player stumbled, but instead of regaining his footing and continuing to skate, he looked back at Lafleur, then purposely sprawled on the ice, drawing a tripping penalty on Lafleur.

Lafleur was sent to the penalty box for a two-minute minor penalty. The arena erupted in disgust. Kat booed along with them. It was a bad call—it should’ve been diving on Colorado! Kat had a good view of the penalty box. Lafleur took off his helmet and pushed his damp hair back with his hand. That same image appeared on the Jumbotron as the female fans cheered and made catcalls for the attractive player.

His image faded off the screen and play continued. Kat watched him in the box, checking the tape on his stick.

Once his penalty expired, he flew back onto the ice, joining his line at the rush in front of the net. He grabbed the puck and passed it to Kidd, who launched it right into the net.

Goal!

Lafleur was two for two tonight so far. Colorado tried fighting back. Tyler Kidd scored a power play goal then Colorado scored two before the second period ended with the Renegades leading three to two.

People shuffled around her, taking this opportunity to go get snacks or just take a much needed break. Stadium food was her favorite. Cheesy nachos, greasy fries, and anything in between. She’d always loved food. Her family was Italian, and they loved to eat. Too bad everything she ate went to her a*s. And her waist. And her hips.

Her sister, Gia, was lucky. She was never overweight. The girl could eat anything she wanted and never gain an ounce. It’s not like they had a choice as kids though. Junk food was not allowed in the house. Her mom ruled with an iron fist, and the kitchen was off limits. Period. She was pretty sure her mom had a silent alarm on the refrigerator, because every time she tried to sneak a treat her mom appeared out of nowhere to scold her.

The loud cheering of the crowd brought her attention back to the game.

“Go Renegades!” Kat cheered, as her mind cleared of the nasty memories.

She scanned the ice for Lafleur, and her heart beat quickly as her gaze finally settled on him. She sighed. He was beautiful, his strong physique gliding around the ice.

But a guy like Lafleur didn’t go for fat girls. He was out of her league and she was wasting her time dreaming.

Colorado started the third period with a goal, tying the game at three apiece. Kat was on the edge of her seat the entire third period. The Renegades kept getting great scoring opportunities, but since Colorado put in their backup goalie after the Renegades third goal, he hadn’t let another goal in.

Tyler Kidd had many opportunities to score, but he just couldn’t get any of them in the net. The Colorado goalie seemed like a brick wall. Tonight just wasn’t Kidd’s night. Regulation ended in a 3–3 tie, and then it was time for sudden death overtime. Kat squealed, giddy with excitement and a ball of nerves all at the same time. She loved overtime.

Everyone stood as Tyler Kidd went after the puck. Kat jumped out of her seat, stepping right into her empty nachos tray.

“Oh crap.” She looked down at her feet, but luckily the cheese was empty so it didn’t make a mess. Kicking it to the side she tucked it under the seat.

She yelled and clapped as Tyler Kidd passed the puck from the face-off to Tanner MacAuley. Lafleur raced up the ice towards the net and MacAuley passed it to him. He shot it, flipping the puck right over the goaltender’s shoulder.

“Woo-hoo! Lafleur! Yay!” Kat cheered at the top of her lungs.

The crowd roared. All the fans stood with their hands in the air. Kris Lafleur had scored the game winning goal for the Renegades in overtime.

Kat giggled as they showed Lafleur on the scoreboard scoring the goal and throwing his fist in the air yelling. The other players grouped around him hugging each other and giving him high-fives.

The players piled on to the ice, congratulating each other, especially the goalie, Kaden O’Conner. Each tapped him on the helmet.

Before the team even left the ice people started to file out of the arena. Kat’s section was already almost empty.

The announcer’s voice filled the arena revealing the game’s three stars.

“Number three-Kaden O’Conner, number two-Tyler Kidd and tonight’s number one star-Kris Lafleur!”

Each player returned to the ice for a victory lap, lifting their stick to the crowd, before exiting the ice.

Kat really didn’t want the night to end; she was having a great time. A shiver ran through her body. Rubbing her arms she tried to warm up. Gathering her things up, she headed out to the concessions area. Walking by the coffee shop, she noticed there wasn’t anyone in line. She ordered the best Café Mocha. The warm aroma enticed her taste buds. Sitting down at a small table she wrapped her still cold hands around the cup and sipped the delicious creamy drink as she people-watched.

People were always in a mad rush to get out of the arena. Kat was grateful to be able to sit and watch, while not being part of it. She would leave once it calmed down. Her mind kept going back to the warm up skate and Kris Lafleur. Did that really happen?

Her phone buzzed. It was a text message from Gia.

Hey sis, how was the game? Hope you had fun!

Hey sis! It was awesome! Kat texted back.

Glad to hear it! I watched some of it online, Lafleur was on fire! Did you get my shirt?

Yep, got it, and Lafleur was hot! And his game was good too. lol! Do I have story for you…

She told her all about the nacho cheese all over her face and she swore Lafleur looked up at her. Gia didn’t believe her until Kat went through the whole story. It was hard for her to even believe, especially in a crowd with so many puck bunnies just waiting to get their claws on a player. She actually saw a few walk by as she was texting Gia. They were hanging around the hallways until security asked them to leave. Kat had to chuckle as they were escorted out.

After saying goodnight to Gia, she looked through the photos she’d taken on her phone during warm ups. They came out pretty nice. She’d taken a real good one of Kidd. Her sister was sure to like that. She got a close up of when Lafleur and Coach Walker skated over to the corner. She smiled when she thought about what an amazing night it turned out to be. She was sure to have pleasant dreams tonight.

Kat sipped her coffee and was daydreaming when she heard voices echo in the hallway. Trying to focus back on reality, she realized that she was the only one left in that part of the arena, and the only one in the coffee shop.

Two men walked towards the coffee shop; both men were wearing suits. It was two Renegades players. Matt Jasper and Kris Lafleur.