Scoring Position (Hockey Ever After #2)

by Ashlyn Kane

It should’ve been Nico’s turn next. Nico always went after Grange, had done since his first week at Fuel training camp. But today Chenner was in the lineup, and he’d somehow gotten in line ahead of Nico. Greenie caught the puck and called something teasing out to Chenner, who shook his head and yelled back. Nico didn’t hear. He swallowed, grabbed the puck, and took his turn. Greenie was already in position, tracking Nico’s moves. The way Greenie always took Nico’s shootouts seriously was one of the few things Nico was proud of these days. He swept to the net, deked right, and shot left, high— Greenie caught it. “Better luck next time, Kirschbaum!” Greenie winked and tossed the puck back at him. Nico swept away from the net and tried to think of anything but that missed shot. He should have known Greenie would be hot on that side, after seeing Chenner’s failed attempt. He frowned at the ice. He might not be superstitious, but he should have known his stupid brain wouldn’t just brush off a break in routine. As he left the ice for the locker room, as he settled onto the bench, as the game started, he couldn’t help but replay that drill over and over. That missed shot felt like a bad omen. The fact that they weren’t losing after the first ten minutes of play did nothing to ease Nico’s foreboding. They weren’t playing their best, but neither was Calgary, and somehow they had kept the game scoreless. As the first period ticked toward the close, the Fuel had only managed three sh...