Empty Net Read online

  “Yes, and before you ask if I’m excited, I am very much so. I wanted a little boy and to get two is a blessing, but mainly I wanna kill Shea. I mean really?! Four kids all under the age of two? He’s trying to drive me insane! He told me the other day, he’ll want one more, and then we’re done. The man has lost it!”

  Audrey started to giggle as she shook her head, “Wow, that man is nuts.”

  “Right? I’m having them June 17, so hopefully the Assassins will sweep everyone and win the cup early, I highly doubt it though,” she complained, “He’ll probably be off somewhere winning a hockey game, while I’m having his sons cut out of me.”

  “Wow, I am amazed by you, are you gonna make him quit?”

  Elli laughed, “I can’t. He loves it and who am I to take away something he loves? I love him too much to make him a stay at home dad, so I’ll deal. I am woman, hear me roar.”

  Audrey laughed as she shook her head, “You are spectacular, Elli, really.”

  “Ah, ya know, I do my best,” she said with a grin, “But I gotta go, it’s cold as hell out here, and Grace has Shelli and Posey. So I’ll see you later?”

  “Sure, call me about those cupcakes!”

  “I sure will, or Harper will!” she said walking away with a wave. Audrey watched her for a bit, and then turned to look at her building. She could just see Audrey Jane’s written in a pretty script and of course in pink. The windows would hold displays of all the cupcake stands Tate had given her. Cute little tables made to look like high heels. A zebra print carpet, sparkling pink counter, and pink fuzzy chandeliers. She could see it all, right there in front of her. This was her dream, and it was about to be her reality.

  Burping, Audrey covered her mouth as she looked around. Taking in a deep breath, she took her phone out and dialed James’ number. He answered right away.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked.

  “I’m thinking I want it.”

  ***

  “Why are you so nervous?” Tate looked up to see Lucas giving him a dirty look as he continued, “this is easier than the regular season, we go out and have fun.”

  “No you get to have fun, I need to be super ninja goalie against every great forward in the league,” Tate spat back, taking in a lung full of air.

  Lucas thought for a moment, and then nodded, “I guess I would be nervous too.”

  “Ass,” Tate muttered as Lucas walked away, laughing.

  It was the All Star game night. In less than 5 minutes he would be skating out into a crowd of thousands as they announced his name. He couldn’t believe he had been invited to play and even though he was worried about Audrey, he was glad she made him come. He would have regretted missing this even if he felt bad for leaving her at home. It was an amazing experience. The whole week he hung out with veteran players and even a few new players. He got to meet some of the greats in the leagues and even got to pick the brain of the amazing Tim Thomas. It was awesome, and he had had a great week, but now he had a game to play. Taking a deep breath, Tate stood in his red All Star jersey before blowing it out. He raised his arms above his head before letting them fall, and shaking them out.

  He could do this, no big deal.

  As he grabbed his stick, Audrey came to mind and he couldn’t help the grin that came over his face. He was so proud of her for going forward with her dream. She was in the process of signing the papers for spot she found. She loved it, and seeing all the pictures she sent him, he knew he would love it too. Tate knew that she was going to be able to transfer the place into everything she wanted. Since even Fallon thought it was the perfect place, he knew that Audrey had made the right choice. He was excited to see the place in person, but mostly he was excited about helping her build it from the ground up. Audrey was such an amazing person and he had no doubt that Audrey Jane’s would be the best cupcake place in the Nashville area.

  Making his way down a hall he didn’t know, he waited at the end of the line of hockey players. His number was 39 and that meant he was the last to be called. Rocking back and forth on his skates, Tate listened as each guy was called out from his team. Finally it was his turn, and to his surprise the crowd erupted when he came out on the ice. His adrenaline started pumping and his heart kicked up in speed. This was it.

  His first All Star game.

  After the opening ceremony, Tate found himself sitting on the bench for the first two periods. The All Star game rules allowed each team to have up to three goalies: a different goalie for each of the three periods of regulation play. Shea wanted Tate to play the third, and he wasn’t too happy with it. Sitting for two periods wasn’t good for his legs, so during the second period, he had the trainers shoot pucks at him in the hall. It helped but not much since he wasn’t on the ice. It was finally his turn, and as he skated out, his felt like his heart was in his throat. The score was 14 to 10, blue team was in the lead. They were stacked with offensive men, but they had played their great goalies first, so the red team had a chance.

  Tate moved between the poles, dropping to the ground and hopping back up, repeating the motion as he sang his song. Ever since Audrey had been there one time singing with him, he always imagined her singing with him with her horrible voice. He loved her, but that girl was tone deaf, or something. He stretched his neck from side to side before hitting his pads with his stick and then the two posts. Dropping into position, he was ready for the puck to be dropped. Watching as Lucas went for the puck drop, he heard him talking shit, but it was all for fun. That was the great thing about the All Star game; it was like playing in the backyard with all your friends.

  “I should throw my gloves down and kick your ass just for a show!” Lucas teased Markus Randerhaven as everyone shook their heads, chuckling.

  Markus laughed before he said, “Drop your gloves, Brooks, and I’ll whoop your ass not for the show, but because I don’t like you.”

  Tate shook his head, he knew Lucas and he knew his temper, but to his surprise Lucas just laughed it off and won the puck for the red side. Tate was ready, his glove hand up and his stick in place as he watched the offense go after the puck. No one was really being rough, no big hits or anything. They were only worried about getting the puck and shooting on goal. Finally Lucas got the puck and raced down the ice towards the opposite side. He faked out the goalie and drop-passed it back to Shea, who shot it right into the goal.

  It was a beautiful play.

  The crowd went wild as the guys all wrapped up in a hug to celebrate. It was a great way to start the period and it pumped Tate up. He dropped down again and back up, trying to keep his legs warm. When one of the offense men, he couldn’t tell who it was, started towards him, the puck in possession, Tate was ready, knocking the puck away. The guy got it again, and passed it to a defenseman who shot it hard towards the net. But Tate blocked that too.

  Logan Couture stood in front of him, trying to screen him, but Tate wasn’t having that. Pushing Couture hard in the back, he sent him flying as he said, “Get the fuck out of here!” Tate heard some of the guys laugh as Couture turned saying some not so nice things, not that Tate cared. Someone took a quick wrist shot, but Tate got it with his glove hand before it went over his shoulder. Bringing it back down, he sent a toothy grin towards the shooter before handing it off to the referee.

  This was going to be a great period.

  The red All Star team lost, but only by one, and even though it sucked, Tate was all smiles, because no one could score on him. It was great feeling being the only goalie to shut someone out during his period. Reporters were all over him. He was on every sports news channel imaginable, they were calling him ‘a force to be reckoned with’ and a sure bet for the Vezina Trophy. It was crazy, and insane, but man, was he proud of himself. After the game, and all the interviews, he found himself; face down on his bed with his phone on speaker phone.

  “Hello, Mr. All Star goalie,” Audrey said when she answered.

  He chuckled, “I miss you.”

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