22. Trevor

22

TREVOR

I’ve failed. Everything I’ve tried to both be able to perform on the Celebrity Dance Dare finale and play in the final game of this series has been met with failure. The PHL refuses to start the game an hour later so I could perform our finale dance first and then race the few blocks back to the arena to suit up in time for puck drop. I wouldn’t even stay for scores. I’d perform and dash. No-go. They insist on puck drop going off right on time, and if I’m not there, I’m not playing. I’m not even allowed to leave and come back. I’ll be guarded like a prisoner once the game starts. If I leave the arena, they won’t let me back in, and the Devil Birds can’t substitute a player. They’d have to play a man down the rest of the game.

Jake and Teagan argued everything they could. Even the coach and manager of the New York team tried to get Wagerman to see reason, to no avail. I’m only a few blocks away from Sophie and the dance studio, but it may as well be a million miles. We’ve texted and had a brief video chat today when she had snippets of time available. She’s going to dance our dance with Ian. I’m glad it’s going to be seen—it deserves to be seen. I just wish it was me dancing it with her.

“Dude, can you stare vacantly into space in another direction, you’re freaking me out,” Stone says from his space across the locker room from me. That’s when I realize I’ve been staring at him as he’s putting on the base layer of his uniform. We’ve all seen each other naked. It’s not a big deal, but I can see how it would be unnerving.

“Sorry,” I mumble, averting my gaze to the floor. I should be putting on my own gear and getting ready to hit the ice, but for the first time ever, there’s no thrill of excitement at hearing the crowd and anticipating the feel of my blades slicing through the fresh ice.

I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to be here. I should be with Sophie. I want to be with Sophie. It’s not about winning the competition. I don’t give a fuck if I win, but I want her to win. I don’t have to prove to anyone I’m a good hockey player. I think my two hat tricks this week speak for themselves. I care about my teammates, of course. I don’t want to let them down, but they don’t need me. They’ve proven they can win without me on the ice. Sophie needs me. Just as importantly, I need Sophie.

I stand, about to find Coach, only to discover him standing there with Jake, watching me.

“Go,” Coach says. “We got your back. You’ve had ours all season.”

I check my watch. I have fifteen minutes to get to the studio. I need to change. I can’t dance in the suit I wore to arrive at the game. Jake tosses me a T-shirt and a pair of joggers.

“Randi says to wear this and to haul your ass there. She’s texted Ian.”

I’m changed and out the door in minutes, leaving a flurry of break-a-legs and go-get-ems in my wake. I can’t trust a taxi, so I run like a crazy person the few blocks to the studio where the show is filming. Thank the stars the security staff recognizes me and lets me in without a fuss. Xavier grabs me and pulls me into the makeup room. Ian let him in on our plan.

“Relax,” X says, “you have time. Let’s get you ready. Catch your breath. Need to have you looking your best when you go out there and steal America’s heart.”

I submit to his handiwork and watch the feed of the show from the makeup chair. I keep checking the game’s score on my phone. Scoreless in the first period and halfway through the second. Both teams are playing hard, desperate for the W. I know I made the right decision. This is where I need to be, this is where I want to be. I never expected to want to be somewhere other than on the ice during such a vital game, but I can’t imagine being anywhere else. Sophie needs me, and nothing will stop me from being here for her. I don’t need to prove to anyone that I’m good enough. Sophie Mackenzie loves me, and that’s all that matters. I don’t need the world when I have my girl.