From a very young age, Aldrich knew two things—he’d grow up to play professional hockey and he’d make his mentor fall in love with him. After years of hard work, both are within his grasp. Not only has a professional team called him up from his farm club, but the man he’s dreamed of for years has finally noticed him.
Then everything is brutally torn from him when he suffers a career-ending injury and finds himself dumped before the relationship has even really started. Depressed, he retreats to his childhood home where he runs into his former best friend and hockey buddy, Nobel. They rekindle their friendship and grow closer…in more ways than one. Aldrich is shocked to realize that not only has he been overlooking what could be the best thing in his life, but love may have always been right in his own backyard.
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Change on the Fly
Copyright © 2011 Stephani Hecht
ISBN: 978-1-55487-968-7
Cover art by Martine Jardin
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.
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Smashwords Edition
Change on the Fly
Blue Line Hockey
By
Stephani Hecht
Chapter One
Aldrich caught the pass and centered the puck on the end of his stick, his gaze already fixated on the net at the opposite end of the ice. Most importantly, he noted the way the goalie stood just off to one side. It was only inches, but it was enough for Aldrich to mark it as a weak spot and know that he finally had the opportunity he’d been fighting all game for.
His heart pounded as adrenaline raced through his body. All around him the crowd cheered and chanted his name. Instead of distracting him, the sound seemed to vibrate through his body, creating the most wonderful buzz. Despite the cold in the rink, droplets of sweat clung to his face. One bead of moisture trickled down his nose, while another laid a trail down his right jaw.
Even though this was his third game with the Wings, he still could hardly believe he’d finally made it. All the hard work he’d put in at his farm team had finally paid off and now, at age twenty-two, he was playing for the NHL.
He spotted his opening in the opposition’s defense and surged forward, the puck balanced perfectly on the curve of his stick. As he glided across the ice, he never felt more on his game. He knew at that moment, that nobody could touch him. The defensemen, the goalie—none of them could stop him from scoring.
Once he reached the right position, he wound up and shot the puck. As it sailed neatly into the back of the net, he raised his hands in victory. His shout of joy lost in the buzzer sounding over the loudspeaker.
He glanced over at the ref, just in time to see him blow his whistle and gesture that the goal was good. Aldrich let out a whoop of joy as he turned to share his celebration with his teammates. He raised his hand to exchange high fives.
A heavy blow slammed into his side, sending him into the net. Aldrich barely had time to register that it was a check from an opposing defenseman, as they both managed to get tangled up in the goalie. As Aldrich scrambled to stay on his feet, his helmet slid slightly off to the side. At the same time he fell to the ground, his shoulder connecting painfully with the ice.
He slid into the net, his head colliding with the metal post. More pain shot through him, this time the hurt going from the top of this skull and traveling down his spine. A few seconds later his head hit the boards, a weird crunching sound vibrating through his skull.
Shit, that can’t be good.
“Fuck, sorry about that. Are you okay?” the goalie asked as he untangled himself from the pile.
Aldrich tried to answer, but all that came out was a strange gurgling sound. At the same time, he became aware that his body wasn’t cooperating. While his brain kept sending out the get-the-fuck-up signal, all his limbs did was twitch around. At the same time, he became painfully aware that he’d lost control of his bladder.
Great! As if this wasn’t already embarrassing enough.
“Oh, damn! He’s hurt, bad!” The goalie shouted to the bench.
No shit, Sherlock! Maybe you should get a job as a damn medical detective.
Aldrich let out a weird rasping sound as he continued to struggle to get up. The asshole defenseman who’d caused the whole mess got to his feet and skated to his bench. Unlike his goalie teammate, he didn’t seem to give a damn about the poor sap who was laid up on the ice.
Coach’s dress shoes came into view before he crouched down. Usually he looked stern and a bit mean, but at the moment his brown eyes were full of concern. “Aldrich, are you with me, buddy?”