Logan

 

Stepping into the locker room, my teammates welcomed me back with open arms, except one player named Joe. He had only been on the team for about a year and always made snide comments to me. His attitude sucked ass and if he was on any other team, I would have beaten the shit out of him already.

“Glad you’re back, bro.” Marcus smiled as he patted my shoulder.

“Thanks, man.”

“How’s the leg?” Johnny asked.

“It’s good.”

“I can’t believe you’re back here playing with us. That physical therapist of yours is a miracle worker. Next time I get injured, I’m going to call her.” He winked.

I gave a small smile as I put on my skates.

“You ready, Logan?” Marcus asked.

“Yeah.”

We walked out of the locker room and stepped onto the ice. It felt good to be back out here with my team.

“It’s good to have you back, Logan.” Gene smiled.

“Thanks. It’s good to be back.”

“We need to step it up a notch and win these next games. The last couple of games were sloppy and I have no clue where that shit came from. I don’t have time for sloppy and neither do you. I’ve divided you up into two teams. Team B will wear these solid blue shirts. Logan, you’re going to faceoff with Marcus. I want to see what you can do.”

“Yes, coach.”

“Now, everyone line up and get in your positions.”

Marcus and I stood across from each other in position, waiting for Gene to drop the puck. I glanced over at James to let him know that I was going to pass it to him.

“You ready?” Marcus smiled. “I ain’t going to go easy on you.”

“I’m ready, and I don’t expect you to.” I grinned.

The puck dropped and our sticks collided, but I took control, and with one swift stroke, I passed the puck to James.

****

Brooke

I sat on the edge of the bed with my face cupped in my hands. Logan was playing in his first game since the accident and I couldn’t let him know that I was there to support him. I missed him so much and all I wanted was to hold him and tell him that I was sorry. I wasn’t sure if he was ready for this game or not and that worried me. If things didn’t go well tonight, it could set him back. Owen and Brandon had been keeping tabs on him and reporting back to me.

“Are you ready to go?” Brandon asked as he stood in the doorway of my room.

“Yeah.”

“What’s wrong?”

“This wasn’t what I envisioned while I was helping him. I thought that I would be sitting in the front row, rooting him on and giving him my full support. Not stuck up in a suite.”

“Hey, you get free food and drinks in those suites.” He smiled. “Come on. Owen’s waiting for us to pick him up. My dad and Renee are going to meet us there.”

I stood up, grabbed my purse, and we headed to Madison Square Garden. After Owen and Brandon took me up to the suite, they took their seats down in the front row. This night was huge for Logan. It had been on all the sports news that he was back and playing in tonight’s game. The arena was packed with spectators, awaiting the return of Lightning. I saw signs with his picture on them and his name big and bold, made out of glitter. People were excited that he was back. I had just hoped that it wasn’t too much pressure on him. The Rangers had four games left and they needed to win every last one of them to make it to the playoffs. I took a glass of wine from the silver tray that sat on the counter and took my seat in front of the glass window while a nervous feeling crept inside me. I looked down at the black bag I brought filled with things he might need if his leg gave out.

****

Logan

I sat on the bench in the locker room, gripping the gold cross necklace Tommy always wore. He had given it to me a couple of days before the accident and asked me to hold on to it for him. I thought it was strange, but I never asked him why. It had made me wonder if he knew or thought something was going to happen to him. Bringing the necklace up to my lips, I closed my eyes. This was the first game that we wouldn’t be playing in together.

“You ready to get out there?” Gene asked as he walked up to me.

“Yeah. I’m ready.”

“You fought hard for this night and I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks, coach.”

“Okay, men, let’s get out there and kick some Capitals’ asses! Gene shouted.

Stepping out onto the ice, I heard the cheers and chanting of my name. This was it, and to think that I almost didn’t come back. Excitement coursed through me and my adrenaline reached an all-time high. Looking around, I saw my brothers and my dad and Maggie sitting in the first row, cheering me on. The only thing that would have made this night complete was seeing Brooke sitting there with them. I couldn’t think about her. I had to focus on this game and give it my all.

Lining up on the ice, I held my helmet in one hand and my stick in the other while the national anthem was being sung. I closed my eyes and tried to control the nervousness that crept up inside me.

“This is for you, Tommy,” I whispered as the game started.

“And look at him go. Lightning Logan’s first game since his accident and it looks like he never left. Boy, were the doctors wrong about him,” the announcer spoke. “It’s nothing but a miracle he’s back on the ice again.”

First period ended and we headed back to the bench. I took in a deep breath as I felt a twinge of pain in my leg.

“You okay, Jackson?” Gene asked.

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

“You’re looking good out there. Keep it up.” He gave a thumbs-up.

Second period started. I stole the puck from the opposing team and Machard followed me, checking me with his stick and stealing it from me. One swift move and a body slam and it was mine again. Breaking away from him, I passed it to Joe as he took it down the center, only to lose it the Capitals’ forward. Coming up from the side, I stole the puck and moved it from side to side with my stick, dodging the Capitals’ defense and shooting it right into the net.

“And he scores! He’s back! Lightning Logan’s first goal of the night, putting the Rangers in the lead, one to nothing.”

I took in a deep breath as the crowd went wild and my team threw themselves at me with congratulations. Skating off the ice, we took our places on the bench.

“Jackson, how’s your leg?”

“It’s fine, coach.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. It’s good.”

“Good. You’re back in.”

Third period. All was going good, but I had a feeling Machard was keeping a close eye on me. That motherfucker. Joe passed me the puck and I took it down the side. In a split second, Machard body-slammed me against the glass. My body flew up in the air and I hit the ice harder than I ever had. My leg; the pain was unbearable as I grabbed hold of it. As I lay there, the arena went silent.