Tripping

Prologue: Mia's POV

Mia

I'm so turned on.

He just goes so fast, I don't know how he does it.

It really shouldn't surprise me, he was known for his speed all through college. It's nothing new to me. But watching him skate across the ice at this speed for his dream team just sparks so much inside me. It just reminds me of the type of stamina he brings to bed, I can't wait for post-game sex. I also can't stop the proud smile that takes over my face as I watch him do what he loves most, and for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He always loved the Leafs, when we met in our freshman year of college he had posters in his room of all his favourite players, and he hung them proudly.

Now I have a poster of him in our room on my side of the bed, as a Toronto Maple Leaf, hanging proudly. I may look at it more than I should, for reasons that I am not ashamed of.

Okay, maybe a bit ashamed. I look at it when I need a bit of relief while Nate is on the road and I can't go with him, which is very rare. He knows. I was embarrassed for all of two seconds. After I told him why I kept it there it led to a whole night of, I want to say lovemaking, but it wasn't, we were fucking, all night long.

Now we are on the road, I'm sitting in my seat behind the team bench, proudly wearing my Nathan Reese jersey with the #14 on the back watching Toronto take on Las Vegas. My best friend, Jules and her son, Alex, sit beside me as she bounces him on her knee while they cheer on her husband Jake Sullivan, who we call Sully, who also plays for the Leafs.

"His speed only got better since college," Jules tells me, stating the obvious.

"He practically lives on the speed training machine in the off-season, there's no stopping him, literally," I tell her as I watch Nate skate left and right, backwards and forwards, knowing his speed is appreciated in the most crucial times of the game.

But as Nate is going full speed across the ice trying to catch the puck before the ref calls an icing, with a Vegas player trailing very closely behind him, our breaths catch in our throats. It happens so quickly. All it takes is the Vegas player to put his stick over Nate's legs, tripping him, sending him full speed into Vegas' goalie. The goalie doesn't expect Nate's collision, leaving his gloved hand to get stuck in between his body and the ice as he tries to catch his fall. Nate, the Vegas player, and goalie, all crash into the net causing it to move out of place right before a big pile-up is formed around the net.

"That didn't look too good," Jules says in a not so reassuring voice.

The players surround the net starting a fight. You never touch the opposing team's goalie. Ever. Accident or not, expect a fight. I can't see much but I know Nate is okay, he's always okay. This isn't his first fight on the ice. As the refs try to break up the fight, I finally get a glimpse of Nate's jersey hovering over the Vegas goalie. He's trying to block the fighting players from falling or stepping on the goalie who looks as though he is in agonizing pain cradling his arm to his chest. Nate wouldn't hurt someone intentionally ever. Provoke him in any way and expect a bruise or two, but this wasn't something he was in control of.

The medical team for Vegas comes out as all the players head over to their respective benches and wait for the goalie to get up. I take my eyes away from the hard-working team to take a look at Nate. When I do my heart aches just a bit. He looks sad and guilty even though it wasn't his fault he got tripped. Despite the Vegas player getting escorted to the sin bin to serve his two minutes for tripping, I know all Nate is thinking about is how he caused their goalie to get seriously injured. His eyes meet mine and I give him a reassuring smile hoping it will erase some of the guilt he is currently carrying.

They finally get the goalie up and it looks as though his gloves are off and they have wrapped his arm temporarily so he can skate off and get help off the ice. Everyone claps and bangs their sticks on the ice as they lead him off, sending in their backup goalie so the game can continue.

As the game goes on Nate's game totally changes, his movements are slower and he is constantly looking behind his shoulder even when he doesn't need to. He still tries to help his team do what he does best, allowing the game to finish 2-1 for Toronto, thanks to their power play goal after the tripping call. I'm seated right next to the tunnel, so I remain seated as they exit the ice watching Nate walk right by me without another glance.

Jules and I wait until most people have cleared out before we walk down to meet the guys since we have a ten-month-old with us and prefer not to walk through crowds with him.

After watching player after player exit the locker room, Sully finally saunters out, hair still wet from a shower and glides over to his wife and son with a smile on his face.

"Great game Sully, nice goal on that power play," I tell him as he kisses the top of Alex's head and leans in to kiss Jules.

Sully, Jules, Nate, and I have stuck together since day one. I was sitting alone at the college team's hockey game when Jules came up and sat beside me. She then introduced me to Sully and Nate after the game. Nate and I were inseparable after that and through the next four years of college, we did everything together. Here we are two years later, still the four of us, now five, with Alex. They just got a head start on the whole wedding and babies thing. Nate and I had no real rush to get married and have kids. It can get busy during the season travelling for games, and we like to spend Nate's off-season travelling.

"Thanks, Mia, it's great to have my good luck charms here with me," he says as he smiles down at Jules and Alex again.

"Where's Nate?" I question when I don't see my boyfriend.

"He's in with the Vegas medic team, making sure their goalie is okay. They say his arm is injured pretty badly."

I know the face Sully is making, when he says pretty bad, he means career-threatening. I really hope that's not the case because if Vegas' goalie career ends, I don't know how Nate is going to take it.

I tell Sully and Jules to head back to the hotel we are staying at since Alex is falling asleep on Sully's shoulder. With a wave goodbye, I wait on the side for Nate to come out. Player after player they come out but still no Nate. Some of the rookies shoot me a flirty glance looking like they want to come up to me since I'm alone but they know better, Nate made sure they did. When Nate finally does come out in his light grey suit, tie wrapped around his neck, loosely hanging, his brown hair all ruffled, I can't stop myself from thinking how handsome he looks. Until I see his face and see the sadness seeping off it.

"Hey baby, great game," I hug his torso as he kisses the top of my head and mumbles a thank you and squeezes me a little extra tight.

I know I have to just come out and ask him even though I already know the answer based on his mood.

"How is he?" I ask with a cautious tone.

He pulls away from our hug just enough to look me in the eyes and tells me...

"I think I just ruined Rick Anderson's career."

------

Thanks for reading pals!! Let me know what you think!

Don't forget to vote and comment 🏒