Home Ice.

Chapter Thirty-Two.

Finn

Seeing Avery behind the glass was the absolute last thing I thought I'd see tonight. She was standing there in a crowd of people, her eyes locked on me before mine saw her. I fucking missed seeing her here. I'm so proud of my girl.

It feels so damn good to be back. I finally feel like the thing that was dormant in me has been ignited again. I missed the rush of stepping out onto the ice, the fans who cheer for pucks and the chill of the icy air that goes through my lungs.

I cannot wait for this game to start.

Knowing that Avery is here makes it 10 times better. Knowing she's safe in the same building as I am and that she was feeling good enough to even come here tonight is better than any win would feel.

We're so going to win tonight, though.

I sit up from adjusting my skates and grab my stick, smiling lightly at the four letter word that I wrote on the end of it before warmups. That reminds me.

My eyes find one of our assistants on the other side of the room, so I walk my way over to her. I'm seriously towering over her since I'm on my skates and she's shorter than Grace is regardless.

She looks up at me from her clipboard with her brows raised, silently asking me what I need. "Do you mind doing me a favor?"

"Anything," she smiles at me. "What's up?"

"Avery is in the family suite and I'm trying to not hover or make a big deal of it," I explain, which makes her smile grow. "But do you mind stopping in between a period and see if she's alright? And report back to me?"

She nods once at me, "You got it."

"She'll probably roll her eyes, but it'll be at me and not at you. Promise."

"Oh, I know," she laughs lightly. I guess everyone knows how protective I can be of my girl.

"Wilder, get your ass out here!"

"Thank you, Jade," I say sincerely, before I grab my helmet from the rack and walk my way out to the tunnel where the rest of my team is. Oh, God. I'm so excited.

I stuff my glove under my arm so I can rake back my hair with my fingers before slipping my helmet and glove back on. The dim blue lights cause the adrenaline to suddenly rush through every cell in my body. I have damn goosebumps.

My teammates are roughing me around as I walk down the hall, cheering and shouting as they all hype up my return. I don't even feel the pressure I'd usually feel after being out for a while. I'm just anxious to get started.

I finally get to the front and Casey is waiting up there, and when he sees me he starts banging his stick on the ground which makes the rest of my team join in. Geez.

"Atta boy, Finny!" Casey cheers along with the rest of the guys. Good. My face is getting red.

"Alright, alright," I shake my head at them all.

"Speech! Speech!"

I laugh them off because I sure as shit am not giving a speech right now. I haven't done anything!

"Let's win the game and then maybe I'll give a speech, eh?"

After a few more adrenaline filled cheers, we're lined up to take the ice. Casey is behind me and drapes his arms around my neck to pull me into him. "You're gonna have a hell of a game, Finny. I can feel it. Have fun out there."

I feel like I'm gonna have a good game too, honestly. It's such an unexplainable relief, not having to worry about outside factors while playing. I can't remember the last time I felt that.