The Forgotten Gilmore

Chapter Sixty-Four: Fury on Ice

The final 15 minutes of the game began with a palpable intensity. The Hawks, down by two goals and clearly frustrated, were throwing everything they had at Riley's team. But Riley, Beau, and the rest of the squad were ready for it. They had no intention of letting this slip.

Alessia sat on the edge of her seat, the tension gnawing at her. She could sense the shift in the air—this wasn't just a game anymore. It was personal.

Avery, despite the relentless targeting, stayed in the game. He moved with a cautious grace now, skating defensively, but his presence on the ice alone was enough to keep the Hawks riled up. Riley kept one eye on him at all times, ready to intervene if needed.

The puck dropped, and the Hawks came charging. Their biggest player, a brute of a defenseman, slammed into Quinn, trying to throw him off. Quinn, still seething from his earlier penalty, pushed back hard, nearly sending the guy onto his back. The two exchanged glares, but the ref was finally watching more closely now. No one wanted another penalty with the game so close.

Riley shot down the ice, cutting through the Hawks' defense like a hot knife through butter. He glanced over to Beau, who was perfectly positioned near the blue line, stick at the ready. Riley gave a quick nod, knowing Beau would be there when it mattered most.

But just as Riley was about to pass, another Hawks player blindsided him. The hit was brutal, sending Riley sprawling onto the ice. The crowd gasped, and Alessia instinctively shot to her feet, her heart in her throat.

Riley lay on the ice for a second, dazed. The hit had been bad, but not enough to take him out. He grit his teeth, shaking off the pain, and got back to his feet as the Hawks scrambled for the puck.

Avery grabbed it and made a break for the net, but once again, two Hawks players zeroed in on him. Before they could close the gap, Riley and Quinn skated in fast, shielding Avery with their bodies. Avery hesitated for a second, but then with a flash of his former confidence, he rocketed the puck toward the goal.

It flew past the goalie, hitting the back of the net with a satisfying thunk.

"Yes!" Avery shouted, his voice filled with a mix of relief and triumph. The arena erupted, the home crowd on their feet, cheering wildly.

Riley skated over to Avery, giving him a solid pat on the back. "That's how you do it, man."

Avery grinned, though the relief in his eyes was undeniable. "Thanks for the backup," he said, still catching his breath.

Beau skated over, flashing Riley a smirk. "Looking good out there, Hastings. You gonna let me have all the glory, or what?"

Riley chuckled, though his focus was razor-sharp. "Keep talking, and you'll miss me scoring the next one."

With less than ten minutes on the clock, the Hawks became even more aggressive. They had nothing to lose now and were willing to play as dirty as it took. But Riley's team had momentum, and they weren't about to let it slip away.

Beau darted through the Hawks' defense, his chaotic energy throwing them off balance. He was everywhere at once, drawing their attention like a magnet, giving Riley the perfect opening. Riley passed the puck back to Quinn, who slapped it toward the goal, only for the Hawks' goalie to make a miraculous save.

But Beau was already there, scooping up the rebound. He faked a pass, then spun on his skates and fired the puck back at the net. It slipped past the goalie's pads and hit the post before clinking in.

Goal.

Beau threw his arms up in triumph, and Riley skated over, grinning widely. Their eyes met again, and for a split second, everything else faded—the chaos of the game, the roaring crowd, everything. Just the two of them and that electric chemistry that had been simmering under the surface all game long.

Beau winked. "Told you I'd get one more."

Riley smirked, shaking his head. "Show-off."

The Hawks, now down 5-1 with barely five minutes left, looked defeated, but they weren't going to go down without a fight. They continued their physical play, slamming into Riley, Quinn, and Avery at every chance, but the ref finally had enough. After another cheap shot from the Hawks' captain, the whistle blew, and they were sent to the penalty box.

With the power play advantage, Riley's team slowed the game down, controlling the puck, keeping it away from the Hawks. Avery, no longer skating with fear, confidently maneuvered past two defenders, holding onto the puck until the clock ticked down to the final two minutes.

But just when it seemed like the game was wrapped up, the Hawks made a desperate play. One of their forwards intercepted a pass and charged down the ice. Riley skated hard to catch him, but the Hawks player was fast, and in a blink, he fired a wrist shot that sailed past Julie, their goalie.

5-3.

Alessia tensed, watching as the Hawks suddenly came alive with renewed energy. Could they pull off a miracle comeback? The crowd's cheers became more urgent, the tension in the air thick enough to cut.

With just over a minute left, the Hawks pulled their goalie, adding an extra skater to the ice. Riley and Quinn huddled with the team, strategizing on how to hold them off.

The puck dropped, and Riley won the faceoff, sending the puck back to Beau. The Hawks converged on them, but Riley's team held their ground, determined to see this through. Beau dodged one player, then another, before flicking the puck up to Avery, who skated down the ice with lightning speed.

With just ten seconds left, Avery made his move. He fired the puck toward the empty net, and time seemed to slow down as it sailed through the air. The crowd held its breath.

Goal.

6-3. Game over.

The buzzer sounded, and the crowd exploded into cheers. Alessia finally relaxed, letting out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. Riley and his teammates skated toward the center of the ice, congratulating each other, grins plastered across their faces.

Beau skated over to Riley, their gazes locking again, and this time, Riley couldn't suppress the grin tugging at his lips. The chemistry between them was undeniable, and for a moment, in the midst of the victory celebration, it felt like it was just the two of them.

"You were on fire out there," Riley said, giving Beau a playful shove.

Beau laughed, his eyes twinkling. "You weren't so bad yourself."

The team skated toward the locker room, the energy still buzzing, and Alessia watched as Riley and Beau exchanged a quick glance before disappearing into the tunnel. The victory felt sweet, and for the first time that night, Alessia allowed herself to smile.