Hatty... (Tyson Barrie)
My heart was racing as I prepared for yet another game. It was my first season in the NHL and as ecstatic as I was that I got to do what I loved for a living, there were some people who didn’t think I should be where I am.
“Oh, she’s just a girl. She can’t play with the boys...”
“She won’t be able to keep up...”
“She’s just going to get hurt...”
Tuning out all of the negativity was hard but as soon as I was on the ice, all of that seemed to fade away.
As I drove to the Scotiabank Arena, I couldn’t help but think about how we’ve been doing these past few games. Most of the time, my teammates pass to me and none of the other players dared to lunge at me, leaving me all the time in the world to do anything on the ice. As much as I loved the freedom, it kind of sucked that they wouldn’t treat me as an equal.
I pulled into the rink and parked, grabbing my player badge and made my way to the locker room. The guys had offered a locker room to myself if I felt uncomfortable in with the boys, but I declined. I wanted to be apart of it all, pre-game, the game, and post-game.
Once I got into the locker room, they’re weren’t many guys there, but they were all in the midst of getting dressed. As I sat in my cubbie, I leant down, getting my gear on. I looked around and met eyes with Tyson. While I got acquainted with the team, Tyson and I got the closest. All the boys felt like brothers and weird uncles but Tyson, he always felt like something more. We never did anything, no kisses or sexual advances, but there have been some long touches on the shoulder or lower back.
“Hey (Y/N)! You ready for tonight?” Tyson called, sitting next to me in Clifford’s cubbie.
“As ready as I’ll ever be. Maybe I’ll even break my hatty curse.”
“You’ll break it. You can only have so many two goal games before you get that third.” He said, placing his hand on my thigh.
“Thank you Tys. We should, uh, probably get to gearing up.”
“For sure. See you out there.” I nodded as he made the short trek back to his spot.
I kept my head down, grabbing my gear and putting it on. The boys knew that while I put my gear on, I used it as time to get my head in the game. I made sure everything was put on in a certain order, my helmet going last right after coach gave us our pre-game talk. When it was finally time to get on the ice, I started getting a weird feeling in my stomach. I looked around, seeing everyone was focused on what they were doing. I tried shaking it off, skating around our half, but it never fully went away. As I was waiting for my lines turn for the drill, I felt someone stand right next to me. I turned, seeing Tyson stand next to me, looking tense.
“What’s up?”
“No need to worry, but uh, number 29 on the other end is eyeing you up. I can’t tell if it’s because you are unmistakingly beautiful or if he’s got some malicious intent behind it.”
“I’ll be fine Tys. I’ve got you and Cliff with me. I feel safest around you guys.” I said, patting his shoulder before turning towards the net, skating up before shooting, Fred just missing it with his glove. I winked before skating back, getting in line once again.
When the game was about to start, we all stood for the national anthems, swaying as we heard the crowd start singing. When they ended, I grabbed my helmet but just before I could put it on, I saw a player on the other team stare me down before he put his helmet on and turn his attention back on the ice. The weird feeling returned to my stomach as I put my helmet on and tried focusing on the game that had already started. As I watched some of the boys hop off the ice, I jumped over the boards and skated with the play. Clifford passed me the puck and just as I was about to pass it again, I felt myself leave my feet and smack back into the boards. I stayed still, terrified that the hit did some permanent damage. I felt a dull pain in my back, increasingly getting worse and worse. I heard the whistle go and then some commotion before I saw the trainer kneel next to me.
“Where’s the pain?” He asked, leaning over me and holding my neck still.
“My back and my neck.”
“Scale of one to ten?”
“Six, but getting worse.”
“Okay. We’re going to need to get a stretcher. I don’t want to move you just in case. Okay?” He said, looking up to someone and whispering to them.
I layed on the ice for a while longer before they placed a neck collar on me and lifted me up and placed me on the stretcher. I found myself in the ambulance, people taking off my gear as they started working on me. Before the doors closed, I felt the ambulance dip as one last person hopped in. I couldn’t look up to see but I could tell by the faces that I could that they weren’t supposed to be there. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who it was once I felt his hand on my thigh.
“Tys.” I whispered, wanting him in my eyeline.
“Yeah. I’m here.” He slid over, holding my hand. “You’re gonna be okay.”
“Yeah.” I forced out, feeling tears run down my face. He wiped it away, moving slightly closer.
“I promise, whatever happens, I’ll be right next to you.”
I smiled at him, squeezing his hand. The rest of the ride to the hospital was painful but less nerve racking. True to his word, he made sure to stay with me as much as possible. Through the check ups, x-rays (on the other side of the glass), and the diagnosis, he held my hand as much as possible. The doctor told me that I would have to stay in the hospital for a few more hours, just to make sure there was nothing they missed. Once the doctor left, Tys was right next to me, sitting on the edge of the bed.
“See? You’re okay.” He said, his hand finding my thigh once again.
“Yeah, yeah. I’ve just never been through such a big scare before. It definitely helped having you here. How uh, how did the rest of the game go anyway? It must be done by now.”
“Let me check.” He said, going to pull out his phone. Just as he was about to tell me, some of the boys ran in, swarming around my bed.
“(Y/N)! You good there?” Auston said, patting Tyson’s shoulder.
“Doctor said everything should be fine. Just a pinched nerve so I should be good within a few days. How’d the game go?”
“We won 3-0. A hat trick as a team for you.” Mitch said, pulling out three pucks, tape wrapped around them.
“You guys are so sweet.” I said, tearing up once again. “Thank you.”
“When you get out of here, you’re getting a hug from each and every one of us.”
“I know. Now all of you get out of here. Go home because you’ve all got a game tomorrow and I will kick all of your asses if you mess up.” I threatened. They all said their goodbyes before walking out. Well except one. “Tyson, that means you too.”
“No. I told you I would be with you through everthing. I’m not going until you’re out.”
“I’m not playing tomorrow so it doesn’t matter if I’m out late. It does if you’re tired at morning skate.” I said, pushing him slightly.
“Okay. I’ll go but, there’s something I need to do first.”
“Okay, what-” I was cut off as I felt his lips on mine. His hands moved onto my thigh and the back of my neck, keeping me close. A smile painted on my face when we broke away. “I uh, I definitely needed that.”
“Oh yeah? We can do it again, if you’d like?” He said, leaning in again.
“Oh no. You, sir, need to go home. Rest up. I’ll see you tomorrow. Maybe then.”
“Alright. Text me when you get home. Please?”
“Definitely.” I said before he made his way to the door. “Oh, and Tys?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
“Of course.” He whispered, running back in and pecking my lips once again before running out.
The things that man does to me...
