Clusterpuck

"I came to Vegas to play a final season of NHL hockey and for one last chance at The Cup."

-Tripp Blackburn, VEGAS CRUSH

I've known Lila Marchmont-Terry since she was born-when I was thirteen years old.

Despite decades of our two families being in each other's lives, I don't have many memories of Lila until she was older, probably because I was at the very beginning of what would become a long and successful hockey career at the same time she was learning to walk and talk.

We last met four years ago when she was heading off for her second year of college and I was heading into my twelfth season in the NHL.

I came to Vegas for one last chance at getting my name engraved on The Cup with a championship team because, after this season, I'll be hanging up my skates for good.

Lila's in Vegas for a gap year interning at her grandfather's NHL team because, after this season, she'll be heading off to grad school for Sports Management.

Then one night in Toronto, we got stranded together in a hotel room with only one bed...and we did something we should've never done even though the itch was there for both of us.

The same itch we scratched repeatedly after our clothes sort of [shrugs]...fell off.

Also how I knocked up Max Terry's granddaughter who usually despises me when our clothes are on.

It's a whole cluster now-one urgent CLUSTERPUCK of a situation.

But I'm sure I've got this one figured out.

First, I'll convince Lila that she doesn't despise me nearly as much as she once thought, and then I'll make her understand that there's nobody I'll ever share my pucks with...but her.