e's

I dropped my shoulders low, and drove hard. I carried it through the neutral zone, faked left, cut right, and ripped a

rill. My shoulders felt heavy under the pads even though practice had barely started. This was

lined up beside me. "You're

old air biting at my face, the way my skates gripped the ice when I pushed off. Every stride had to be perfect

med after the third suicide sprint, but I kept my face blank. Captains aren't supposed to show it hurts. I circled back, called out adjustme

my helmet and dragged a hand through my wet hair. The arena lights felt too bright as they stabbed my face.

ach said as we headed off the

half-smil

f my stall and unlaced my skates slowly. The laces felt rough against my fingers, my hands were steady but my mind kept replaying every small mistak

ed at it for a few seconds and hesitated before picki

was

se. The concrete floor felt cold through my socks. I leaned against t

y,

the kind that alw

off a sheet, "I watched the footage your coach sent ov

ks slid a little on the smooth floor. "I scored four times and contro

ft a soft spot in the slot. I ran those same systems better at your age with worse

edge of it, staring at the metal drain. The ache in my shoulder flare

, keeping my voice even. "We ra

ard, not catch up to it. I didn't raise you to be average, Jace. I won two championships by twenty-one. P

athing sounded too loud in my own ears, I opened my eyes and st

ay," I muttered,"the team's undefeat

re him sitting in his office back home, prob

when it matters. Fix the gaps in your game and stop wasting time on things that don't mov

ded with a

ll for a long moment, my hand stayed wrapped

forehead against the cool wall and just breathed In through my nose, out through my mouth, the

the memory from ea

rl in t

houlder had collided with hers. She stumbled, and for a second s

smooth where my fingers had wrapped around her upper arms. When she looked up, her expressive eyes were wide; not j

rip had lingered a second longer than necessary before I let go. She smelled faintly like coffee and so

mory aside. My shoulder throbbe

h Dad watching, not with the team counting on me

arms for that one second

d led drills but they didn't see this version; the one standing in an empty hallway trying not to

had been getting worse for weeks, but telling anyone meant questions.

ter practice. The noise of the team spilled out into the hall as I got closer to laughter, trash talk and someone blasting music. I p

t's what ca

oor open and s