“Ethan McKennen.”
“I remember.” Specifically, playing against him a few times right before I left the game. Recently recruited, Ethan still had a greenness about him then, which had nothing to do with his team colors.
“Oh, yeah?”
I nod. “You were just recruited.”
He cringes. “Was I that memorable?”
"You really want me to answer that?”
He laughs, then bumps fists with me. Not a bad start for the day.
One of the other guys walks over with a cocky grin as if he’s ready to compare notes. Based on his very youthful appearance, I’m guessing he’s a rookie. Most likely recruited straight out of the junior league, which means two things: he’s good, and he knows it.
His expression slips into a moment of confusion, then surprise. “Hey, you’re Jammer. You used to play for the Barracudas.” He shakes my hand next. “I watched you when I was playing junior league. Luke ‘Jammer’ Jameson. You melted the ice, dude.”
Called it. “Thanks.”
“Jayce Brady.” He puffs his chest out and lifts his chin as if about to make a challenging comment, but Gabe walks out of the coaches’ office and calls for everyone to listen.
He stands with his hands on his hips. “Welcome back, everyone. Besides Derek and me, we have a couple more additions to the team this season.”
The guys in front of me meander to their benches, giving me a clear view of Gabe and his assistant coach, Derek. Then Sophie steps out from behind them and stands on Gabe’s other side.
Gabe holds his hand out toward her. “This is Sophie Adams, a journalist from the Sarabella Herald Tribune. She’s going to bewith us for the season, doing profiles and reporting on the games. So, be respectful and cooperative. This is about our reputation, and we all know that needs some help right now.”
A low rumble of conversations breaks out between the players.
Sophie does the same finger waggle she did with me last night. “Hi, guys. Great to be here.”
I restrain a snort at her words, remembering what she said about this being her gateway to something better. The rest of the guys murmur and nod, but I see some of the same wariness I’m feeling in some of their expressions.
Gabe shifts his focus to me. “Second piece of news—we have a new player. Luke Jameson, also known as Jammer, just signed on with us.”
A few of the players applaud and let out whistles. Then there’s Jayce with his buddies I’ve yet to meet, staring at me like he’s trying to figure out what makes me tick.
I lift my hand in thanks for the welcome, then slide my gaze to Sophie because she’s hard to resist looking at dressed in black pants that hug her hips to perfection and a bright pink blouse that brings out the blush on her cheeks.
She’s studying me with a confused expression that does little to diminish her beauty. If anything, it heightens it because I’m betting she’s unaware of how that borderline frown makes her lips appear puckered for a kiss. But then her eyes narrow as she presses them together. Maybe that blush has more to do with anger now.
“He’s also your new captain.”
This draws a louder mumble from the guys and a few sharp looks. I warned Gabe this wouldn’t go over well. New coaches and a new captain—that’s a lot of change for these guys all at once. Guess I—we—have our work cut out for us.
Gabe lifts his hands to quiet the grumbling. “There’s no one else I’d want to have my back if I wereplaying.”
“But you’re not.” Jayce’s pointed stare bounces from Gabe to me. “And he hasn’t played in over a year.”
Several of the guys around him nod and murmur. Sophie is jotting notes down on a small notebook she must have had stashed in that oversized bag she’s carrying. The rest of the guys are talking between themselves in a steady hum.
Already a bad start. And I’m not sure precisely what to do at the moment. Do I take a stand and say something to back Gabe up? Or do I keep silent and hope all the wrinkles in this tattered crew get ironed out over time?
Gabe turns and nods at Derek as I rise to my skates, but before I can say anything, Derek raises his voice over the din. “Head to the ice.”
While the guys file out, I lag back to speak to Gabe, but Sophie approaches me first.
She frowns up at me. “You’re a hockey player?”
