The gist of it anyway.
“I do,” he replied as he studied me. “You have my empathy when it comes to your family matters.”
“Thanks.”
“But my priority is the quality of this team,” he continued. “And given your year off, I have serious doubts that coming back is going to work.”
What the fuck?
Before I knew it, I’d shot up out of the chair.
“So, that’s it?” I snapped at him. “You’re not even going to give me a chance? Why call me in here?”
He raised one dark eyebrow and slowly stood up, meeting me eye to eye.
I was more than furious.
You’re not going to intimidate me, motherfucker.
“I said I have doubts,” he replied calmly. “And losing your temper with me is adding to them.”
“Then let’s address it,” I hit back. “I’m ready to play, and I can handle whatever you throw at me. Bring it on.”
Banning motioned to my hockey bag. “You got all your gear?”
“No, I’m hauling around curling rocks.” I rolled my eyes. “Of course it’s all my gear. You told me to come prepared, and I did.”
“Drop the sarcasm and go get changed,” he demanded. “Meet me on the ice in ten minutes. And I don’t mean fifteen.”
Without delay, I grabbed my bag and headed for the door, slamming it hard behind me.
“He wants proof, I’ll give him proof,” I muttered as I stalked off down the hallway. “Fucking prick.”
I was so fired up that by the time I stepped inside the drafty locker room I was shaking all over. The smell was still the same; rank as usual, but I ignored it and quickly got out of my jeans and leather jacket and into my gear.
Never mind ten minutes, I was out on the ice in eight.
Damien
So, that was Silas Moss.
I didn’t know what I was expecting tonight, but it wasn’t him.
Sarcastic motherfucker with a side of defense.
With his beard, long hair, and copious tattoos, he looked a hell of a lot more mature than the rest of the guys on my team. And none of them gave me lip like that.
No one dared.
I admired grit and determination, and Silas’s gaze told me he had that and more. Of that, I had no doubt. Whether he was good enough for this team, however, had yet to be proven.
Still, I’d given my word. I’d test him and let the results tell me everything I needed to know.
As per his previous coaches, Moss had the hallmarks of a solid defenseman; good skating technique, quick stickhandling, and consistency when it came to protecting his zone. With his massive size, he was intimidating for anyone to face on the ice, and looking at my current roster, I needed a hard-working d-man.
But this one?
The major problem was his gap year. Time’s not a hockey player’s friend. You miss a month and it’s a lot. You miss a year? Good luck in finding your way back. At first glance, it was obvious that Silas kept in shape, but working out at the gym and playing a regular college hockey season were two very different things.
